New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-01-20

tina wss when no modincation OF that lnst,umen'
alton by those whom II chiefly concerned and upon tne
request Of the MyGr ysars has
been conducted according to the caprice or the SNORT
sgh.9 su ts erence to the actual wants Of the city,
and frequently contempt OF Its most vts interests
sarded as the engrosng subject each succeeding SEES
Sion at Albany; has formed the most prolific cause OF
time that this state OF things should cease The true
interests the state at large equally With those OF tne
WAS admnistered last Fall some of most notorious
obbers the late Senate and Assembly may serve as
the interior OF state have participated in the awa
eng of conscience, OF wheh we have lately witnessed
that majority Of from districts outside of
the city, who really 1onS the S %ns oq
to assist swindIng the people OF new YORK as II
would bo to betrsy the interests OF their immaculate
rho past mssovernment OF this city has been largely
due to deIson fostered for the worst purposes By
gning officials that efficient and honest admnistra
tion was TO be secured rather by certain legislative
nan ns rs rhs recent triumph public
justice who 30 long plundered the city with
impunty and whose escape from the legal consequence
OF their crimes had " be public scandal, Will
doubtless serve 70 lend emphasis TO the fact
that system Of law can secure the city
against spoliston unless we supply honest and
capable hands to administer it, and unless the
judcious selection OF public servants accompanied oy
methods OF strict accountability. aud by sustained
habit Of vigilance in the public mind ITSELF: WIN
has been yet looked into without revealing the neglect
Of public obligations and the unconscientous disregard
OF public duties and great GENERALIZATION IN me Whole
public service, which characterized our municipal al
mnisraton during ring rule It IL In vain to look 70
reform people look the character OF tho men
they elect TO positions Of trust and responsibility.
PRESENT CITY CHARTER.
While the present city charter is very far from being
fautess yet under its provisions we ihaye already
secured the most efficient administration which has been
known for years. The OF the city are more
carefully husbsuded its expenditures are more closely
scanned tho cleaner the requisites OF public
health more strictly enforced there - less waste and
far more valuable results in the dispensing OF public
charity: kept within narrower bounds and our
public school system ia tending toward degree OF ell
cheney to which It has been for time stranger
need scarcely add that such progress as mas Deoh
character which has been brought about by the CO.
operation Of good citizens Of all shades OF political opn-
under which an improved state of things has been
gani,ed But cannot BE- stated with too much empha-
that shall the risk OF sacrificing the valuable
results OF the past and shall certainly endanger Tue
prospect OF further improvement the Charter Is again
TO become the sport OF faction and the battle vi
greedy schemers in the Legislature. To pcrpetuate III
this the bad precedent OF the past Is to gave sense
OF insecurity of tenure which prevents men OF
and standing from accepting once 10 ths CITY, Which
from their Immediate duty OF organizing anu petectng
the mode Of conducting the business ntrusted 10 them
Although the Charter la some respects seems to ex
pand the legislative functions of the Common Council
do not discover that these have any actual existence
Tue extensive powers which the law to confer on
the representatives OF the people are practically neutral
Departments The Legislative body swallowed up and
is largely controlled by the Executive departments.
placed beyond your control and passed By the state
Legislature without your concurrence Your legislative
ought TO be cOexensive with the wants anu ne
eessities OF our people and should control every ten
Of public expenditure find now as "n%'tnaSy
mene have no proper connection With each Other
are not intsrdependent nor subject TO tne ,esa
marked ltc by harmonious cooperation as Is regu
sun de1n Of thelr
independent and each jealous OF the 0he Each las US
own way freed from the power OF the Executive Head
OF tbe Government and free from its legislative branch
law allows you assert your supervisory power over
the departments. retain the opinion chat you Will
md that many Of the functions which they claim
right exercise Independently involve uspations Of
your legitimate authory1an authority which, placed
should he your hands hold It to BE- OF great lm
pOrauce to present and future good government IN hl5
city.
tue same fundamental error the scope local
self government which prompts constant interference
by the State Legislature with share in the direction
OF the affairs OF the city makes tho Mayor dependent
the the Governor for the power to the
heads OF departments. Tho charter throws upon the
city II Is scarcely lust to hold him accountable to the
people OF New.York for the character OF his subordi
less oci, without the approval OF The Governor OF
STATE m Is no. sound In principle that tue oS
tiers. What would be the condition Of things II
every other city Of the State well a. in NewYOrk
The political majority that elects the Governor Of the
|
of the citizens OF NewYork 1t Is both absurd and mis-
chlcv0us TO constitute the representative OF that
Of oce OF the head OF municipal department OF this
ctv. therefore would suggest and ask your cOOpera-
Mayor be invested with the power TO remove for
satisfactory himself the officers whom he has She
power to nominate and that each department have but
head to be nominated by the Mayor and confirmed
| by the Board OF Aldermen.
Legislature 10 supplement the charter and
serve the public interest, which failed Of enactment
| din hau he nf ln
Legislature Chief among them IS the Dill for the con
| sodation OF the city and county governments re
ferred urgent necessity for this enactment In my
trst message and but for INSCRIPTIONS opposition and
trckery in the Legislature. II would have become law
the last session. The artificial distinction, perpeu
aed by the administrative division OF city and county,
ing upon business In view of late judicial decisions
the probable detriment to the taxpayers resulting
from intrustng the auditing power to Boards Com
mtee., has become toera0y apparent The affairs OF
both city aud county should be conducted by one Sci OF
officers and both ought TO be represented by one egsa
| tive body Simplicity and ECONOMY would DO amonS
the least OF sesRs of such change. for the ds':
ton has been for years fruitful source Of confusion
and corruption, aud the Of the miscarriage OF
many salutary projects Of reform.
ASSESSMENTS.
No part OF the laws affecting the government of the
city has been left thorough confusion than that
relating the Laying OF assessments for local improve
ment During the last two sessions the interposOn OF
the Legislature vainly invoked TO correct the mani
fold abuses which naturally attended series OF
enactmens designed and sustained for the interest Of
earliest protests OF revived sentiment of reform
those directed againsthe loss to the Treasury and the
consequent Increase OF burdens TO the general payer
which resulted from the practice OF vacatng assess
ments grounds which the law holds TO constitute
technical lrreguarity. out which the common Of
the public calls frivolous and dishonest gubbling.
These protests have been frequently repeated by the
Controller aud BY myself, sometimes TO your
honorable body. and sometimes to the Legis-
laure, but without result. Corrective legislation,
devised to meet this evil, has encountered at
Albany the organized opposition OF knot OF lawyers,
chief business is to ferret out flaws laying
assessments awarding contracts for local improve
ments. and whose income is chiefly derived from the