The New York herald., 1877-02-13
The Mayor and tho municipality

Tho Mayor and the Municipality
The two conferences which have been held
at the Mayors Office on municipal affairs
have been of some use in calling public
attention to an important subject, although
of little consequence otherwise. The call
ing of these meetings by Mayor Ely is at
least q recognition on his part Of the great
importance of putting the city government
on a new tack. The public sentiment of
the whole body of our taxpayers will
strongly support him in every we'll
meant endeavor to alleviate their bur-
dens. But he makes mistake, as the
result of his conferences has proved, in sup
posing that citizens and heads of depart
ments who assemble on his invitation can
supply him with useful ideas. ''What is
everybody's business is nobodys business
and it is futile to expect that wise plans Of
municipal reform can be invented all of n
sudden by miscellaneous gathering of
people who have no particular motive or OBJ
legation to study the subject. The Mayor
himself is bound by his official position to
make himself thoroughly acquainted with
our municipal system, and he. of all
men in the city, should be the
best qualified to detect its faults and point
sout suitable remedies. A conference might
be useful in judging of plans which he had
framed for its consideration but it is as
absurd to expect that such meeting could
supply him with ideas as it would be to
expect a jury to supply the legal arguments
on which it's verdict is to rest. If Mayor
Ely had definite plan of his own it would
be wise to submit it to the criticism Of citi-
zens there are hundreds of men who can
judge for one who can invent. Our we'll in
tentioned Mayor has taken hold of the prob
lem at the wrong end. 1t is his business to
furnish ideas for the citizens to judge of, but
not the business of citizens to supersede his
mental activity and furnish plans for him to
adopt. When he invites another conference
we trust he will have some definite and COM
prehensive proposal to submit for its judg-
ment.
Besides being the fountain of sound ideas
it is the duty Of the Mayor to be great,
stimulating and restraining force in the city
government His energy of character should
be felt through all the departments, COM
pelling them to do their duty when
they are lax, and checking abuses by
his vigilance as soon as any abuse
appears. His power for these purposes is
much broader than his mere legal authority,
if he is competent for his place. No head
of department would dare to proceed in
wrong courses against the rebuke and re-
monstrance of courageous, efficient
Mayor; nor would the subordinates in de-
partment slight or cvade their duties under
a vigilant Mayor disposed to report them to
their chief and insist on their removal. An
active, strong -willed Mayor who had made up
his mind to stand no nonsense could make
it very hot for any subordinate city officer
who either abused his position or did not
come up to the mark of his duties. The
charter makes it the business of the Mayor
to practise this kind of energetic super
vision ITO be vigilant and active in caus-
ing the ordinances of the city and laws of
the State to be enforced" His position
puts him above red tape restraints. He is
not bound to tolerate humbugs nor to turn
a blind eye to the shortcomings of any
department or officer. If he has the requi-
site force Of character he can compel the
removal Of nuisances without waiting
for the procrastinating proceedings of
an inefficient Board of Health, sheltering
itself behind pretended scientific inquiries.
He can enforce the city ordinances which
the horse car companies so habitually evade,
and infuse energy and efficiency into all the
minor officials. It only needs that our
Mayor be man of active mind and resolute
courage to put an entirely new face on city
affairs.
To be sure, he cannot consolidate depart
ments and abolish useless offices in pursu-
ance of the sound suggestion of Senator
Morrissey but he could give powerful lift
to such reform by advocating it with bold
ness and decision. We do not want board
in direction of any department., but one
efficient, responsible head. A great man
has said. ''Boards are screens, and truer
word was never spoken. At the head Of
every department there should be one man
who can be made accountable, and the
Mayor should then hold him to his respon-
sibility.
Love and Lent.