New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-06-05
A VETO BY THE GOVERNOR.

THE KINGS COUNTY CHARITIES BILL.
AN ECCENTRIC AND ARBITRARY METHOD OF AP-
PoINTMENT-No GOOD TO BE GAINED By THE
NEW MEASURE.
ALBANY, n. Y, June 4.-Gov Tilden has
deposited IN the Secretary Of States office the bill enti
tied IAN act ~ provide for the creation OF Board OF
Charities and for q better administration Of the public
charities the County Of Kings with the memoran-
dunn, Not approved" The Governor says:
This bill creates novel aud eccentric appointing
power. in which it vests the authority to appint com,
charities OF Kings County in the County Judge ana Tue
Sheriff OF the county, VINO are 70 met a, t -, con-
stute such commission, and If they do not agree WITHIN
ten days the County Judge l. t TO appoint SIX srd snd
either fails for 20 dVs to appoint his share, the govern
appOiI ted to fill the vacancies THESE provisions,
in effect divide the appointments between the judge
aud the Sheriff These officers have no motive 10 maze
escS 90 tess oNirTs viii nav the absolute power 10 APP
point oDehaf Uf the governors Ia practice, SIX soH
errors will be named by the County Judge anu Blk VIII
The practice which has grown up in administrative
boards Of dividing public trusts among the an ivid
age involved in them is itself an abuse OF power and a
breach Of duty. THIS bill commands such distribution
between two puio officers the purpose Of effect
Ing such distribution two political parties IL
that the nam consideration Is tnat the slos u
office should be fairly divided and ignores the rghi ana
interests Of the public IN the administration VI Ohcla
trusts $780,, A.. =,
officers OF the description of the governors shall DO
elected By the people or appointed by s1eh Oea m b
Con tutOn undoubtedly Is that such Oeers shhii no.
10 effect appointed by the Legislature through
crcutous device that they shall either be chosen by
the people Of the locally OF appointed by some hdtui
cannot ne snooed that the people voted the County
Judge or tue Sheriff II contemplation Of the appoint
the charities OF the great County Kings The authority
created Oy this bill is conferred ON them aie Iey "ore
i'm office There nothing in the nature or functions o
their offices 10 suggest tue pioprlFt OF sueh 9enee'
TheIe example IN laws OF an act cOneI1ng me
fuyp ID
less cOuferring on sn r AN appointing power
IN Tie second city Of the state present bin
kinds and degrees OF unntness IL Is wholly novel
the Sheriff to his Office. Tat office Is lucrative IL Is
the sport Of partisan contests us duties are OF natie
when does lead u the selection Of persons having
the elevation OF character which the people usually re-
Sne in hE adSa NOT or oran a be- apepaied
that very goOi selection OF governors
Of Charities would emanate from such an appointing
power The prseDt case Is attended with incidents sun
pore dscouraging and repulslVe; i am informed med "
tee Of citizens to whom the consideration OF this
matter intrusted. that 1t was unanimously
Alone, and that the Sheriff Was afterSard nerpoatcd
Without meaning TO express any opinion the measure
rs originally stood M It's general character or 10 sane
ton tine policy Investing Judicial Officers WIN
10 the Saa o dHas'0Ii the t esss
and circumstances under which that change made
Increase tue dis,rus OF the expectation that pract
which the bill involves.
The Governor then proceeds 10 detail the experiences
OF such legislation, saying OF
government in the City OF New-YOrk during the last
% years have been inflicted by just such leg!sla-
ton az is proposed by this bill. lie also
quotes from his fret annual message TO
the Legislature In 1875 nvasions Of the rights the
people to choose their rulers and TO manage their
own affairs quotes from his special message
municipal government The Governor concludes as
follows:
without entering the inquiry whether clear or
commanding public benefit or necessity nIlgt create
exception tue application or these principles, IT Is
enough To that sucn question Is raised by to bill
Two OF the i've Commissioners of tho present Board OF
Char. ties TO be elected by the people OF Kings
to doubt their choice will be likely good
IS the arbitrary selection private agreements
Sheriff to Elk of tue twelve proposed governors
At any rate the public will have some chance TO kLOw
about hem. they will be submitted to the test
of an open aud public discussion. II ALI appOntiye
method be preferred 70 an elective mehod
organs Of the popular Will it than tue Sheriff or
the County Judge, he found BY separating the
charity system the City Of Brooklyn that OF the
County Of Kings better achinery than the IL gov
OF the charities Of Kings County be devised
1he experience OF the 10 governors OF the CHAIR
tics Of City of NewYOrk was disastrous, and
they abolished with universal applause The APP
ponnents by the County Judge and Sheriff. IL the pro
posed bill should become ID Law, for one. two three
and four years, and change he made without
tue concurrence OF all three branches of the
legislative power. Tue remedy for error or
wrong In the selection would be much difficult than
at present, and n tho expedent should fa real
zing any Improvement on the present system, II would
greatly delay the possibility OF etecLing improve
ment or all tho gentlemen who Lave favored
none Lave approved such method OF ap
pointment ~ y, rmanent system. have any pro-
Tossed TO regard the sheriff lit safe depository
such power, offered any sort of justification for
scheme hitherto totally unknown In the laws Of or poity
OF this State
We witnessed a touching scene the other day.