The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-05-05

Legislative Inespseity-rhs MIDDLE Of
the Consolidation Act.
The Legislature of 1874 is likely to be as
well remembered for its incapacity as for it's
dishonesty. Many Of the laws it has passed
are so loosely drawn that they viii prob
ably fail in the objects they were designed to
accomplish, and those relating to the city of
New York are almost certain to increase the
confusion already existing in our city govern
ment. The consolidation Of the city and
county under single administration has long
been advocated, and the measure is one of
great importance. Difficulties were in the
way, because it is impossible to entirely abol-
ish Board of Supervisors, such body hav.
ing powers and duties under the State consti-
tuition which cannot be performed by any
other authority without an amendment of the
fundamental law. Among these are the re-
apportionment of Assembly districts and the
appointment of certain county officers whose
election or whose appointment by some other
county authority has not been di-
rected by Legislative enactment. A well
considered law would have provided
for all these cases and have accom-
plished what the people desired that
the financial business of the city and county
to avoid complication that the Board of
Aldermen should be required to act as Super
visions for absolutely necessary purposes with
out any extra compensation, and that other
expenses of double-headed organization
should be dispensed with. But, unfortunately,
under his especial charge, and the conse-
quence Is that we have muddled, ill-digested
law, which is about as confused and unsatis-
factory as are the official exhibits of our
financial condition.
We publish elsewhere to-day copy Of
the Consolidation law and of the explain
atory act which followed it It will be
seen that the Board of Supervisors is recpg-
nized in the law as still in existence, the
powers and duties Of that body being trans
ferred to the Board of Aldermen, except
that, when by the constitution or laws of this
State any action is specifically required to be
taken by the Board of Supervisors of said
city and county which cannot under
any power conferred by this act or other
wise be taken in any other manner,
such action may be taken by the said Board
of Aldermen as the Board of Supervisors OF
the said city and county" This certainly
continues in existence the body known as the
Board of Supervisors, and, as no provision is
made to abolish the salaries of its members,
they will continue to draw their pay as usual.
Indeed, the first section Of the law provides
that nothing contained in the act shall s'abro-
gate or impair or in anywise affect any right
or interest now enjoyed by or pertaining to
the Supervisors or Board Of Supervisors of
the said county of New York" So the only
effect of the law seems to be the transfer of
portion of the duties of the Supervisors to the
Aldermen and the consolidation of the ac-
counts of the city and county, while the
Supervisors remain distinct body, as usual
for other purposes, and are as much entitled
to their pay and to all their rights and in
terests" as they were before the law was en-
acted This is the sort Of legislation the city
has received from men like Lincoln, Of On
tario, urged on by such astute politicians
as Havemeyer, Green and the Custom House
s'Ring."