New-York tribune., 1877-03-07
MTNJCfPIL REFORM.

The Charter Commission was organized III
teen months ago; its report was submitted 10
the Legislature yesterday. After so protiacted
a period of incubation very large egg was 10
he cxpectcd, and the public will not he dlsap-
pointed, for the report is of inordinate length.
Unfortunately the cheerful cackle OF
the Commission over the completion OF It's
labors falls upon ears that have been dul!ed
by the chatter of the lawyers before the Elec-
toral Tribunal and the ye'ping and bowling OF
Democratic fibnstcrs. The report comes at
the wrong time, and will not, we fear receive
the thoughtful consideration which it merits.
II is the work of an exceedingly able
Commission. at the head of which
stands the leader of the American bar,
the Hon. William NJ. Evarts But the
public is bored with politics, legislation, and
popular government. 1t is not III the humor
to read tie twelve columns to which the Com
mission appends its signatures. we trust,
however. that no reader of THE TRIBUNE will
fail to study the text of the proposed amend
ment to the Constitution and the outline OF
the report which will be found in our columns.
Ii is the abest and most important report that
has been submitted 10 the Legislature III many
years.
The evils in municipal government which the
Commission points out at the outset are burdens
under which our taxpayers nave been stag
ceriug and crouchng since the war. The in
crease of permanent Indebtedness and the
cumulative pressure of expenditures for ordinary
purposes are cramping and crippling our busi-
ness centeys. The Commission with uncrring
hand lays bare the causes Of these intolerable
ho a nd
corruption of governing boards and officers;
CD the introduction of State and National
politics into municipal affairs; (3) the assump-'
ton by the Legislature Of direct control OF
local affairs. The Commissions diagnosis OF
the disease is keen and wise. Every thought
ful citizen has recognized the symptoms and
is convinced that the body polite needs
heroic treatment. This is just what the report
recommends 1t dismiSses various prcscnp-
tons for reform which deal with the symp-
toms rather than with the disease itself. 1t
suggests a mode of treatment which offers an
assurance of effective and permanent relief.
The fundamental idea of the Commissions
scheme of municipal government is this: Those
who vote the taxes should be elected by those
who pay the taxes. The choice of the local trris-
tees of the financial concerns of cities should be
lodged with tax and rent payers. The
brakemen, engineers, and passengers do
not have an equal right with the
stockholders to vote for the directors Of
railroad on the same principle property
holders ought to have the exclusive privilege
of selecting guardians of the municipal
treasury. We believe that the Commits
sion has gone to the root of the
evil. But we apprehend that the Commits
son's system will not be so effective as
it imagnes. According to its scheme only
those New-Yorkers shall be entitled to
vote for members of the Board of Finance
who for two years shall have paid taxes on
property owned by them and of IN assessed
value of not less thar $500, or have paid
rental of not less than $3.50 for premises
used as a place of residence or business.
The Board of Finance, when the popu-
latiOn exceeds 100000, shall consist of
10 members, and as representatives of the
tax and rent payers shall have power to de-
termine the amount of annual expenditure
and to appropriate it for various objects.
The Board is prohibited from making any
expenditure beyond the sum appropriated.
The "pay as you go" principle is to be
incorporated i'll cast-iron statutes, and
money is not to be borrowed nor the debt in
creased except under specified conditions. We
apprehend that this system will not work as
smoothly and effectively as the sanguine pro-
jectors anticipate. We question whether the
barrier by which suffrage is limited is quite
high enough to keep out municipal thieves
One feature of the Commissions scheme is
excellent: charter elections in the Spring.
This is a reform which we have advocated in
season and out of season. The report as a
| whole is thorough, comprehensive, and wise.
IL IL