New-York tribune., 1877-07-11
MrAICLpAL SEtEGOTERNNENT.

One of the most important things FOR our
citizens TO bear in mind in connection with the
next State election is the anticipated action OF
| the Legislature upon the Constitutional Amend
ments relative to the government OF cities
and d propos of this subject we have received
the following letter:
10 the Edttor OF The Tribune.
SIR: Now that Gov Robinson has defeated all tie
reform measures that passed at Albany for this
CITY, YOU console your readers by intimang hat II Is
not much of misfortune after ALL as it Will teach us to
1ely upon ourselves You frequently speak Of the desir-
abeness of Local self-Goyernment." VIII you have
the goodness at your convenience, to explain to your
readers what you by this Local Seif-Goyein-
ment ?" While John r. Hoffman Mayor his messages
abounded with this phrase. Coming rom hm, we knew
what il meant. He wanted Board of Aldermen with
enlarged powers. Is this your understanding OF TIE
demand He wanted all Commissions to obecome Bureaus
uDdcr the control OF the Aldermen. lis this your under
standing Of our wansl
Now Mr. Editor il is wth sincere desire to get at the
bst way out OF our present dilemma that make tn'S ie
quest We saa have some months 10 tnlnk over anu
discuss the measure that will be required Tor our s"
t,on bafore the state Legislature Will again be called
npon TO helm Ms. Can agree among ourselves "Hi'
kind OF selrGovemmcnt is possible and eXpedlenti
am ure that we all agree the State Legislature mas
sgnalIy failed To give us relief VIII yoh please "i
great distnctness and, II necessary, WIN co'e"o',
detail Of abatement and illustration, tell us what Hnd o
local legislation you think should be substituted for the
present state legslationf 'i
Nei-- York, July l. 1877.
The scheme of the Municipal Commission
agrees very well with the ideas of Local Self
Government advocated for many years by TIE
| TRIBUNE. and if the amendments proposed by
Mr.. EvaIts and his associates can bc added to
thr Constitution, we shall have at least some
4 i,tt-i, Il-o
management of the affairs of all our
cities The principal points in this plan
of Local Self-G Government are these:
l. 4 responsible executive head, elected by the
people: heads OF departments answerable 10 him
and removable for cause.
.. Debt and expenditures to be regulated by
those who have to pay the money; Board OF
Finance, elected by taxpayers and rcnt-payerS
to have full control, jointly with the Mayor OF
the financial affairs of the community; properly
holders to have something to say about improve
mentS chargeabo upon their estates.
g. The Legislature To be deprived OF the
Hpower to impose burdens upon the tax
payers of the city for purely local at
fairs, to swell our debt, and meddle with our
streets. sewers, railroads and omnbuSes.
A. Local affairs to be separated from State
and National politics by means Of Spring cleo
tions for municipal Ot'cers.
5. No change to be made by the Legislature
in the organization of a city government, terms
of Office, distribution Of powers, etc, except at
the request of the Board of Aldermen, Board
of Finance and Mayor or by the acton of two
successive Legislatures; Mayors, however, to be
removable by the Governor for cause.
| These reforms, it seems to lis, would give
us substantially what we need. They would
put a stop to the inceSsaHt charter-tnkering at
! Albany, which is the prolific cause of debt,
extravaganza, maladministration, political
bargain and sale, and bribery. They would
enable the taxpayers to check the frghtful
progress of municipal cxactions and enable the
people TO hold somebody to account for dirty
streets, runous pavemcnts and a lax enforce
ment of the laws. They would add little to the
power of the Board OF Aldermen, but would
! introduce into the legislative department new
eement-that OF the tax X-payers, who are now
practically without representation i'll a govern
ment of which they bear all the burdens.