New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-10
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.


NUCLEUS OF MUNICIPAL POWER.
A RETURN TO THE TOWN MEETING SYSTEM WHICH
DE TOCQUEvIIIE FOUND IN AMERICA-REAL Is
TATE OWNERS ORGANIZED AS A DISTINCT DE-
PARTMENT or THE GOVERNMENT FOR THE Exc
CUTION OF PUBLIC WORKS.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: Badly as the conduct of our municipal
affairs mako us appear as community, we are proba-
bly, better than make this suggestion " the
credit Of my native city, because after an experience OF
upwards Of 80 years in it o business man, public
officer and politician my reflections discover the appar-
MT source Of its greatest political discredit to be nothing
more serious than the dsuse OF principle In ls admin
isratOn which in practice would be In perfect harmony
with the liberal suffrage enjoy, and which has seemed
SO insignificant, disconnected from the suffrage consd-
Grafton as to be generally overlooked refer here to
our citys undertaking, through the agency of public
officers emanating from the whole body Of the voters,
the performance of certain work. simple OF execution
but involving vast expenditures in the aggregate which
the legislative power chosen by free suffrage should
always CONTROL but which resident of real estate
to which the work especially appertans should have the
privilege OF executing in the drectedby the legis
atiye power instead OF their being peremptOriy COM
PEELED by it, as now contribute moneys in the form OF
Onerous taxes and levied under the petene
OF proper execution Of the work by the publc-moneys
which supposed to find their soon afterward in
large proportions into the treasures OF the NATIONAL
political parties. This work includes street-opening,
regulating grading sewering paving lighting cleaning
and repairing and all analogous duties connected with
real estate; AMI the execution OF such work In one
shape or another by the individual real estate owner is
O common occurrence in the municipal system OF the
State the city population has increased in numbers
and decreased In homOgeney this character OF work In
it has, seemingly through inadvertence and without
apparent public design, become centralized under the
lAff hn m
whirled about confsedly with the issues of National
parties; while in the municipalities of the State which
are smaller and homogeneous, such pernicious In
novaton does not appear In the Wescheser villages 1t
is quite for the resident real estate owner 10
regulate grade fag &C. front OF his real estate at the
command of the village authorities, or have them do the
work his default and at his EXPENSE and in the VII
lagos Of the State Incorporated under the general statute
even appropriations for village purposes can only be
voted for by those residents who owners OF property
liable to be assessed for But such special legs
aye power Is secured to the property holder in the city
and none il here claimed in his behalf
the purely executive duties referred to were left to
real resident in the city they could be re-
qulred discharge them through single incorporation
including their whole body, and thrOughan office similar
city department for the discharge OF such duties and
tho body thus charged with these duties should have
power hold elections in other corporations for the
officers OF such department. Such an organization OF
municipal power interfering with the rights OF none,
adequately protected having sufficient dignity and
influence and forming q forum from which the
public expressions of numerous body OF the
citizens who in many respects practically
disfranchised, would go forth in an ordeysy ana
Impressive manner In effect the desired principle OF the
town meeting, which is the primary school of American
craftsmanship would be restored 80 far as the principle
seems applicable to the political condition OF city like
Lutte requirement Of the public safety owing to the great
number and compactness the criminal the vicious the
idle the Indifferent and the transient in Its population
"a voters and az persons not entitled to vote The body
would include persons Of quito limited pecuniary MEANS
az well as persons Of wealth, and women as well as men,
and it would probably DO quite as representative OF the
interests all classes Of the citizens as any political Or
ganization now existing In the city.
IL il believed that while the maintenance OF this expe-
dent would strengthen and dignity the local legislative
council elected by the general suffrage OF the ctzeps 1t
would avoid the effect demorazing to the State and toe
city, OF the frequent and caprc0us nterferences with
the City Government which occur in the legitimate
exercise the States supervision and under the SEEM
ing justification OF existing local msrue arising from the
quasi socialism In vogue in the municipal administration
The methods which should compel this Incorporated body
TO perform its duties, and which should provide ior
mucting the body In its default might then be leIt
safely as well consistently TO the discretion OK the
local legislative Council agency OF our present frce
suffrage which would be in constant supervision or the
subject and yet dscreety removed from the existing
te,nptation of the enormous expenditures involved
Presenting the matter concisey, submit that those
who support the system which is here proposed and
which embraces direct application OF the means at
command tho ends required and consequently greater
economy the application Of power oppose Socialism in
the prevalence it exhibits in tho present municipal ad
Innstraion and that all those who do not support 1t
or something equally eicacous, sustain such Socialism
to the extent OF their influence withheld.
Eeto- York, March q, 1875 JAMES II. WELSH