New-York tribune., 1873-03-12
THE PARTISAN CHARTER.
THE OUTLOOK AT ALBANY.

GLOOMY PROSPECTS FOR THE cUSroM-HOUsE
LEADERS-sENATORIAL OPPOSITION TO THEIR
SCHkaEs-rHE TWENTY FIFTH SECTION MUST
BE AMENDED-sENATORs WHO WILL NOT
VOTE FOR 1T AS IT STANDS.
lPRoh THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT or TEIB TRIBUEB
ALBANY, March u.-At no time since the Charter
was introduced have it's prospects been unfavor-
able as they now. BY q" the Charter is meant
the Charter as it passed the Assembly; an instru-
ment stripping Mayor Havemeyer of all substantial
executive power. If the bill should be amended 30
10 give the Mayor the power of making nOmina-
tons and the Aldermen simply the power
of rejecting them, it might 90 through IN
spite of the Objectionable features OF elections
in November. the unrepublicn Board of ADporhon-
ment and the colossal Department of Public Works
under single head. The more reflection Is given
10 the plea of ex-Mayor Opdyke, before the Commit
tee on Cities last Wednesday the more sophlstry is
detected IN hs argument He advocated single
heads of departments in preference to commissions
ON the score of efficiency. If efficiency ls the
chief requisite the inference s clear that the power
of making appointments should be gwen 10 the
Mayor alone To restrict the power of removal TO
cases where be given in writing and the
concurrence of the Governor of the state OBTAINED
and to leave the Mayor no part In the appointment
of the successor to the person removed, Is de-
vice which IL likely to end IN the reverse
of efficient government. Furthermore, the exist
ence of bargain with the faction of which Senator
0Brien Is the recognized head ID too palpaDle 10 Dc
overlooked and finally, the miserable pretext that
the welfare of the Republican party depends upon
cheating the partisan Reformers of the city mas
been dispelled by the light which has been thrown
during the last ten days upon the state OF puDhc
sentiment in the metropolis.
Tho urocticaI dinfcuIties which now threaten 70
make Commissioner Davenport's mission fruitless
are two: First, the 18th section cannot pass the
Committee on Cities and, second, 1t cannot obtain
II votes in the Senate. The CustOm-house managers
have overrated their strength. Men upon whose
votes they thought they could depend have Deen
found intractabe. Unless they develop strength
from some unexpected source, they must change
their plan of operations. No meeting OF the Com
mittee on Cities has been held the Charter TO-
day. The reason given is the IndlsDosllon Oh SEN
ator Woodin. His sickness IS not considered dan
gerous and does not cali for half the attention from
the physicians which is required by number of
other Senators from Doctors Bliss and Davenport.
II is OF course impossible to make any accurate
canvass of the Senate If there are 10 Senator's who
will not vote to divest Mayor Hayemeyer Of execu-
tive powers the scheme of District-Attorney Bliss
20 take revenge the Mayor for not agreeing with
President Grant as to the ftest person TO succeed
Judge Davis must fall through The following list
probably includes the 16: Messrs. Ames and
Tweed cannot be present; Lord. Cock.
Tiemann, Scoresby, Johnson. and Murphy are
Democrats Allen. Benedict, Chatfield, narrower,
Lewis, Lowery, Palmer, Perry, Robertson, d. 7.
Wood and James Wood will more than NIL up the
complement unless some new and powerful pressure
i. brought to bear on them. The force which carried
the bill through the Assembly is exhausted. 1t only
remains for the true reformers IN the city to show
that they are in earnest by not relaxing their
efforts. - - - -
Senator Woodin Chairman Of the Senate Com
mittee ON Cities is confined TO his bed tonight by
feverish attack resulting from severe cold, and It
is doubtful whether the New-YOrk Charter will be
finally acted Oh IN the Committee for several days
to come Senators Benedict, Perry, Palmsr and
Temann are understood TO be opposed TO the 18th
section as il came from the Assembly, and
unless one Of them yields TO pressure, the
Charter In its present shape can never
receive the majority report of the Committee. Even
if IL should il cannot pass the Senate with the ap-
pointing power vested in the Board of Aldermen.
Commissioner George Van Mort was in the city for
few houn last night. He had conference with
senators Palmer and WoOdin, but his MISSION
whatever 1t was appears TO have made no change IN
the situation
r.rp