The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-21

The Removal bill was debated with some
sharpness in the Senate yesterday. The
ground of objection to it most dwelt upon
was the danger of intrusting so much power
to party governors of the ordinary stripe.
Governors like Tilden or like Dix might not
abuse such power; but who can answer for
the conduct of INSCRIPTIONS party politicians
in that Office? If Governor Tilden had
lite tenure Of his Office it might be safe to
make over oil powers of the State administra-
ton into his hands; but nobody can vouch
for the character of his unknown successors.
SO much authority would be less objection
able if the other State officers were elected at
the same time as the Governor. In that case
they would all belong to the same political
party. and he could have no party motive for
making removals. But in point of fact all
the heads of the executive departments are
chosen by the people in a different year from
belong to one party and the Gov
ernor chosen the next year should be-
long to the other there might be a
strong temptation to remove them on trumped
up charges for the purpose of giving the
Governors political friends majority in the
Canal Board, Of which those officers elected
at different time from the Governor always
form majority. If all the State officers were
chosen at one time it might be safe enough to
allow the Governor to remove his political
friends elected on the same ticket and by the
same party as himself In that case he would
be under no temptation to make removals on
false pretexts.
If there are any particular State officers
now in power whom Governor Tilden desires
to remove the Legislature could act more in
diligently if he would let it be known who
they ara When the bill was before this
Legislature for comforting upon Mayor Wick
ham the same power which Governor Tilden
asks for himself nobody was kept in ignor-
ance Of the specific use which the Mayor
would have made of the authority. 1t was
because the Governor knew at which of the
heads Of municipal departments the blll
was aimed that he exerted his influence
to have it defeated. If Governor Til
den would disclose his precise aims
with the same candid fankness the Legisla-
ture could act with more intelligent percep-
ton of the effect of this Removal bill. As he
set his face against the bill for comforting on
the Mayor the same kind Of power which he
asks for himself, he should not be surprised
at the hesitation Of Senators to gratity his
wishes 1t is supposable enough that the
next Governor of the State may be in no re-
spect superior to Mayor Wickham /; and If our
worthy Mayor, against whose integrity there
has never been a breath Of suspicion, cannot,
in the Governors estimation, be trusted to
remove city officers for cause, it would seem
an assumption Of superior virtue for the
Governor to ask precisely similar powers in
relation to State officers. Inasmuch as the
heads Of city departments are appointees Of
the Mayor, and the heads OF State depart
ments are elected by the people, it would
seem that the Mayors power of removal,
instead Of being more restricted, ought to be
more free and untrammelled than that Of the
Governor. 1t does not become any Gov
ernor to ask such power as q mere
mark Of personal confidence in himself
1t is hardly in good taste for the Governor to
arrogate to himself lofty moral superiority to
Mayor whose integrity was never challenged.
The people Of this city have a right to de-
mand that Governor Tilden be consistent.
Let him stand on some defensibe principle.
If it be sound principle that the Chief
Executive should have power to remove sub
ordinate officers, let him acknowledge that
what is sauce for the Governor is sauce for
the Mayor, unless. like Comptroller Green, he
thinks honesty is in 50 few hands as to be
why Mayor Wickham may not safely be
trusted with the same power Of removal which
he asks for himself?
Mayor Wickham honestly showed his hand,
but Governor Tilden conceals his. So far as
frankness and open-dealing are title to con-
fdence the advantage is on the side Of the
Mayor The public have been in no doubt
as to whom Mayor Wickham wished 10 re-
move, and the opponents Of the Costigan bill
acted with full intelligence. But the
supporters and adversaries Of the Re
moval bill are called to legislate
in the dark. Why does not the
Governor give some intimation as to
which OF the State officers he wishes to re-
move? Il nobody in particular, then there is
no particular reason why the bill should be
passed at this session. There will be State
election in November. at which the people
will choose SIX Of the nine members of the
Canal Board-a two-thrds majority. If,
therefore, there is no immediate necessity for
removals. the Governor is asking a mere mark
Of personal confidence in himself Ii would
be beneath the dignity Of the Legislature to
pass an innovating law as mere compliment
10 Mr. Tiden. If the Governor does not
want power to remove any Of the present
State officers, but only the officers who arc to
be elected next November, his request implies
!, d;efr4,et ~ fha r,a0rIa What nreeont rea-