New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-12-29
REFORM IN CITY RULE.


ton Of which announced few days ago. mas COM
pletei IFS organization by tho adoption OF constitution
aud the election Of officers and an address has oeeh
Issued by its President DOrman B Eaton lhe Ordinary
membership is limited to 100, and those already
enrolled are Jackson $. Schultz C. H. Agnew Theodore
Roosevelt Howard Potter, LOWS H. Deaaehi. Thoodoro
W Dwight Henry J. scudlcr. George Cabot Ward Park
Goodwin A. p Man, John II. Sherwood. George {. Wet
more Francis b. Thurber. Sinclair Tousey. Joshua
Hendricks Joseph SeRman, Oswald otten1orHnr' A. H.
whitney Charles j. Canda. Joan b. Cornell, Edward
Salomon DAVID Dows Henry Bergh. and Others as IN all
The directors selected are Jackson = Schultz. Henry
f. spauldng John H. Sherwood Charles 5. smith, Fran.
els b. Thurber. Edward Solomon, Sinclair Tou'ey,
Thatcher NJ. Adams, John II. Hail. VIM H. Lee, Samuel
Thorne aud Oswald OttcndOrfcr The first officers are
DOrmau h. Eaton, President; Samuel d. Babcock, wee
President and Robert NJ. Strcbesh, secretary In the
constitution its second article, II Is provided mat
neither influence of the Society shall be
used promote private, Sectarian or partisan objects
The third articles provides that member shall
solicit accept Office or nomintion to Office
while member, within ninety days aiter
ceasng to he u member, except that nothing herein
contained shall any member from accepting OF
holding any office. performing public service for
which no salary fees are provided by law Aftice
VIII requires any matter on the request OF six
members, he referred to a committee Article Kill
appoints Of II directors four to retire each year,
and Article XVII provides for 80 honorary members
articles relate entirely to the internal manage
ment of the Association The President has issued an
address stating the general purposes OF the Association
After brief introduction, he says:
Nothing is more remarkable in municipal condition,
in public affairs generally than the elaborate ana
vigorous organization whether IN secret sOceueS rings
nercenary caucuses, of all the clements opposed u
honest and economical government ON the one side, ana
the almost utter WALL oI pOl.cai d vp
OF united effort among those, on the other hand VINO
favor public virtue and economy. Most lntflll-
gent persons think believe That better government
especially III this city, possible even before sinai nay
reared purcr and wiser generation II TINS OPINION NC
unfounded Is plain that no reform can nov t l H.
except in the education Oh our chaichi Out u ta,
opinion be true then our crushing taxation our lnaho
inhdelics in Office and imported commercial pres
ge may be mainly due t. our failure To make me pest
the present condition OF our public Affairs there
is certainly need vi clear convictions ana prompt
citizens ny united effort can secure better govern
ment and reinygorate threatened commerce, II must
admitted that they do not achieve, they DO not de-
serve results. Every thoughtful man must IN view
Of our municipal experience. now comprehend that the
business prosperity rs well as personal morality Of
NeW-1OTk closely conditioned upon the character
and the economy II It's government
Among the essential conditions in fort for
improving public affairs are these l. Weil-louhde'i
claim TO disinterestedness of motives . The use OF
methods winch deserve the appreciation 81 good QUEENS
And B. the open suit OF ayo"ed Objects fecoehzed rs
important 10 the general welfare.
The following extracts from the fundamental articeS
OF the society quoted:
} The object Of the Society IL TO secure better laws
and honest, efficient. aud economical adinisao iog
the CITY debt in said city. and also To aid in securing
good municipal and other laws and administration Ia OF
/ affecting the state OF NcN-lOrk
e. Neither nor the influence OF the society
shall be used to promote The private interests OF an! %
its members or any Sectardh OF partisan OBJECT pOi
shall the policy acts OF any party as such Oe onc
/ siycly characterized ia debate.
81 Nomemcr will solicit accept any Office or any
nomination for OFF municipal state or Federal WINE
! "A member OF the Society or within ninety daJ alter
ceasng he member, except that nothing herein con
tanned shall excuse any member from accepting OF nod
ng any Office performing any puDhc service iof "heh
no salary or fees are provided by law
The address then discusses at length the provision
against oice-holdng aud oicecekng. arguing that tAe
disnteresedness of all concerned in such an orsanza
ton as this proposes to be far Ouweghs III It's pubic
utility the usefulness of any individual member to tho
public a. an officer 1t combats The idea that the Society
should contine itself simply the reduction of taxation
and debt. 1.-THE protection OF property Is not the
highest object OF government nor are the men OF prop
erty those who need it, protection; aud an at
tempt merely TO aid them would brand the Society az
selfish.
Besides we cannot reduce debts and taxes simply by
reflsn- carry the government q" the city ana the
controlling reasons Why '9at goyrnmeni Is now ne.a
laws old and new in false theories aAd dlsSracoiui
neglect OF the duties of citizenship III methods ol "li-
isfaun, complicated and costly IN the habits OF paying
high salaries, aud ii employing needless nun'f III 10,
bOrcrs at excessive rates. IN pracciug the pcrn ana
par method OF governing city, throus Wh'l le-
rur officers and labOrers, and heavy burdens ia many
imposed upon H. more IN reference 90 hIls VIC
tire uTlcs of parties and the pockets OF then managers
than any regard ion honest OF economical aiuhiS-
r3ou. I'm short, while here ana there coh-llcDic ne,
ductions in taxation can he made through I'Oiatd
economies, really economical honest ann Vigorous al
minstratiOn AZ Impossible, except tmou.i ihiio'.4
measures Of reform as peryadng ana cooperative IN
their effects rs the ineicenhry ana partisan Interests
which now prosper by reason Ot bad administration.
The only basis, therefore as We are persuaded. on
which the Society can stand, or ought Ia attempt 10
stand, IL hoi tht Z" properly OF lldt VI VI ,"
oppression from taxation, hut That 81 tt common
duty ana interest OF al good citizens ana the common
peru nom c"sib ana corrupt administration Al iui
uf thought and OF means and men oil morals desire
strength of the great mass of honest voter, with
them they must sanction the al'aciOus theory
that honest men VINO are rich ana hou' men who are
not rcl have mot common interest ~ public economy,
and having able, faithful public officers and agents
MI Eaton ten discusses the question as 10 now far
the society should made representative in The pOpu-
lar sense and concludes that 10 best representative III
mat It is not scctaIian partisan. and better 50 in
tAat does not reflect temporary changes OF popular
opuion argues that This by signs, is the true
time for cflor; awaken the intelligence OF the COM
munty and consolidate it to secure faithful officers and
economical administration. lie acknowledge that in
the opinion OF the Society the present partisan method
of governing the city is false and perniolons
While the Society believes 30 be the duty Of All good
citizens to exert their influence to secure good nomna-
tons and to vote for city officers under the party system
OF city government while We baye IT, they yet believe
that municipal administration l. rather mass OF bust
ness 10 be done Oh business principles tbhn OF pollcs
10 be managed by party l,adtls ana mat etoin9my
affairs until the party system Is aphhtohel' and "A
method OF voting aud appo ing officers ana agents Is
limit The opportunities OF party organizations to control
ami make gain IN such affairs. The great ssle: ABOUT
winch parties gamer, ana 10 WHICH iUlthcf u
saluary mainly national, and they are IN respect
municipal Party action, III regard 10 city admlhstra-
ton is almost based any political principle,
and hcnce is generally corrupt 50 far not wholly
.bseryient - external policy and interests
The address then briefly reviews tne abuses OF our
municipal government, and closes . follows:
Here at our doors where blessed with providen
tia adv antages which have tuS far enriched MS with
nations commerce, In tins great metropolitan city, whose
morals, vices crimes, Journals ana fashions even, are
potent example and Inspiration for good or tor evil over
the whole Union. Is first and paramount duty and
less tire Interest than the duty Of Its citizens,
In as they ma take that NcW-NOrk city be
we'll governed and OF good roputean honor and not
peril To republican institutions.