New-York tribune., 1873-02-20
FATAL ERRORS OF THE NEW CHARTER

FATAL ERRORS OF THE NEW CHARTER.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: Can you inform a curious public why
t is that the committee " the Republican Central
Committee rSopose, their charter tor the city, at Sec
ton I23 the all city officers shall expire On
the first day OF the coming March, except those OF the
Controller, the Commissioner Of Public Works. and the
Corporation Counsel Plain disposed 10 look
with suspicion this exception. IL may be thought
possibly, TO furnish key 70 The whole charter The
apparent of Controller Green Is not real Or
no one doubts II the power Of appointment were
conferred the Mayor. the Rcformcrs desire, be
would appoint Mr. Green 70 that Office. Perhaps Mr..
Green il conceded the Reformers much as tub 10
whae-to amuse them with the ostensble gift OF what
otherwise would be within their power; while Van Mort
and Smith cling the Public Works and Corporation
Counsel Businesses In what interest smith and Van Mort
are 10 be retained needs discussion. This little
arrangement may said to be liable in many minds TO
be construed rank political huckstering.
There to be, II seems, eleven departments, and
consequently as many heads to them. Section intro
duces these eleven heads the Common Council it
says for purposes OF discussion What scene viii en-
sue when eleven heads the labor OF enghenlnS
Gfteen Aldermen! It may not, however be unreason-
ably anticipated that each head, having his own depart
mental AK " grind. the ancient lOg-rolng process
familiar 20 all legislative bodies will be piled with such
activity that the votes OF the fifteen Aldermen will soon
adjust the affairs OF The special departments as their
eleven heads respectively wish them " fixed" The true
method evidently confer the Common Council the
mower OF smmOung pleasure before them any one OF
the heads OF departments to make any explanation or
rvo any informa tOn desired Section IS empowers the
Board OF Aldermen 70 remove the head OF any depart
mont nv a twohirfs vote Now, what kind Of proceed
ing will that De which admits discussing agent upon
the floor the COuInJi COun, the YeIy man OF men
who trial before them sections ID anu lls con-
tnue the Board Of Supervisors rms Board consists OF
the Is Aldermen the Mayor and RecOrdcr-ln al, II.
he H.
tnan threcfOurths OF their whole number whch is r.
I}ut the Board Supervisors composed OF the same
men, together with the Mayor ana Rec0rder) may, by
existing laws, appropriate Tor county purposes any
amount OF money by majority vote, which Il 3. 80
that when tired hreeIuarter 2 vote restraint,
all Board II Aldermen have 10 10, IN Order % get
into a position "a majority vote or VIII unite
purse-stTngs, simply, by YOte 10 resolve VAcseINcs
into the OF Supervisors THIS mas been done ana
it Will be done again. ana Just so long as Is easier Io
men combine than for T. Thus VIII mllons Oh tue
public treasure easily flow away at the direction OF
aeutlemany SuperY when the mere thOusanus at
the disposal OF the Common Council are Buardeu ny the
more difficult number OF II. -,
But what is the use OF beating about the bushF
There fatal errors III TINS prOpOseu lartcI AHe
OF them are NOS lnstanceu Inc nIsI Ol lnese
errors that the Charter does not peehd 10 EcCosSo
the virtue and necessity OF civil Service REFORM sup
pose "A section OF this Kind Inserted: " sec -. All ap
poIntments to Office place any department o1 the
tical considerations ana with reference solely 10 the
character OF the appOnee for honesty capacity ana
nGelty duty; and no Olcer sla De ulsinlhSeu uu
good behavior except Tor cause shown upon speclc
cnarges made as herein PROVIDED Then suppose tne
Mayor by another secon TO DO clothed WIN the power
OF appointment; and these Two yaI errors "oudn oe
!, non partisan government. Anything short OF CIVu
Service greatly To be feared Will eaVe u.s.
later, At the Mercy Oh INC
that nfest AL communities. CitL%EN'
Neu- York, Feb Is, 1873