The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-12


questions Of extreme difficulty, TO investigate ana
decide the merits Of which is quite beyond me
especially In he multitude Of topics that accumu-
late In the closing weeks Of the session,
EXPERIENCE OF TILE METROPOLIS.
The M ost Instructive chapter on the subject or
municipal government which Is 10 be found In our
civic history s the experience Of our great metro2'
oils, winch stands so conspicuous, not only IN
tnls State, but throughout the Union and before
the wol0. s
AS great cities are rapidly growing up In other
parts OF the state we may study that experience
with advantage. Anterior to the constitution OF
1916 tue practical governing population OF this
State las agricultural. Comparatively little at
tenton had been paid TO municipal government.
In that Instrument. while county ana town sys-
TENS re celyed comparative protection, the char
ters OF cities and Incorporated villages we're left
almost absolutely within the control OF the Legis-
lature.
CHARTER OF $780,
The city OF New York had gone on under
simple, popular government, when had many ele-
ments Of great value. Substantially the admins
tration was conducted by the Mayor and two
Boards OF the Common Council their committees
and the onlcers appointed DY them. the elec-
tons were separate, In the spring OF the year and
were annual. Popular opinion easily became ef-
iectual in controlling he policy Of government.
A political revolution was frequently produced by
the charge of excessive expenditure on the part
OF the city government Tue Inability TO change,
the exposure to publicity, made any ell boraGe
and prolonged plans OF plumber unsafe II not inn
possible.
1t is not meant that the deterioration that after
ward ensued IL TO be ascrlbea wholly TO the new
me thods OF government adopted.
Doubtless important changes have occurred In
the conditions under which the municipal govern
loss OF the habit OF acting in CITY affairs resulting
from the inability to act with effect during twenty
years In winch the elective power OF the people
has been nugatory-decay oil CIVIC training forced
exclusion and voluntary withdrawal from partlci-
patton In local government Tor q generati0n-the
absorption OF the public attention IN the contro-
versi Q. OF national politics, leading TO an aim SC
total neglect OF the questions OF administration
on when the competlt ons OF politics formerly
furneQ-Ene vast ul9DrOUOrLiOn In the numerical
strength OF parties formed on sectional questions;
these are causes which make the machinery or
j lore. - 80 :"
But 1t cannot be DOUBTED that various changes
originating IN a false theory OF government and
continuing through series OF years, by which
the legislative power was very much weakened,
IRON any regulation by the legislative bodies and
practically Irresponsible, but by means OF
government aud a compiexity OF system by walch
the elective power OF the people became inefiec-
tual. were steps in o downward progress.
INTERFERENCE WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
The abuses and wrongs of the local admlnlstra-
ton which found no redress generated public
opinion under which appeal was made, in the
name of reform, for relief to the legislative power
at Albany; and 1t was found that an act could be
easily conirIved whereby one Official could be ex-
PEELED from onice and, by some device, subst-
tute put In his place. 1t was found. likewise, that
the powers OF an office could be Withdrawn
and yes ed in different ofcer or in a commission,
tue selection OF which could be dictated from the
State Capitol.
abuses OF power follow power Wherever II goes.
WHAT was at first done. apparently, at least TO
project the rights Of the minority or OF Individuals
what was I'll ST done for the sake or good govern
ment, came in little time TO be done lor the
purposes OF interested individuals or cQueB DIFF
fevng III politics. as city and state did, party sell
fishnesS and ambition graSped at patronage ana
power and the great municipal trust came TO De
untt TO answer any use or object or government
in civilized community, ana by virtue OF their
structure capable OF nothing but abuses growing
into crimes against the communities IN which they
existed, such as the Board OF Supervisors fected
in 1857, came into existence under the motive
power Of the division OF inc spols which they oar.
tiuoned between their contrlyers, combining
equal numbers from bota parties.
CHARTER OF 1870
The consummation oil this deceptive system was
in the charter OF 1870, when was enacted Ia the
seli-government. IL was long document, lull
OF minute regulations, copied from preceding
laws, but its vital iorce and real object resided IN
a few sentences. Il totally stripped Inc elective
councils OF all legislative power, and covered up
that design by several pages, IN waicn tie numer-
Ated ordinances the councils mad, FRONT line Im-
memorial power TO establish, but when had never
been Thought worthy OF mention IN any previous
act OF legislation.
II practically vested all legislative power in the
Mayor Comptroller. COMMISSIONED oI Public
Works ana the Commissioner OF Parks. Ii va
Gated the Offices Of the existing incumoa the
end Of i've Us, and provided Tor tue apponr-
ment OF tneir success rs By me tneD existing
Mayor, who was one OF the quartet. Every device
TO make these four officers totally uresp ou sIble
was carefully adopted. The existing law, when
Comptroller an0 Street Commissioner had been
removaoie by the Governor, as in the case II
power OF removal, as regards the Mayor. was de.
handed IN the following year and IN 1875 was
corded, with the unanimous consent OF both poIt-
rms cnarler. which practically put In allegiance
the elective power oil the people OF the city or New
York Tor years and set up an ollgarchy OF four
persons. who, aided Dy a subsequent amendment.
had all powers or expenditure and taxation, OF
iegisIa. ION ana administration over a million
enacted nuder q ra
ing local selfgovernment IL was objected at the
time tnat those officers 50 appointed were. to all
Just "a under the system whIcn was 10 be abo-
Isned; that they were In effect as much appointed
by the State Legislature as II their names had
been inserted IN the law, aud tnat the elective
power OF The people was annulled ana rulers set
over them without their consent.
How unanimously that cnaE Ter passed--by what
bar ter OF the municipit trusts aud corrupt use OF
municipal money-and now, within q month, the
Officers placed BY legislative act, without the
Intervention OF new election, In supreme do
mInIOn over 100000 OF our people, divided up
$4,000, 900 OF pretended audit OF 5000, 600 are
now matters OF history. These were the irmts,
not OF popular election, not VI local sell-govcru
ment, but 81 tue elimination Of a system under
winch tue governing officials nad been pTacIcaly
appointed by legislative acts Of the state. the
device OF creating special appointing power 70
do wnat was desired by clique or party or was
agreed upon beforehand, was not perfectly new.
~ nad been frequently used IN smaller way.
~ y, , ~ sun - slel.n7 ".
the state Of tne constitution aud law allow It
the temptation to transfer tue contest Tor
olices from the local ell ctions TO the legislative
hais Will arise as often as aspirants are de-
fe tied and can expect 10 recover there what
tney nave lost al nome. There remedy
but in the refusal TO give TO sucn devices the
sanction OF law, until constitutional pro-
vision snail give permanency to the methods or
appointment and removal in the municipal COVER
ments.
CHARTER OF 1879.
The charter OF 1873, while 1t contains many pro
visions that are valuable stI leaves TO the heads
or departm hits the power TO create Onces aud
nx their salaries, when one has thought Of
concerning on tue Governor or the Comptroller Of
tue state who are properly subject TO tue specific
and minute regulations oil law; and II leaves all
the power oflevying taxes, spending money, ecu
tracing debt TO q large extent, and all the pow
ers OF legislation In the hanus OF the Mayor,
Comptroller, Commissioner OF Public WORKS and
the President OF the Department OF Taxes.
In the nanus OF every one OF the present incum-
bents nave the satisfaction to believe tnat the
IN erests OF the people perfectly secure; but
we ought TO consider what manner OF Institutions
snail be iormed Tor the long lutu1e with its varied
changes OF Offlcia persons whether we will eou-
rnue sucn vast powers having no parallel Ia any
government.