New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-01-14
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
MUNICIPAL REFORM.

10 the Editor OF The Trt6Wae.
SIR: Allow me to call attention to the sub
jcct Of municipal reform Is there no danger OF us
reaching through stages OF graduated senderheSs pro-
portiops ultimately invisbIel Is there danger that
having been successfully used lure by q political
marty 10 acouire power 1t to DO dismissed as OF
no further usea Possibly there may be no cause Of
alarm; but am sure that inquiry can do no mischief
IL il well perhaps recall the fact that year ago
there was osentaous harmony between the Committee
OF Seventy and Administration Republicans upon pro-
posed city charter. OF its principal reform fea-
lures consisted, II remember right. Of Mayor with
Independent powers; Of cumulative" Board Of Al
dermen with prescribed times OF meeting; Of Spring
elections and of the substitution OF Departments
and new Commissioners at their head for the od bu'
now II mistaken, while the Committee OF sew
enty which represents Reform adheres TO these desa
bic changes, the Administration Republicans WHO rep
resent politics, abandon them Which is right pom
tican OF the reformeri And which sholld the puDho
sstaini IL seems to me that the occasion OF having
elected Reform Mayor is time TO deprive him OF
mower. but rather the very time TO increase H.
But the politician now proposes that the ap-
continents OF the Mayor shall be supJeet
90 confirmation bv the Board OF Aldermen;
that is TO say that the Mayor shall be hampered by the
Board The present Board Is an Administration kepuo
hoau Board The Mayor Is not Repu6hean thon t, an
uuQuesoned keormer And so ~ Is tast IlS
proposes 10 subject the Rei0rmer 10 olDcIa ~
on . political BOird The politician next deserts , t has
list years advocacy OF the "cuinuauVe NOto anu Uc
takes hasoll TO tho old accustomed metnou.
ss b, Tie election Of Administration Repuolcan
BOARD be secured the political power OF MIS- rlends LOT
az least years, he concludes that II would DC ohy IN
him TO dis turb that power Politicians Win parry
.ws doubtless will admit ms sagaCiJy but how ABOUT
tie RlOmer. whose care should DC IOF the puDo gooH
Iast yeaF tie politician would have swept away the
heads of Deparmcns Indeed, with fiercest onslaught
he went for the scalp OF the Commissioner OF PuDhc
Works. George VI. Van Mort This year he m0OtS the
general question: and takes the head of the Department
of Public works under his especial wing Why TINS
changei To be sure, this year as last year. MT van
Norris ID yartment pentiiuy supplied with employees
OF strong Tweed relish but unlike last year. TINS ear
Y Mort IS an Administration Republican, ana thus
irustN orlhy IN the interests Of our politician; -,
10 only "A short year ago when the Wnoie reIorm
movement was claimed 10 depend upon the separation
currcuce IL urged, device OF the knS; lOr 70
tbe polls of the general election thronged ngreates num-
bers IL WAS supposed, the mCrccDdry ana Nepa ana Tue
gangs Of Tuflln oucasts whose pay increased WIN the
Their separation 70 was thought would place municipal
nEairs upon higher ground than party poltcs, anu ~
removing tncm from the atmosphere OF parry StIS,
would uatey bring honest men OF inherent pOntiVi
organizations into a common municlpal orOVhoIhoou'
AN tbs seemed reasonable last year, aud TO pam,
honest mani t would probably not seem unreasOnable
ihIS year. I}ut how does IL strike our POnucian
mean thu last year gave his louest shOut iOI
inc reform cry OF Spring election why nc Is as tendeI
upuu That point spring chicken on tho WnOie,
49, rather prefers that city elections stall be al the
same time with general elections, for Says mel d0ht
gou ~. tLt the last general election we elecIeu an
Administration publican Board Oi Aldermen anu we
can 40 SO agn and again with the aid OF our pOnic2i
patronage But let us come toasprlng eectoa ana
may swamp No. no. We are not siGh Tools Mel this
reasoning may be Credable 10 OUf sharp pO4tlcldn put
De- 10 rishtl That Is the question: CiIiAbN
Ncir- York, Jan. H. 1878.