New-York tribune., 1873-01-08
GHARTER- -MAKING.
legislation

The Republicans are first IN the field with
their new Charter 1t has been drawn by the
subcommittee of the Republican General Com
mittee, composed of Hugh Gardner, George
Opdyke, James w. Farr, Thomas Murphy,
John j. Townsend, William Lalmbeer, and
Geo. Bliss, jr. They could not agree with the
Committee of Seventy, particularly on minority
representation, municipal elections In the
Spring, and one or two other points on which
we must frankly express our belief that the
Committee of Seventy is right and the Repub-
lican Committee wrong. The Republicans,
however, have adopted many of the funda-
mental principles recommended by the Seventy,
and have made some good suggestions OF their
own The probabilities now certainly point to
their success at Albany.
Comparing this new scheme with the Charter
of 1870, under which we are now governed, we
notice first the abolition of the Board OF
Assistant Aldermen, assigning the duties OF
Supervisors to the Aldermen. The preparation
of the Tax Levy is taken away from Albany
and is confided to city officers. The Heads of
all the Departments, except those of Finance,
Public Works, Law, and Docks, are reduced
from five to three persons. The Aldermen go
are the radical changes proposed.
Going into particulars we find that the Alder
men now in Office are to hold during the
term for which they were elected-two
years-but, at the State election of 1874, fifteen
Aldermen shall be chosen, five of whom shall
serve one year, five two years, and five for
three years, and this order shall be hereafter
maintained. Due provision is made for filling
vacancies. The Mayor is to nominate and the
Aldermen confirm all Heads of Departments,
whether for full terms or to fill vacancies.
The Mayor may be removed from office
by the Governor, in the same manner
as Sheriffs, after due service of charges
and he may be suspended during an investi-
CATION. Heads of Departments may be re-
moved by the Mayor, two-thirds of the Alder
men cOncurring. The changes in the existing
schedule of Departments restores the CrotOn
Water Department reduces the Department
of Buildings to bureau i'll the Fire Depart
ment, and erects the present Commission of
Taxes and Assessments into a separate De-
partment. Quarterly reports are exacted Of
each of these, and the Mayor may order spe-
cial reports at any time. Consolidation of
subdivisions of Departments, by order of the
Head Of such Department,Iwith the consent of
the Board of Apportionment, is permissible.
The chief officer of the Finance Department
is to be known as the Controller of the City
of New-York; and all payments by the Cor
poration shall be made through the proper
disbursing officer of the Department of Finance
by means of warrants drawn on the Cham
berla.1 by tho Controller and cOuntersigned
by the Mayor. The Chamberlain is appointed
in the same manner as other Heads of Depart
ments and holds Office for two years.
These are the principal changes contemplated
by the new Charter, though there are several
others which are important if not radical.
For instance, the Board of Audit-which is
also to be Board of Apportionment-is to
be composed of Mayor, Controller, President
of the Board of Aldermen, and the President
of the Commissioners Of Apportionment and
Audit. 1t will be observed that the Commit
tee who have drafted this Charter say that
they do not at once remove from Office
the four Heads of Departments who haYo
been appointed since the Reform party SSs.iintd
the SseeDdency in this city: These officers,
however, with others, are left with the Mayor
and Aldermen TO be dealt with hereafter and
the Committee claim that they have as far as
possible, preserved the right of the people to
choose their own officers.
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