The New York herald., 1876-12-24

Godkin. Simon Stern, Edward Cooper, Henry +. Di-
mock, judge i.ott Joshua Van Colt Samuel Hand, OF
Albany. and Professor Anderson, OF Rochester. A
lew days atsrward the commission met and organ
,zed. Mr. Evarts being chosen President and Mr.
stern Secretary. Nearly all the members OF the
commission werc present nj this meeting, and the
speeches which were made on the occasion evinced
the utmost interest In the task imposed upon them
Judge Van Cott argued against tho injustice oil the
present method OF taxation and and the
money and lend their credit Mr.. Evarts believed
our municipal forms too antiquated and cumbrous,
aud, nike the oloiashioned stage coach. out OF har.
mony with the age. But the principal thought which
animated the commission thc belief shat more
ticse was necessary TO The consideration OF the I'M
portant questions devolved upon them than was al.
lowed oy the terms OF the resolution under which
they were appointed In consequence OF this opinion
an application WINS made 10 the Legislature extend
The time Tor the completion OF the work, and the CON-
mission WAS given another year IN which TO perform
their onerocs undertaking
WORK OF rHx COMMISSION.
In the long interval which has passed since the or
ganization OF the the members OF this im
thoughts to this work Except during The summer
months they have met regularly every Saturday and
spent most OF the day in the discussion OF problems
submitted to them tor solution. In tho summer
there almost continuous session Al Saratoga.
The result OF this labor has been the compile
tion oI helr work. and the commission nov ready
To submit their conclusions tho Legislature and the
people VI tho State. Their recommendations viii be
found DO both radical and comprehensive No half
way course has been adopted and half way meas
will be proposed. Tho scheme embraces consti-
tutiona amendments for extending To the cities OF the
the taxpayers against abuses from the local governing
officials The forms OF general law will also be pro-
ganzcd, and prescribing the terms and con-
ditons under which tho municipal
.horites shall operate. These measures wall
enforcing the recommendations Of the commission.
The report not yet finished but the recon menda-
tons themselves arc completed and the line of argu-
ment and explanation by which they are TO be sup
ported has been agreed upon. Everything Will be
ready for the Legislature the rst
D but Ilxely that even then
hercucan task OF the commission Will not be ended.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMESDxKSrs
The conn ssion found very early in their dcbera-
tions that any recommendations they might mskcsor
any measure they might propose would be compare
agree upon based and supported aud sustained
by amendments 70 the constitution OF the State Thcsc
amendments are, in consequence, the pivotal points
upon winch all their deliberations turned. They arc
the germ OF the system nnd II thoy should fail the
whole scheme would fail with them. rhe message Of
Governor Tldcn, boore referred contained two sug
gcstions OF peculiar iorcc and value. They wcrc:-
/. That there be an organism under which the cleo
tive power OF tho people can act conveniently and
effectively and can exercise actual control ut
election over those VINO represent IL In the local admin
isiration.
q THAT while tho responsibility or public officers to
the voting citizens BIO made effective and they be made
amcnabe 10 the taxpayers oil the locality through tho
courts accountability to tho State be preserved through
regular methods that the existence OF such appeal
OF the minority and OF individuals against the wrongs
OF governing officials will render unnecessary and in
excusabe the frequent legislative lnterventions which
have practically destroyed all sclfg0vernment created
more local mischief than they have remodied, and
have grown to be proac or abuse and corruption
the Legislative bodies.
II viii DO the object OF ono Of those amendments,
while securing TO the people the right OF seligovern
ment TO cmbody AMI intrench In the constitution tho
principles contained these suggestions of the Gov
crnor. Another amendment to bc proposed by tho
COMMISSION IS oven more Important. This one relates
municipal expen taxation Its object will
be to protect the municipalities IN tho contraction or
municipal debts and tho ioaning OF the municipal
credit. Upon these amendments Is 10 be based
system OF local administration AS radical and comprc
hensivc as II is safe ana practical
CONDITIONS or TIE Nkw SYSTEM
In order TO carry the organization into effect the
Mayor oi city IN this state IS 10 DO made sonnet hing
more than an ornamental functionary. He will bc
clothed with real power and held 10 real RESPONSE
blity He Will not be part Of legislative quartet
be Invested with any legislative power whatever but
hts duties, which Will be strictly Defined will be
trcy executive aud administrative. On the other
hand elective boards OF Aldermen or Councils are 10
be established In the municipalities, and TO these all
legislative authority Is u bo committed Even tho
power OF making appropriations Is not 10 be denied
thcm aud thor responsibility ~ TO be nude commen
with their authority. This will be u restoration
OF ancient privileges, especially In the metropolis, but
ouigrowth OF tho dangers developed by past
Tho people will thus be enabled to choose
local rules aud these VIII be mado both responsible
and amcnablc. As corollary OF all this the local
boards imposed upon communities by central
,Lorty. IN no way subject 70 tho Local Local win,
agement OF the municipal police, nro health charity
and CORRECTION street and park service will be entirely
subject to local supervision ana control There
will no longer be un ogarchy in the city Hall and
other 0ligarchics untrammeilcd in their actions and
practically irresponsible IN every department Of tho
municipal service 1t will thus DO that under the
new system municipal administration 10 DO made
complete aud harmonious whole, and that tho
great ctcs OF tho State are no longer 10 be subject
The whims partisan cxpedents Of tho legislative
power ut Albany The tinkcring of charters will
and the nanpulaors VIII be lei. not only to govern
themselves but 10 take OF themselves. Tho de-
tails VI scheme vast and 50 comprehensive,
TO the people and yet SO safe 70 tho paes, Will
be awaited with tho greatest interest and tho whole
question cannot fail TO be tho absorbing topic OF dis
and debate at the State Capitol this winter
TAXATION EXPENDITURE.
Besides the constitutional provision relating
tion and expenditure tha commission has carefully
considered the whole question IN its practical aspects
and operation. The powers OF assessment and audit
are important rs those OF administration and lcgs-
iaton. 1t has bcen the aim OF the commission TO pro-
vide system which Will meet all the requirements
aud perform all tho functions Of this To that
end separate and Independent board is 70 be constu
ted THIS Board will DO IN reality the financial power
all the cities oil the State and II Will be check
upon at the same time that u independent OF the
other departments OF the municipal government.
This Board Is 10 be elective, but Its most important
feature that IL IS TO be elected by abridged sun
rage. The commission think that in all great cities
there Is al least element which has no right 10
participate in taxing and spending the money Of the
others This element IS composed OF the people with
out properly, and who arc consequently without any
right to assist In disposing Of The properly OF others
IN word, the bummers. Upon them the commis-
sion viii mako relentless war, and, while their right
o suffrage 10 not 10 be restricted In other respects,
they not to bs allowed to have voice i'd the
matter Of choosing the Board OF Assessment ana
Audit 10 constitute cittzcn qualiuod to vote Tor the
members oil this Board personal may be required,
but property qualification oi some kind will be the
primary necessity. This provision will be something
alter the EnBs system OF household suffrage. This
suggestion is perhaps the radical and novel In
the whole scheme to be proposed by the commission,
but fet that In the election OF the financial rulers
OF our cities It Is necessary TO deprive this dangerous
element Of the ballot. IL Is provision which Is like
TO encounter much opposition Ms well us 10 receive
very determined support. and whether II will be
stricken out altogether, adopted II stands
tended In us applicaton Il is impossible now 10 pre-
dict. The powers and responsibility Of tho Board of
Assessment and AUDIT are also points which are likely
to provoke good deal OF discussion, but tho whole
subject Will be before the people OF the State,
and especially the cities of the state that II Is
necessary 10 anticipate the result
A RETROSPECTIVE GLANCE.
From this review Of tho abors Of the Municipal
Commission and the result O their deliberations some
idea may be formed OF tho magnitude vi their under
taking and the vRiue Of the results which have
obtained. Emergency legislation had made II neces
sty that like exgencies may be avoided III the future.
II was constituted 10 frame general system oi inu
nicipa government for our great cities upon certain
Al Hxs.s nff rtutfa oAnia unAll