New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-02-22
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES TO REFORM.


PARTY TO STRIP TIE CHARTER OF iTs PAX
TISAN PROVISIONS.
Peter Cooper has added his voice TO those
Of Mayor Havcmcyer, the Committee OF Seventy the
Councils OF Political Reform and many Of the German
organizations. in opposition TO the partisan aud ire
sponsble government which tne passage Of the pro
posed Charter will lcgalize he has addressed the Io
lowing appeal 10 Senator Benedict
Hon +. G. BENEDICT. in Senate Albany:
Ny DEAR sIR / shall make no apology for addressing
You IN relation - lhg le1nhs oE,Altoh ", ha INF
on our city, because heleVe that YOU ana nav -
motive the subject and that Is earnest desire
70 secure for the people lhe best possible &
the east possible expense starring WIN ths ~ inh
object let submit some considerations when
appear IA me to be of paramount Importance In deI
mining what practical action VIII best secure nv W.
end IN view. First let me remind you have InS,
suffered in the past, IL tne persistent determ
nation TO ." run" the city government az a par
should he conducted those principles which are Ut
terly antagonstIc o. prudence and economy by exai
ing nero party service above integrity aud devotion 70
tine public good. Yuu certainly cannot nave Iuleu u
dCduce this conclusion the pregnant facts OF our
recent history. xt, let remind you that whenever
party lines lightly drawn, this CITY ~ sure 70 is'l
the Democratic party by large majority, 80 that 20
measure Of partisan expedency nothing can posinY ne
gained by the Republicans IN the long RIM by couhte
uaneng the idea of a partisan city government. fle
leans toward introducing party into tine city affairs
must he 10 unite the Democrats in solid and rreslsil-
bic force which claiming only It's rights in a partisan
point OF view, will WELD the power OF the
city heretofore. not for the clty's good nu.
for the consolidation NJ ITS own power IN the
state and nation Now there are thousands Oi dshleI
and patriotic Democrats who VIII gladly JON ts
fellow citizens OF other amiations IN the creation OF
city government entirely discovered rom STATE uu
National politics, amt administer 10 Tor ne sole pup5
OF securing the public good These mon see the baeiu
effects OF craftsmanship IN the conduct OF muhielti
corporation az vast ana mpoi'a ~ ours tlu Po
fOrrgO party advantage FOR the sake OF honest anu
economical government at home. But when you ASH
them 10 unite Ia movement Nhch iA deslEhcu ~
the trick OF substituting the prtlSahs or thG hOi ~
for those OF the majority ask too much They justly
say II you want anv hep 70 form bona NE h1 "
government we are with You, but II you ask us ~
choose between psr-stn government which D. Repuou
and which rs Democratic, you can't expect rs .o
90 against our own side where we nave eVeryihlh- l'
plain OF this IL seems to me II needs only 10 De ae
10 suggest the manifest duty ~ all good dizens anu
legislators 40 tins crisis. To Us hero in New oih
looks # the Only stumbling block IN the way u4 li
using city charter on sound and beneficial primer
pies the settled purpose Of some ArpuOhcan man
ayers to victory OF last Fan from us manifest
purpose In order 70 secure the Offices OF the city 70 h
parIsans. can imagine nothing more iaIaI 10 the Iu
turc welfare OF the city.
ayers. finding themselves possessed Of this power ana
not expecting agl.u for long time are bent
ON maug the most of it for the present then indeed
are Zen on evil times and must expect % all the
good results Of years swept away IN order That sna
class men, with little no stake 10 the welfare VI ue
citv NAV enjoy brief OF power and profit. LIT
indulge the nope that such disastrous result nay DO
arrested, that If inflicted upon us 10 may De ony
against your earnest effort and remonstrance what We
want my dear Is such charter that We can shJW lo
Of al shades OF political opinion and Challenge tei
to point out It's bias toward ANY. TIE people elected
Mr. Hayemeyer as Mayor from a WellIouuaeH ue
lief that IN his age, experience aDlty' integrity al
entire freedom rom all conceyabc motive apart iIIin
GOOD had the best guaranty Ne CJulu he
most safely trusted 20 exercise Jho>e powers "tl15
naturally belong 90 the head OF the city government
think 10 safe 10 gay that mney-nine huudledtus Oh Alao
tration believe to-day that the object thew seek can he
best attained by cOnerrng ON the Mayor the power Oh
appointing and removing the heads OF departments,
tnus laying his shoulders TIE weight OF responsibility
for ne proper conduct OF Affairs uy giving hin AL the
UOwer necessary 70 the successful performance Oh his
duty. ..--
as frequent as YOU please. make constitutions anu laws
as stringent as Won Ike, but when y0u want anything
done. when you come 70 choose an Executive omeet'
l. nccessrv and then hold him 10 strict ana frequent
account FOR his discharge OF the trust It's e rnu-A-
hesitating grant Of power TO slth 0n,ls "lln PEI
Yves their usefulness and furnishes rN--e 4Ji a LI
SHORTCOMINGS When cty is so fortunate as 20 nave 80
excellent Mayor rs dl' Hast'l, lI ~ 1'A go ~
TO trust HIM Than any one else re was NOS erected rs u
partisan. ANA an good mus. JUSTLY him lu refusing
terests of "a party. this refusal hc shall be deprived
OF the poTers the city desires 70 see nun Pos5 tc t
suits o such gross wrong WIZ. l4.,u Jar D.N lu .us
present time ana iudct loss aud injury On the CITY such
In that event it Is not violent supposition that Mr.
Havcmeyer win be succeeded by Mayor who wiii bring
back under thin disguise, the dlsGrLceid ana vicious
regime through which We have just passed Certainly
neither the power nor the motive WIZ ot acALns WINE
the reform victory OF 1872 INTO partisan triumph Of mo
minority. Now that a Senate and assembly unusually
tree from the influences that have often corrupted
our legislation have addressed themselves 10 the great
task of accommodating our CITY Government, lt un
reasonable 10 mono mat they Will strive % forget con-
alterations OF parlsanshp that they VIII marx
ont the province each municipal ONCE win reference
moi 10 the political opinions the present incumbent
bur Of the relation tn Office 20 the Whole system In
establishing The organic law Of % great CITY, t s mex
cusabe 10 weigh the political principles IN accord
auce with which municipalities should De governed 1ut
the partisan opinions held by this or that mau
VINO az the instant holds some city office. \
grand opportunity is given 20 tie Repun-
cau party 20 construct honest Ell lent, and durable
Government this civ, Dnt they must found upon
solid principles. II they suffer themselves 10 Doe con-
troed l their work by TACT that egAt members az
the Board OF Aldermen are Republicans, they VAL raise
political edltce that |ll on otter 20 speedy lal-1
fan which will first of all those political arcltccs
who are responsible for IN the present legislation LIT
me entreat YOU. therefore, behalf or all good czens
OF This great metropolis OF the State, not 10 allow me
Charter which is 20 be The future shield Of the rights ana
property oil It's people from official sgOa0n, aud which
Ou-nt 10 hold every executive officer TO strict pon1
bty for the honest discharge OF his trust not 70 allow,
say TINS fundamental law OF the city Government 10
fa TO the level of partisan politics, give equal
chance the political t1ck,ier, aud 20 the yeu.l poll
tcian 10 take place OF the honest ana PATRIOTS c-
zen in the administration OF municipal aiIirs. WITH
great respect, PETER COofLK'
Attc- York, Feb. II, 1873