New-York tribune., 1875-05-12
CHARTER REFORM.


year. anu were annual. Popular OPINION ehsV
became edoctual in controlling the policy Of govern
ment A political revolution was frequently pro-
duc by the charge OF excessive expenditure the part
Of tho city government The liability 10 change, the ex
posIe 70 publicity made any rnbcrnte ana prolonged
plans or punder impossible 10 Ia not meant
TINT the Deterioration that aferward ensed "a TO be as
adopted
INJURIOUS ORANGES
Doubtless important changes have occurred in the
conditions under which the municipal government Is
carried on. Changes in the populations loss OF the
habit OF acting in city affairs. resulting from the inability
to act with effect during twenty years In which the
elective OF the people has been nugaorydecay OF
civic training forced exclusion and voluntary with
drawal from participation in local government FOR
generation-the absorption of the public attention
in the controversies OF national politics, leading
to ton. an almost total neglect Of tho qnSs:
petitions OF politics formerly tdnedtho vast dspropo-
ion In the numerical strength OF parties formed on
sectional IuestiODs tneso causes which make the
machinery OF popular government work less layOraDy
than before. But it cannot be doubted that various
changes originating in false theory OF government and
afi,e nowcr yarv much wakeno5 and he slendnr
officers became not only exempt from any regulation by
the Legislative bodies and practically Irresponsible but
In the government and n complcxity OF system by which
fhe elective power OF the people became inccctua-
were steps In q downward progress
INTERFERENCE WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
The abuses aud wrongs of the local administration,
which found 10 redress generated public opinion under
which appeals made, Ia the name OF reform for
lief to the legislative power at Albany and was found
that act could be easily coDrived whereby official
could be expelled from Office, and. by some
dovice, q substitute put in his place. 1t "as
found likewise that the powers OF Office
could be withdrawn and vested in different officer or in
a commission the selection OF which could be dcrated
from the State Capitol 1t IL the experience Of human
government that abuses of power follow power wher
ever 1t What at first done apparently at least
IL nj Of If
what WAS first done for the sake of good govern
mcnt, came In little time TO be done for the purposes
OF Interested l'iduals Or ciIqhcs Differing III police
ambition rrasped NJ parnace and power and the great
municipal trust came to be the traffic Of the lobbie In:
wholly 4niit to answer any & use M Ir , Ie, o.
tner STRUCTURE, capable Of nothing but abuses growing
inio crimes against the communities in which they
existed, such the Board OF Supervisors erected IN
1857, into existence under the power Of the
division of the spoils which they paItiloned between
their contr'eTs, coubinns e'iuii numbers uom both
parties
CHARTER OF 1870.
Tho contamination of this deceptive system in the
charerof 1870 which enacted in the name and under
tie rre,ense OF restoring local scligovernmen 1t
long document. full Of minnie regllaiions copied from
preceding laws but it, vital force and r0 object resided
In few II totally stripped the elective coun
ell of all legislative power and covered up that dcsgu
by several pages In which 1t onumcrated ordinances the
council had from tEO imncmOria power to establish.
but which had never been thought worthy of mention
In any previous act OF legislation. II practically
vested all legislative power IN tie Mayor. Controller.
CoumisSOnrr OF Public Works aud the Commissioner of
Parks II vtcatcd the Offices Of The eNstlng nCunDens
nt the end OF tive days, and provided ior ne appoint
mcnt of their SUCCESSORS by the then cxisn Mayor VINO
one OF tine quartet Every device t. make THESE
four officers TOTALLY Irresponsible was carefully adopted
The existing law, which ha stood for many years, by
which the Mayor. Controller and Street Commissioner
had been removable b. the Govclnoi ~ IN tine ci"e ~
sh.T11s was repealed A restoration of that power or
removal. as regards the Mayor demanded IN the
following yeHr. aud IN 1873 was accorded, Win the
unaninons consent OF botn political parties.
HI.
elective power of the people of the City OF NewNork for
years aud act up an oligarchy O four persons. who.
aided Ivy subsequent amendment, had all powers Of
xpe nte and taxati0nof LEGISLATION and adninisfri-
lion over a milian people was enacted under the pre-
tenae of restoring local SELF government II objected
the Tine thI tuse officers sO appointed "clr 40 All
practical ntets AID puIposes coinnlasi"n lust az
uIder the system which To be abolished. that they
were in effect much appointed by the state Legislature
II their had been Inserted IN the law ana 1i
tho elective power OF The people was annulled, and
rulers set over them without Their consent. How
unanimously that charter pa@eh-by What Daricr ol
tl,c municipal trust. and corrupt ust OF municipal
money and how within month. me olDc.IS pIareu ny
"A Legislative act, without the intervention ol ne" riec
tiOu. suprcms dominion over million VI oar people
dYided up four millions OF pretended auc:t OF M tI
millions. are matters of history These Nero the
rruits Of popular election. not or local Fo govern
ment, but of The cnliniiniiOn OF syftm nl inlurf
which the governing officials had pet tn pr.cuiIby
anuonie hy Legislative aca the state. The device OF
creating special appointing power 10 do What "aN
desired ny clique or parry or |i' asrr uton ] ,",ou
hand not perfcctly new. 1t had been neIitltly
used in smaller way TIE contas3n OF suen praoiiees
threaten 10 extend to other Giles pDIc 1pirn i ah
the stato the constitution and Laws aI0" IT, me
10 lraISlr sq l. .oS viii arise as ofcn
A. asirnts are defeated expect 10 recover there
what hey have lost at noe ere Us rs no ~ ~ @ ~
until constitutional provision shall give permanently 10
tho methods OK appointment and removal III muueipai
CHARTER OF 1873.
Tho charter OF 1873 while it contains many provisions
that are valuable s leaves to the heads Of departments
The power Offices and fix Their saiariee when
10 one bas ever though of comforting the Governor
tho Safg
subject the specific and minute Teghia-
tions OF lawj and it leaves all the power
OF lcvyiDg taxes, spending money contracting de't
10 large extent and all the powers Of legislation "A the
hands OF the Mayor Controller, commissioner oi Pubic
Works and tho President OF tho Department OF lakes
IN the hands of every Of the pfesen me1rbeus we
have the satisfaction bceyc that the interests of TIC
people perfectly secure; but We ought TO consider
hat manner Of institutions shall be formed for tho long
with it, varied changes Of official persors-" cthr
VIII continue such vas. powers having no pidiil
70 shun the defect of the charter OF l"1O
respect to removals, II restored TIE power of The re-
nIOyi O Tie mayor bt thc G"'.rhof YFhsdIo IoI luc
removal uf heads OF d'pnrtmcnLs ny IA" Nyof sn1rl
written approval Of the Governor, ths esli Hh
mg an aiilncE'l chera Cpoh an uiuhcu s,ti
Ia secure ludcpcudcucc except III c.7e 3l o'i'i
cnct Oh the part OF Ia" nrnDers Oh tho poy q"
conferred such rXtraoru'iy IrNC. ,i, "i s, Tan,
converting Uigarchlcdl mt" d-i"llc stem
At THE present session vuIous propositions hi't pe"n
introduced and Others have heeh sue-t1t ~ I
ing tnr puWrrs and patronage or the ttN ''oNcihE. ~
None thr,D be.ore me iOr Official acton No
comprehensive well cOLsldfred syst Ia ut e't PO
pnsru listy and PARTIAL changes Dy li"S "pn no."
ey, plan. br their cannot 10 judged ot except
through al utaBoo with tue NHo4e mas 0l pfeced
I'M, I.grla,iou unun which they operate, ana
liArly 10 produce results not iOleseen by tLrir
authors, were not desirable. In tht b'U'i
times of government and legislation In thl5 state
when the tIii,Lu 0f popular rights were respected
tne fOrrIa ion OF chnftr iOr n great city matter
of de,cfaTon The people Ia Dc effected were iuly
consulted. GENERALLY convention OF thrir r,pr'srhl-
lives wa, held u consider The matter, ul opportunity
Wa. gwen DISCUSS and perfect important an m-iru
mrn;. The people allowed Ia eject tnrlr chief
nurrs with knowledge beforehand oi tie Sn,rtdni ial
uur- of the powers tlirse Officers would exercise lh'
alien uf wOri.Iss ial revolution IN the d p"Sltie- Of
governmental powers by legislative act. WIinuut the
Intervention % election that should ai0" ih'
l.pbr Ia eay whom ne" ahd FaoI powers
.honlI be conferred, would have been II dtei a.
| L.. - I'm NJ