The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-05-15


Crude and faulty ~ whole. the Omnibus
Charter bill is crude and faulty IN detail.
The cost Of the spring election under it
would not hc less than Slil,O0O. This one
additional charge upon the city Trcmu ry
would moro than swallow up all the boosted
rctrrnchmcnts and economies Of the I'LL,
Jumped together.
With a stroke " the pen IL undertakes TO
rob the Aldermen, tho chosen representa-
tivcs of the people, Vt thcir prcscrip'iv"
right to pass upon the Mayors appoint
mrits. "All heads Of departments and the
Chamberlain in said city shall hereafter be
appointed by the Mayor. without coniirma-
ton 10y the Board of Aldermen" There
may have been better boards than the pros
cut one: certainly there have been worse
But II is not question here of the short
comings of the Aldermen who happen to bc
actually In Office. The Governor Is asked to
sign bill which dcprivcs the municipal
legislature. elected 10y the people, of all
voice in the selection Of the peoples SER
wants.
$50 plans for laying out or monumenting
that portion Of the city lying north of the
-outhcrly line of l25th street, including the
shall take effect until approved of by the
Board OF street Opening and Improvement
This is reform with vengeance. New York
is fortunate enough to possess the most
eminent living master Of the art of laying
out or mOnumenting cities a man quick 10
discern the capabilities Of the Site and skill
f,l in utilizing them to the utmost. In his
case, the innate genius has been supple
m'utcd 10y the experience Of lifetime.
Under the sanction of the existing authori-
ties, after an exhaustive study OF the ground,
Mr. FREDERICK LAW OLAIsTED has maturcd
plans which, If carried out, will make upper
New York the finest city in the world. This
bill turns over Mr.. OLMsrED and his plans
To- the tender mcrcies Of the Board of Street
Opening and improvements Can New York
anOrd the risk Z
By another section Of this hill the care "
the armorics in the city il committed to a
bureau in the Department of Public Works.
These armorie- contain property belonging
to the state, oi very large aggregate
value. For this property the Colonies
of the regiments are responsible. They nov
have, and n.,htfully have. the appointment
OF the armorv ianitors. This lili undertakes
t. deprive them Of II.
The section demonstrating the Fire De-
rartmcnt is plca-ingly non-partis n. 1t
lcgislatcs two Democrats out Of Office, and
i. lrgi-.lte~ one Republican in.
Under existing law. the Superintendent Of
Buildings must Zee practical architect.
Under the Omnibus Charter, If signed, he
may bc retired grocer OF brokcn-down
! politician.
\ little further on. the hill provides that
the Police Board shall hereafter bo COM
| posed OF two persons, and shall continue
t. be non-partisan" But it does not pro
vide how long these two non-partisan per-
sons shall serve. There Is absolutely not II
word said about the term OF Office. In q
charter bill such an inadNertencc as this, l.,
! t. say thu least, rather queer
Originally, thi., Till had valuable features.
/ But IL has been so cmasculht"d for partisan
/ and personal purpo-cs as To be left worse
than worthless Advertised a Il MASTER
piece OF economical legislation, II forbid-
rctrcnchment in three departments fire
police, and schouls-which represent much
more than onc-haif OF the running expenses
Of the city; out Of Slo,OO0,G0 it leaves only
S4,OoO,oOo for the pruning knife. Trumpeted
a. q radical inca are ~ reform, II makes no
provision for the funding at lower rate OF
the city 3 debit i Is "A clear cnsc for u veto