New-York tribune., 1873-01-07
THE MAYORS MESSAGE.
AN ENTIRE REVISION OF THE CHARTER
NEEDED.

FAIRS AND AN OUTLINE OF IMPERATIVE RE-
FoRMS--A CONSOLIDATION OF THE DEPART
MENTs AND A RESTORATION OF LEGISLATIVE
POWER TO THE COMMON COUNCIL RECON-
TROLLER PROMISED
The following is the full text of Mayor
Havemeyer's message;
To ne Honorable he Common Council:
In assuming again the duties OF the Chief Executive Of
the city, cannot but express the satisfaction ee as
recognize IN the Common Council upon which rests so
much OF the responsibility OF the Government, Of
experience possessing confidence Of the people, and
animated by the single desire TO discharge in the public
interest the duties that devoye upon them. The power
with which the Common Council vested WILL in your
hands, satisfied be applied to an honest endeavor
and elevate the Government aud your intu-
for good win trust be felt in the action Of all the
City Departments and each of the officers connected
herewith
Happily, the circumstances attending my election are
spch that am In the discharge Of my duties and the
distribution OF patronage, freed from any rammels or
affiliations OF a partisan character. IL VIII be my con-
desire TO cooperate with you in all that concerns
the welfare Of the great community that we represent
At al times observan citizen, Of the course OF pub
lie affairs not surprised at the growth of the Dusi-
OF city since last addressed the Common Coun
ell from this place The affairs OF the city are OF i'm
pera extent and variety and in their present conaion
require for their proper conduct our united energies ana
ell the wisdom we command.
BY the Charter It is the duty Of the Mayor to recon-
mend to the Common Council all such measures con-
neoted with the security health cleanliness, and orna-
mont OF the city and the protection and Improvement
Of It's government and finances as he shall deem expe-
dent"
In my Judgment there is little. anything, connected
with the Of the city which is not susceptible
Of very considerable improvement. On taking posses
OF the government from our predecessors we find
in Of disintegratoD and the interests Of the city,
In every department, wasted Notwithstanding the
and extravagantly paid officers and subordi
nates official duty has been neglected and demOralza-
tOn has assumed a growth which will require careful
aud persistent effort eradicate In great degree
have 70 rebuild the entire governmental edifce.
CONSOLIDATION THE True POLICY.
One SIMPLE measure is az the outset mperativey de-
manoed and should receive immediate attention that OF
the consolidation OF the City and County Governments
The separate management of city and county affairs
has proved injurious and expensive No benefit
any sense be secured by continuing this divided ad
mnistrston The city and county should, for all bust
aud governmental purposes be represented by but
one legislative body.
Upon examining the laws which relate to the govern
OF the city And doubts, difficulties and confusion.
The charter OF 1870 amended in 1871, is popularity
posed contain full specification Of your powers and
o. powers and duties Of the Mayor and Of the De-
parmcnts This Charter declares section ?, that in you
IA vested he legislative power OF the Corporation and
section mat tne mayor ana lcsIeu
the executive power.
such D system OF government may have been intended
by the Charter; It is not however, the system which
has governed the city since il enacted. We have
had form. subsaucea Legislature in name, but not
reality. Everything has been done though had
es,iltivo body; if Common Council existed as
part % our Government.
While N theory the Executive Departments sub
ordinate 20 the Mayor. they have been by law made
practically Independent of him, and have absorbed to
themselves al the legislative power thus leaving the
Common Council, the direct representatives of the
people without influence and almost without functions.
Iu there raised, for the purposes OF the gov
eTnment Of the city, by taxation exclusive of the
county, s23sG37 u, and bonds upward Of sSsOoOOO
AL tins money raised, appropriated. and expended
without any reference the Common Council without
the sanction any way TO any extent of the
tive branch Of the Government In what manner the
Of the city should be expended a matter
with which the Council permitted TO interfere.
The Executive power usurped the Legislature and when
tins usupaion was perfected, responsibility IN the City
Government ceased. Tue supremacy Of the departments
eliminated when the power OF removing the heads was
executive officers then became absolute rulers, and under
tins rule our Government became public scandal.
POWER TO BE RESTORED TO THE COMMON COUNCIL.
Ths shoud no longer continue. The legislative power
should be restored the Common Council Elected by
the people, in sense which could not be predicated Of
any election city during the past twenty yes.
you should act for the people. and for no particular
party political otherwise. Where there has been
inuci disorder reform is neither easily speedily
eaL,pli- he'd Ihe work before us is Formidable but it
must undertaken. TO the best Of my ability shall
endeayOr to perform my part upon your cooperation
Your first duty should be to see that the legislative
power OF the Government is IN reality ana not merely
IN name vested IN you. Wherever you lind this power
o. have assumed by the departments without au
thorIty, change should be enecteo An examination
will persuaded, satisfy You that even under ex-
istiDs laws, your powers are ny no iueahs So leG aS
the action OF your predecessors would lndloate Such
examination is necessary, lot only Win view OF as;
certanBg existing rights bat also for the purpose OF
determining existing defects, ana Che measures required
% provide the proper tcmegles. , -,
In tho Executive branch OF the Government there
must be accountability. Under the provisions OF the
Charter heads vi departments are practically ae-
removed upon articles Oi impeachment presented by the
Mayor ana after formal trial before fun bench OF the
Court OF Common Pleas. My conviction is, that this
machinery devised by designing men, not ISr the
purpose OF securing the removal OF improper Ofneers,
buJ 10 render such removal lpractcaDe not lhpoe-
s.be.
over the departments. His power has been limited to
Ittle more tDan the privilege OF calling upon them 70
urnh 10 hih in such FORM ana within such time, aud
under such rules he nay prescribe, reports OF their
Operations aud actions. BY the express terms OF the
Charter the Mayor held responsible for the good
order ana efficient government OF the city With this
serious responsibility attached 20 the office enter upon
the May orally 10 hnd that every omeef through whon
the government must be conducted is virtually beyond
my control All the heads OF departments ana also the
Chamberlain, Who although only the head Oh bureau
OF tho Finance Department. is appointed by the Mayor,
are entitled TO hold ther respective ofhces beyond my
fSrm under appointments made by my predecessor.
With the subOrdnates IN the various depart tmens many
OF whom Is well KnOwD are the growth or an ere OF
our government, with which We have no sympathy,
peither Mayor the Council permitted 10 IN
ferfere The honor awarded TO the Mayor OF seat at
the Police Board Board of Health, account
OF attached thereto, affords but little
perunIty 10 influence or the efficient working
AMI administration of either OF these departments.
One OF the strongest illustrations OF the inharnOnious
and Improper organization OF the Executive power has
received enforcement by the resignation OF the
Corporation Counsel and the appointment by the outgo
Ing M or OF his SUCCESSOR hold over 10 period be-
yOnd 10y term OF Office When the Importance OF the
once 81 the law of the city taken into cOnsd
efon the fact that with him the appointment Of
the Corporation Attorney and Public Administrator the
necessarily confidential relation he should bear 10 the
Mayor and much discretion and power necessarily
rssfs with him. and impede the policy OF the Gov
eFnmeDt. the eminent imprOpriety OF the law, which
,rvenfs iucnminC adnninstration from appOlntng