The New York herald., 1877-03-07


the present difficulty does not consist IN the want
OF adequate penal laws but IN tho lack OF abiy to en-
OF local affairs by The Legislature IS al once rejected
and "thc Withdrawal ct power from local governments.
or the Limitation OF 1t by positive enaciment, Is not
deemed expedient as a remedial measure. The opposite
overwhelmingly, wholly 10 deprive tho Legislature
CT the power Of nterven considered equally in
admissible, and the commission have no conhdence IN
the scheme 10 confer very powers upon the
Mayor which their report says hnas no supportin the
established principles OF popular representative gov
ernmcnI Civil reform is also considered as
one oil tho suggested improvements, and Is rejected oy
| the commission, who ray that however desirable II
| might be to introduce reform which would change
the methods OF accession ~ minor political Offices
from that political patronage competitive exam
nation they are persuaded that under existing CIR
cumstanccs the intensity with which Partisan strife Is
carried on within The limited OF municipality
torbds the hope OF its successful Introduction until
the national and State governments shall have set the
example, and demonstrated me superiorty o. US
der our present system by increasing popular interest
in the affairs oi local governments is also deemed IN.
adequate. and tho unable 10 resist tho
present vi local adminstra-
ton based upon fundamental errors which rem
der wholly inadequate 10 inc government OF cities,
aud that tho work OF amendment must begin ut tho
| very foundation OF the structure
COMMISSION.
Tho important junction Of unfolding the plan OF tho
commission and defining the principle on which It
rests next fulfilled by the report The extended sur
vcy ana examination OF the origin and nature OF
existing municipal institutions led says ut all early
crai application OF universal suffrage In the elecion
0f the local guardians anu trustees of the financial IN
OF public corporations IN
cordance with sound principles or suitable TO our
present condition. Entertaining, however, natural
jealousy OF any suggestion which might wear the APP
pcarancc OF a departure from the principles OF Amer.
can poty the commission preferred TO direct their
first Efforts toward discovery OF some mode OF
arranging the local administrator which, without dis
turbng the elective system should givc promise OF
reform Of existing abuses. Alter tho most careful
debcration their conclusion was that the choice OF
the local guardians anu trustees OF the financial
concerns OF cities should be lodged win tho
taxpayers To admit 10 participation in
the funds 10 be administered was not IN conformity
with the principles ON which human anairs are con-
ducicd ana was u departure from the general policy
oi State frequently declared by the Legislature
The object OF c,zens IN respect 10 local government
the report went 10 say should be TO select IRON tho
community such guardians prudent stockholders
would choose 10 manage the concerns o great corpo
ration. Tho plan adopted hitherto seemed no better
adapted secure u good admin stration than mode
OF election railway corporation, ny which conduc
tors, brakcmen, trucKmen, engineers anu passengers
should have an equal right with stockholders
for directors Inuced, when our present system was
fairly subjected TO tho test OF principle there seemed
be little room for argument IL stood seii-con-
dempcd.
ACCORDANCE POLICY OF THE STATE.
The established policy oil this State IN respect
TO tho administration OF the financial concerns
OF municipalities admitted the Limitation oil the
exercise Of the right OF suffrage on qaes-
tions Of expenditure and taxation to tho
taxpaying portion OF the community. From the
tact thai IN elections city officers all voters partic
pated, y had come to be a common belief that the
question OF submitting the local government OF cities
IN ali respects TO the full operation OF universal suf
rage had after the fullest consideration Of the Legis-
ial1re and people of tho State, been deliberately
adopted. THIS was an error the correction OF which
the commissioners deemed OF great Importance; not
because the question oi The wisdom and
expediency Of the policy depended upon whether 1t
has heretofore been estabshed for, II such were tho
fact, the policy should be reversed II found MIS-
chevous but because all considerable errors upon
important subject greatly obstructed the pathway to
a just CONCLUSION.
ain The State of New York says the report, "there
are some l20 villages. all OF which possess form Of
local government which contains the general TEXTURES
city charters In The establishment oi these gov
ernments the Legislature has had before IT, In each
instance the question to whom II should cntrust the
control OF financial concerns. The universal general
solution given to this question has been TO entrust
them 10 the taxpayers alone"
THE POLICY APPLICABLE ALL CITIES.
That the financial should be thus carefully
placed under the control OF the taxpayers in those
smacr communities. where the number Of the un-
rejecting vicious population and tho faciitos for
successful combinations among greedy aspirants for
the control OF public patronage aud plunder are
paratively small, ana that these obvious safeguards
should be wholly omitted In the great cities IS, The
comm ssion think, striking anomaly. but an ano-
may, however, which they arc glad to say is not the
result OF deberaton, but rather OF accident They
same methods to large cities ana 10 small
communities, their opinion Is that ''the establish
ment of representative body, 10 be chosen by tho
taxpayers Is The proper mcthod by which they
control the question 0t expenditure and taxation in
large ctes but the provisions oi the constitution,
declaring In effect that ail elective officers are DO
chosen by universal suffrage, stands IN the way OF
such procedure. "
"In recon me ndiug as we do" say the commission,
"the establishment OF a uniform system based upon
the fundamental principle OF representative govern
ment that the assembly which votes the taxes should
be elected by those who contribute toward the taxes
imposed, VIC remove all anomaly, but suggest no IN.
novation. On the contrary, recognize and extend
the established policy of the State anu provide mode
by which 1t everywhere be conveniently admins.
tered"
Before proceeding further the commission consider
several objections which might possibly be urged
pssssps pS"s s1Sy 'SS by saying a' It's It's
In view the distinction between what can be accom-
pllshed by legislation and what cannot be 80 accom-.
bs abused ana checks against such abuses be
ployed; at tho same time the introduction Of too
numerous checks tends to cripple the beneficial ex
crcse of power They then submit their scheme iol
lows:-
All useful Efforts for Improvement in local government
The mode by which the competent and faithful
bodies and executive Officers can be chosen
for the public welfare
The nterposition OF checks TO prevent the possible
Gnded by these general views the commission propose
poated In the constitution OF the state, OF which the fol-
Trsfhe the entire business of local nd
TO the s.a.e is
OF making the general laws under which the local Affairs
are to DC and also supervision OF the man"
Sond-A chief xecutive officer cloth ed with the author
y Of general supervision and with the unettered
appoint the other principal executive officers except those
Immediately affect the matter Of the pubis expenditures
the OF removal, subject, however the
approval OF the uovern0r.
Thir,t-A Board OF Aldermen clothed, with all the
legislative powers such relate taxation and
expeudtu and elected. present. the people
Fouh--A body, called the Board Of Finance, to
be elected by payers. with such
relate taxation expenditure ana debt its prncpa unc
tons being etermne the OF the annual expeu
diture and to appropriate to its various objects ami
poses The of this body made requisite the
pointment OF the chief financial and law officers.
Fjt-A detailed plan desi igned to be complete ITSELF
efficiency order aud frngality IT, the financial
and TO be executed by the Board OF Finance
Its main features
L. The determination in each year OF tho Of money
requisite expended for all objects aud purposes aud
thereof be raised by taxation. the levy
ing OF the latter
The the time of the whole to
be expended To the several objects and purposes.
The certain realization pi the ente amount appropri
by compelling the relieving OF deficiencies im col
lection Of taxes.
The prohibition of expenditure beyond The
appropriated by making al contracts engagements In
excess thereof void
SirU--A further enforcement o. the maxim pay
go" prohibition against borrowing or ncurng