New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-03-29

all possible haste 10 transfer their aiiegianoc'
IF IL prove that the defeat OF the murphy
Ring ia n permanent discontinue, and not
mere momentary check, the astute managers
NV whom this result has been accomplished
will deserve the hearty thanks OF all fneDds
of Good government For the present at any
rate the way seems to be open for the victors
To give us what they please; and if they have
wisdom enough to present an instrument
really adapted to the wants of the city and
acceptable to the taxpayers, they Will insure
their own supremacy in the Republican party.
Thus far the amendments to the Charter
though they destroy some OF the most obJec-
tionable features of the original Cust0m-hOuse
plan, fall far short of what New-York de-
mands. A responsible government is not
secured by taking away from the Mayor the
appointment of four of the principal executive
officers of the city and although to some Of
the four who are specially retained no partic-
ular personal objection is known, the fact that
they are kept in office for strictly
nartisan reasons discredits the whole
scheme of legislation in which their retention
forms so prominent part. Mr.. George NJ
Van Mort has the disposal of more small
patronage than any other official of the cor
poration. and he is kept because he can make
votes Mr.. Henry Smith, commonly called
Hank,n was abused by the Administration
Republicans straight through the Fall cam
paign as a creature of Tweed and thor
oughly corrupt man; but he has made his
peace and been taken into favor, and he must
be retained TO manipulate the police at the
next election. Mr.. Stebbins is a gentleman of
excellent character, but 1t is not on that ac-
count that he is kept in office; as Park Com
missioner he can distribute appointments
where they will do most good, and he too will
be useful at election time. The Importance of
owning the District-Attorney is so well under
stood from the history of the Tweed admin
istration that it Is unnecessary to explain 1t.
On the other hand, Mr.. Green, faithful Con-
troller, who has saved the city hundreds of
thousands of dollars, who cannot be corrupted
and cannot be used by political clique, Is
roughly discarded, because he will not be
tool at election time and will not shut his
eyes to any financial irregularities.
For few days the rival factions will be
mastering their forces at Albany and prepar-
ing for the final battle The Senate is not
yet IN the mood of giving us really non
partisan Charter, and one of the two cliques
whose initial sklrmish we have just witnessed
will probably get the mastery over us. Be-
tween the two our preferences are very decided.
But before the question is finally settled let
lis state once more what the taxpayers re-
ouire, and what sooner or later they will get,
if the right of the people to manage their own
affairs is to be recognized
1. A separation of municipal government
from all partisan complications, by holding
city elections in the Spring.
2. The concentration of responsibility in the
hands of the Mayor, who shall have full powers
of appointment and removal untrammeled by
the Aldermen.
8. Frequent elections, by which the Mayor
can be held strictly accountable to the people
for faithful performance of his duties.
Give us something of this kind, and if the
people are capable of governing themselves
we shall soon have respectable administra-
ton. If they are not, we shall have-just
what we desire.