The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-06

Il HERALD, w ELM EODA
at Albany. ana an ACT was passed whereby one
substitute selected Was put In ONCE. Differing In
politics the city and State did, and with all the
temptations to individual selns1ness and amDltlon
to grasp patronage and power, the great municipal
trusts soon came 10 be the trafflc oil the lopDles
IL Is long since the people OF the city OF New YORK
have elected any Mayor VINO has had the appoint
ment, after his election, OF the important NUM-
cipal o1cers Under the charter OF 1870, ana again
under the charter OF 1873, the power OF appoint
ment was conferred on Mayor already in ONCE.
There has not been an election in many years In
Wc n 'ne elective power o. the People was eee
the heads OF departments In which the actual
governing power really resides
A new disposition OF the great municipal trusts
mas been generally worked out Oy new legislation.
The arrangements were made in secret Public
opinion had no opportunity teact IN discussion.
and no power to influence results. Inferior Offices,
contracts and sometimes money were means OF q
compe tition rom which those who could not use
these weapons were excluded.
Whatever defects may sometimes have been
visible IN system OF local selrgOvernment under
elections by the people, they are Infinitely less
than the evils OF such system, which tnsures bad
government or the city, and tends TO corrupt the
legislative bodies OF the STATE.
popular election invokes publicity discussion
by the confendIng parues-opportunlty for new
party comoinations and all the methods In which
public opinion works out results.
OFFICIAL ACCOUNTABILITY A CONDITION OF NUM-
CIPAL INDEPENDENCE.
NO part or the CIVIC history OF this STATE Is more
instructive than the recorded debates OF the Con-
venton OF 1921, the question OF electing by the
voters Of the counties, the Sheriff. who Is the exec
utive arm OF the state. II was thoughtfuIly con.
sldered oy our foremost statesmen. Its solution
embraced the TWO ideas-the selection by the
locality, and the removal for cause by the State.
The Convention OF 1916 carried its dispersion OF
the power OF choosing local of1cers much further
between the power OF electing appointing the
0licer and the power to hold him to account. II
serve The other to the state acting by It's general
representatives and as unit; TO retain IN the
collective State supervisory power OF removal In
addition TO Whatever other accountability may re-
suit to the voters or authorities OF the locality
from the power TO change the offcer at the eXpi-
ration OF MS term, or rom special provisions OF
law.
The two ideas are not incompatible on the CON
dlspersion OF the appointing power has become
possible only because these devices have been In
vented to preserve accOuDt liability TO the State
The right OF the state oy Its general representa-
tives to remove is capable OF being mace to de-
stroy the local election appointment The right
OF the State Ii IS less IN conflict with
the local power OF election and appointment. ON
clal accountability Is not complete II there Is no
remedy Tor Official wrongs but removal. That rem
edy needs to be supplemented by accountability in
the courts on The appeal OF q taxpayer or citizen
the appeal Will continue to be made, on often re-
curing occasions. to the legislative power; and
the system OF the last twenty years WILL be per-
petuated.
MUNICIPAL PROBLEM.
The problem OF municipal government is agttat-
Ing the intellect OF all civilized peoples In our
own State 1t Is the more interesting and impor-
tant because II involves the half OF all our popula-
ton, which lives in cities or large villages.
The framework OF the system when we should
adopt must be In trenched in the fundamental law,
and protected by constitutional restrictions from
arbitrary ana capricious changes by legislation.
This problem failed OF any solution IN the recent
amendments to the constitution II Is worthy OF
Iong-cOnIln ued thought and debate. Time and
discussion will at last mature safe and wise re-
suit.
TBE ERIE CANAL AND THE TRANSPORTATION PROB
The State OF New York, not denying the general
un1tness OF government to own, construct or
manage the works which AFFORD the means Of
transportation. saw an exception In the situation
and IN the nature Of the canals which are trunk
communications between the Hudson and the
great inland seas OF the North and West. They
connect vast nay1gable pubic waters and them
selves assume something OF public character.
THE NATURAL PASS OF COMMERCE.
The voyage from Europe to America, even II
destined to Southern ports, is detected by the
OF commercial metropolis. That capacious
barbor Is open the whole year, accessible in all
From it the smooth waters Of the Hudson give
transit to the lghtest hull, carrying the largest
CARGO which the skill OF man mas brought into
use. The head of navigation on the Hudson
touches the natural pass OF commerce opened up
in the geographical con1guration OF TINS Cont
nent, where the Alleghenies are cloven down TO
their base and travel and traflc are allowed to
now across on level, and by the narrowest 18th.
that great system Of Inland water communica ton
and interior commerce, the most remarkable in
It's character and extent and accessories that ex-
ISIS in any part OF the globe.
THE NORTHWEST.
Tributary to the western centres OF lake COM
merce, such as Chicago and Milwaukee, are. vast
areas fertile soils, which stretch TO and partly
include the valley OF the Upper Mississippi. open
pralres easily brought into cultiva ton, fitted for
the use OF agricultural machinery, adapted to the
cheap construction OF railways and peculiarly
dependent on their use as means OF intercourse
and trafflc have been opened u settlers at nOmi-
nal prices They have been rapidly filled by q
young. intelligent and energetic population,
trained IN the arts ana industries OF an older
civilization, and applying them to natural advan-
tages which have been found elsewhere only In
conjunction with the social oarbarIsm OF an unin-
habifed wilderness. They are now covered with
q network OF railways which connect my RAIDS OF
little centres with the lake ports and with the
trunk railways that bring them into practical
contigmty to our great Eastern centres OF pOpu-
laton. capital commerce and manufactures.
NEW YORK'S LIBERAL PoLICY-THE ERIE CANAL
TRUST.
New York, without arrogating to itself an undue
snare ia tnese ACME ements may contemplate WIN
magnificent Important as are the advanta ges
which have accrued TO Itself, 1t has not s0agnt TO
monopoze the benefits OF its policy. The price
OF such cerea,s and other products OF agriculture
as exported IN considerable quantities are
mainly fixed by the competitions OF the foreign
markets, even Tor our consumption. The
cneapenIng ol the cost OF transit, therefore, chiefly
profits the producer. This consideration Illus
trates how large and liberal, In the main, is the
policy adopted Dy the State-a policy which had
tue satisfaction OF advocating IN 1916 and 1S67-of
treating these great works as trust Tor the mill
ION, and not seeking to make revenue or profit
Tor the sovereign out Of the right OF way. In con-
Of the State in 1851 in permitting the transit
Tree OF tolls upon railway which II allowed
to be constructed between the termini Of the
Erie Canal and along Its bank 1t had originally
under AIKEN the construction and administration
oil the canal, III order create iacile and cheap
transportation demanded by the interests OF the
people, and not other wise possible to be attained
1t did not get the motive for which 1t mad acted,
and remembered only It's selfish interests as pro-
prietor. It, therefore, by an act which antici-
pated the necessity aiterward to ar1se by the con-
structlOn OF rival routes, repealed all restraints
on the carriage Of property, and opened to Tree
competition every mode OF transit, even IN rivalry
to It's own works, Tor the products OF the West
and Tor the manulact ures and merchandise OF the
East.
NOT TO BE ABANDONED.
The Erie Canal remains an Important and valu-
able instrument OF transport, not only by It's direct
services, but 10y It's regulating power III compe-
tltiOn with other methods OF transportation.
The State, so far as we can now ioresee, ought
70 preserve 1t, and not contemplate It's abandon.
ment.
LAKE AND CANAL NAVIGATION CANNOT BE AssIMI.
LATED.