New-York tribune., 1873-01-08
THE REPUBLICAN CHARTER.
RADICAL CHANGES IN MUNICIPAL GOV
ERNMENI,

MAYOR AND ALDERMES-rIE BOARD OF
ASSISTANT ALDERMEN ABOLISHED AND TIE
NUMBER OF HEADS OF DEPARrMENIo RE
DUCED.
The Republican Central Committee OF TINS
city appointed soon after the election In November
eomitee to prepare drafts Of snch relating TO the
Legislature as t seemed desirable should DO presoned
TO the LEGISLATURE This Committee was composed Oh
Hugh Gardner, George Opdyke James W. Farr
Thomas Murphy, John j. Townsend Abraham
Lent william Lambeer, aud George BhSs' F'
This Committee in its address to the public accompany
ing tho draft of the charter, says that 1t has cohseu
with many Republicans, including members OF lhe
Senate and Assembly With reference to the action VI
the Committee Of Seventy, the ComTnttco says
We had an informal conference with JACKSON ,,
Schultz DOrlnan B. Eaton, and Edward 5hlolhot VIM
were a suh-committee OF the Committee on Legislation
snnointed by the Committee Of Seventy. These gentle
men anxious 20 ascertain as ilr ls posso.c & o
rious PROVISIONS while at the same time tney were eA-
plic in their statement that they n1 @ no t intend 10
bind the Committee OF Seventy, anu u hob lntenu "
commit even themselves. =, -, - ....o
1t was therefore arranged that the supeonmttee ,t
were prepare detailed statement OF the points "hcD
seemed important them, and were t0 meet our cou
mittee and discuss them It is understood tat III pur
OF this arrangement they prepared anu piiHlgy
printed pamphlet containing twentysN separate prlh,
cpes provisions which they desired should oe seeue @
any charter. On submitting ~, however 70 lc lii
Committee OF Seventy, inc whole matter ~as ill u0 &
the table, that were left without any authoritative
exposition OF the present views OF that ComInitee
We are however led to believe that this acton was
laid down in the pamphlet disapproyed, as be
cause, the special Efforts OF one or Two persons ne
Democratic members Of the Committee OF seventy were
induced TO attend the meeting in unusual numbers ana
10 override their Committee on Legislation on tc pea
that they making an alliance WITH the Hepu0ucan
party. The Committee on Legislation therelofe
and Committee OF seventy nave, as yer, Deen unoo
or unwilling to say what they desire ,-,.. A..
representation of the views or the Committee OF oeey
in the pamphlet printed by their subcommittee or rs
20 general specific propositions, 10 are embraced l the
adopted OF those not adopted, two are intended to
provide a different system for eyyng taxes from tat
opOsed by US and look the interference OF the state
Goyernment therein one gives the Governor the power
of appointment OF IN certain departments when
politan system look to the introduction OF some
form OF minority proportional representation WINE
one or two others relate to matters OF detail
Indeed it may be said hat the only points OF IMPORT
ance upon which we differ from the subcommittee OF
the Committee OF Seventy, that we do not Introduce
~ Heads of fepartments 10 theayor and Aldermen
stead of TO Mayor that We do not provide for
spring election tlEt cOnine the preparation OF Ae
sy i9yvn 20 mnncipal officers instead Of comforting
any authority upon Sate officers, and that we do
not remove iron office the four heads OF depart
ments who been appointed since the reform move
We have not recommended minority or proportional
representation or cumulative voting, though some OF US
are as principle, ito friends. because were unani
mously or opinion that III view OF the doubts when ad
beep Suggested as TO its constutonaty, the matter
should be left consideration OF the constitutional
Commission in existence. While Spring election
has i'm theory many advantages IN practice 1t found
that beside being expensive, it does not draw out full
vote does II give Us better officers than Ban elee
With reference tofthe appointment Of heads Of depart
ments, have seen no reason TO change thc system
which prevailed prior 10 the Ring Charter or 1870, OF re-
during the Mayors nominations 70 be confirmed by the
Board OF Aldermen IN analogy 10 The Constitution OF the
United States. The Aldermen, being elected upon
general ticket represent the whole people az much as
the Mayor and the characeroI the present Board war
rants us i'm believing that when the people give us
good Mayor they W Ill give us good Board Of Al
When this Is the case we can sec no why they
should not all have voice in the selection OF heads OF
departments As to the tax levy, we prefer to keep 1t
wholly away from Albany. The Controller, Comns-
sioner OF Public Works, President OF the Department OF
Parks, and the Corporation Counsel have all been APP
pointed under the influence oi the REFORM sthillen
have public opinion done WELL and We have not deemed
IL right TO remove them.
We have omitted everything relating TO public In.
strucon and to the county aud judicial officers, as not
properly belonging to city charter We have deemed
II advisable TO reenact those provisions OF the pres
ent charterI which seemed to us good but have pro
ceeded by way OF amendment, carefully framing our
changes however, that there be no reasonable
doubt OF the meaning OF the whole instrument;
Acting as Republicans, we have not pretended 10 be
indifferent to the wishes interests OF that party At
the same time have rejected all mere partisan de-
vices and have introduced many Of the provisions con
tanned In the charter proposed by lhe Committee OF
Seventy year. We 10 not expect 10 satisfy every
one escape crticism FOR municipal government Is
subject upon when every one aeehs that ne Iias
right to have opinion and 10 der from his neighbOr
We ask, however, any one who ls disposed TO Judge
our work narshy, to examine for himself and if in
fact he does not approve much larger portion OF 1t
than he dIsapproyes. We also ask those who are dis
posed 10 oppose work, remember that any amend
the charter OF the city are 10 come from Leg
Il
We ask also that It be remembered that the obvious
course the hangerson Of the Ring TO pursue in order
70 prevent any reform Is, While Keeping IN the back
ground themselves, to stir good citizens TO object TO
any proposed measure, on the ground hat directive
i'm ths that respect does not carry theO
retic ideas. We also ask them 70 remember that even
tine representatives OF Reform may nave among them
selfish persons who usually the busy, and that
to such Winter at Albany, with full treasury to draw
upon and offices for themselves 10 be secured has It's at
fractions II they claim to be acting the peculiar
representatives OF Reform.
The prominent features of the amendments proposed
by are, the abolition OF the Board OF Assistant Alder
men, assigning the duties OF Supervisors the Alder
and subordiuates OF the Supervisors making heads
all the departments other than the Finance. Public
Works, and Law and Docks consist Of only three
& ,S. iHSssad on nT S Of bcaS. ef IS f az B
go and saving In the salaries OF the heads of depart
men,s alone not less than s74cOO or ineludng the AL
By The abolition Of the Assistant Aldermen aud re-
ducng the expenses OF the Aldermen, Supervisors and
Mayor further saving Of not less than SljsOoO Is
effected. All officers, including the Chamberlain are
required TO over all lees ana Interest TO the treasury
which will give to the city at least 100000 Tie
Aldermen and the heads OF department TO out OF
Office in classes, and not at the same time. The whole
business OF advertising regulated by the establishment
OF The City Record, whereby we believe hundreds OF
thousands OF dollars will be saved Abundant provision
is made for securing the publicity OF an acts of
every department Uf the City Government The prepara
tOn OF the tax levy is confded TO city officers, who wi
from the nature OF their Offices be key TO nc careful in
authorizing expenses. All matters OF finance
fded To the Finance Department. by which all payments
to be made and whore all vouchers TO be filed
The heads OF departments are within their appropria
Ons given control of the salaries and duties OF their
subordnates The system of allowing every department
a separate counsel and attorney Is abolished The Build
ing Department and Fire Marshals Bureau trans
ferred TO the Fire Department. where from the of
duties they belong list OF all officers il required
TO be published once year, and changes are to be pub
lished 5 made.
The following Is synopsis OF some Of the leading
amendments 10 the present Charter;
unchanged 1t the general declaration Of corporate
and Of the city.
Sec legislative powers Of the corporation
Ahegmen Aldermen being abolished.
provides the shall the
the Aldermen, shall appoint all the heads Of departments
whether full Gil Whenever Mayor shall
person the Board Aldermen the latter shall upon
'the nomination by voting confirm reject tie same the
meeting which made the meeting
cedn Every OF department this