The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-28
The Principle Of Local Self-GOvern-
ment-The Costigan Bill.

ment-Vho OOStt&an BILL
The Committee of Seventy was body that
enjoyed good reputation during its exist
ence. 1t labored in a disinterested manner
for the reform of the city government and did
valuable service in the overthrow of corrup-
ton. Three years ago it prepared q charter
for the city Of New York, upon which much
deliberation and research were bestowed. The
charters from 1880 to 1870 inclusive were
carefully examined and maturely considered
in order that their desirable features might be
culled and their faults and errors discarded.
These laws, viewed in the clear light of ex-
perience, were useful in guiding the committee
in the right path and leading it to correct
conclusions. The result was q charter which
received the warm approval of professed re-
formers. A republican organ in this city,
prominent in the cause of reform, spoke of it
in this eulogistic manner:-'It is essentially
the peoples charter. 1t was drafted in
their interest, and not in the interest
of political parties or politicians It is the
deliberate and carefully considered work of q
body of men selected by the people without
distinction of party and charged with the
duty of rescuing the city government from
the abyss OF infamy, degradation and threat
ened bankruptcy into which it has been
plunged by politicians and thieves" The
charter did not become law, it is true but
its defeat was attributed, justly or unjustly
to the corruption of the Legislature, and we
have right to regard it's provisions with re-
spect despite its failure.
This charter of the Committee of Seventy
indorsed emphatically the principle of ''home
rule It provided mainly for municipal
boards of five commissioners for the several
departments, and gave the appointment of
one commissioner absolutely to the
Mayor and the election of four to the
Board Of Aldermen. 1t empowered
the Mayor to remove at his pleasure
all commissioners and other officers Of de-
partments appointed by him, and to remove
'for cause" any commissioner elected by the
Aldermen; assigning his reasons to the Board
of Aldermen" In the words of the charter, Gin
which case majority of those members of
the Board by whose votes said commissioner
was chosen shall proceed to elect another
commissioner in the place Of the one so re-
moved" Thus in the case of elected commits
sioners even the power of removal vested in
the Mayor was final and could not be set aside
by the Board of Aldermen, who were re-
quired to elect another in place of the officer
removed. The Comptroller and the Corpora
HpnUoUpsel were to be appointed by the
I3u6BRnh removable at his pleasure" This
certainly is an influential and disinterested
Endorsement of the principle contained in the
Costigan bill--to w.t. the investment of the
Mayor of New York, elected by and re-
sponsible to the citizens, with the
power to control the subordinate de-
partments Of the municipal government,
and to make vigorous, efficient and harmo-
NOUS administration. 1t is little singular
! that the politicians and the party organs
whose voices were raised in eulogy of these
provisions of the charter of the Committee OF
Seventy three years ago, should now he howl
ing so piteously about the iniquity of the
Costigan bill, and denouncing the PROPOSE.
ton to bestow the power of removal upon the
Mayor as corrupt, iniquitous and tyrannical
The people, however, who want charter as
permanent law for the interests of the city
and not as temporary expedient to subserve
the purposes of the politicians, approve tn
principle OF local responsibility, anu will b.
glad to receive it even ut the hands Of tb
democracy.