New-York tribune., 1877-03-07

adopcd hitherto seems better adapted To secure
GOOD than mode of election In runway
Sorporaon by which conductors, bIakemcn, traekmcn
engineers. and passengers should nave ai epni ils"'
with etockh ldcrs TO vote for directors ,,,,.,,
The commission proceeds 20 sho" nav ,hH ~
of the pi
thc financial concerns OF municipalities aulhts the
alton OF exercise of the right OF suffrage on Questions
of expenditure aud taxation tn the taNpaync portion o
the community In the State there are some TO vlla
all OF which possess form OF local government %
contains the general features OF city charters. III the
establishment 0t these governments the Legislature mas
had before it, each Instance the question 70 whor M u
should intrist the control OF financial concefhs. lnc
universal! general solution given t0 this question has beeh
intruSt them to the taxpayers alone inc w t
meut OF representative body, 10 De CHOSEN ~ t,ic ~
poy,ss s therefore the proper method by when they
can control the question Of expenditure ana la.; t.
In large cities; but the provisions 9l lc w %
on declaring in effect that all elective ocers are 10 DO
chosen by uny yersa suffrage stands IN lh9 way Yi s, &
compelled leave the great concerns of debt and taxa
ton, for the most part to me inca, co's tstr I'll.
by the voters at large Inc coninS'1nn n tshe
ground In recommending, as we do. thc cstaonsn,
meDt OF uniform system based upon 'ne % m
principle Of representative governments tnat W Ia tgc
blv which VOTES the taxes should I've elected Nv thCfe
anomaly bu suggest no innovation; On ti ug vor ~
rury recosnizc aud extend tho csiaDSncn poys W.
the state and provide mode by when IL can e'eI9-
where be ony,Iiently administered
TIE COMMISSIONS SCHEME.
After brushing aside series OF supeihciai oplecon'
which may be urged against this munlcipa pocy 'nc
commission considers the details OF "hat IL fee"ioS
the best plan Of city government II contends that
a
fan within three general divisions: ID The mode Dy
when the most competent AMI faithful locdi goEcfns
bodies and executive officers can he chosen !l e Tc1
ing th governing bodies ample poNfis 10! , cicrt
lc welfare 9 the intcrposiiOn or checkS 10 Po'''
the possible abuse OF the powers besto",i i,o, nro
C1ldcd by these general views. the commission pI" "
pose framework FOR the local goyennc nm @I o of Ty,c
be ncorl grated in The Constitution of me
the following the principal textures ,,. ., ,oool
First. The delegation OF the entire business VI % tu,"
to tue hSg[ytb hG9S IL retcrgng rS to the state
iis function of making the general law ndef Mit '
locai affairs are t. be , anu ''o
o srcgd e cei cxecn:iyc officer, clothed with the
authority of general supervision. ana WIN 'he uhiti-
officers except those two the GIle hL,." anu oio
IXy c.jcrrl whose duties Immediately AFFECT the mattf
NJ tbe ul,blic expenditures and with the po"er OF re-
moval, subject however, to the approval oi 'io "o'
TGjJd. 4 Board Of Aldermen clothed, as now, with all
the legislative powers except sach as ftlc 10 tN'o
and expenditure, ana elected rs "' present. ~ Wv P'o
Fo,rih separate body, called the Boar: OF Finance
10 be elected by tax and rcnt-raNe WIN Nnrh power
only a. r,la.c 20 taxation, expenditure, and ueb u
principal functions being {" determine the amount OF
oIIs Clrc;s and purposes The assent Of this body Is
mace requisite TIE appointment OF Inc chic hhahca
TjGa = detailed nlan designed to bc complete in il
self frr slcurin efficiency, order, and fruraltJ III thr
!o3rd 'f finance Its Ina1 features are: /. The d.
termination in each year OF The sum OF tohey le4m5f
~ be ryrrnhcd for al q, ccts AMI purpose. ana What
u1Y thereof he raised by tdX@On. ana me 4cNSIE
~ ~ me IsttIr snm y The appropriation at the same
irrts aud urrp0scs. 8 The certain realization oi the
-, ire amount appropriated by compelling the rcicNVlhf
of deficiencies IL TIE collection Of taxes j. Inc plphipi
linn of amy cxprnGiturc beyond the sums appropriated
y making al contracts engagements III excess there
yO!d. ,.. ,,,..,. a..
Sir;b A further cnforc, of the maxim pay az
van co" h, a prohibition 6Cdlns. bDnoWilT Hl"nD OF
mcurng debt except under certain specified CONDITIONS
not likely 10 aii~c often
A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT NECENSARY'
The Commission argues somewhat AZ ieE%h th't ths
pIa mus; he incorporated in the CONSTITUTIONS prin-
cpal reason is the necessity Of stability Another 0hlcc'
Ia Ire attained is uniformity In conforming the Vail0ns
charters Of different cities 10 these provisions changes
in their dc ils will be undoubtedly nece-Iy; hut the
plan proposed is uniform aui all that VIII be required
to gye II effect is 70 ad3pt the existing charters OF CITY
Governments the general Dr0NIsonN OF tho afltc II
fc Constitution that is only rs constitutional pro
vision trrt III" change proposed IN TIE method q" clcr-
inc the Beard OF Finance can DE actAuNll,H-i ~ tc
cy, OF villages ahG O. small cites, r ii" Oh "i i'
exercise uf the I1gnt Oi suffrage >, mate apptdble b|
fbc rci.iurc v prov .sOI relating 20 the dN"Ct vote
cXucndituge wi mont interfering with Ire mctcdS pV
scIAeG by The Constitution Tor cleclug mo ehceis hl
whom tie cNucnuituIo Is tG lc made. ID inc ruNe O
large cities ID would b. manlC-ty nnictdbt 10 huH-
U such questions 30 lie vote -! the tdNGytI ahi tc
urrr,,if, of cnutduc the financial Administration OF Tie
city board Oi cltclNc OhtcIs c'hh"t NC SilV"''
Ibe commission then subms the text OF the plan,
which il recommends in The form II an aij uoNJ article
10 lie Constitution. The sections are subsequently
taken i one aitcI another ana ClapO.clJ explained.
Vhe text however very clear, and can Dec understood
nIcutary which the Commission appcDds to IS report