Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-03-22
Alefanorla 6az&tt&
THURSDAY. MARCH %, 1877.
How Cities Ought 10 be Governed.

The report OF the commission appOlutcd by
Governor Tiideu iu 1915 TO devise plan Of
government for cities of the Empire State will
excite much interest not ony 10 New York but
throughout the Uuiop. The members Of the
commission, Including sach men as Wm. NJ.
| Evarts, +. L Goddiu, aud Oswald Ottendorfer.
joy the confidence Of the public 10 such dc.
gree that their suggestions will receive respect.
full attention cveo though they may not be
adopted.
The plan proposed may be briefly outlined.
| Its main features are thcs, :-tlrst, the dele
cation Of all the busi0css oil local administra
! ton to the people Of the cities, free from the
Interference Of the State Legislature, the latter
to have power only to make general laws under
which local affairs are TO be administered, and
to exercise q supervision over the manner Of
legislation. Second, the election by such per
sons as may be qualified electors under thcState
laws OF mayor CT chief executive ohicer, such
officer to be clothed with the authority Of
general supervision, and with the uufettcred
power TO appoint the other principal executive
officers" except the chief GoaGcial and law Of
iccrs, who should be appointed by him with
the consent Of L board Of 6nauce. The mayor
to have also the power OF removal, subject to
the approval Of the Governor Of The State.
Third, the clcctioo Of board Of aldermen By
such persons as may be qualified to vote for
mayor, such board 10 exercise legislative power
as at present, except with respect to taxation
and expenditure. FOURTH The election Of j
board OF Eoance,' composed OF not less than
six nor more than fifteen members according
to the size Of the city, by taxi payers aud rent
,l,o,, tLu,,yh nh
only as relate to taxatiou, expenditure, and debt
its principal functions being to determine the
amount OF the annual expenditure, and to APP
propria'c it TO its various objects and rur-
poses
The first and second Of these recommeuda-
tions are undoubtedly important The nt-
tcmpls Of State Legislatures TO administer the
affairs Of cities have never proved very success
tu, and Tor good rcaS0n5 The rural members
have no adequate idea Of the requirements of
cities. They do not know how to egislste for
citlca, and are pretty sure to be managed by
lobbyists who have axes to grind. Besides,
they have not that ptisJnal interest as tax
payers in the affairs Of cities which wonld in-
cline them, even II they were Iu'ly capable, 10
exercise caution and cxpeud thought upon
measures OF proposed CITY legislation. 1t Is
also important that The chief executive officer
his administration success The responsl-
bility Of making appointments shOulirest upon
him, 80 that in case iocapabIes and scamps get
into office the people can know where TO place
the blame. At the same time the chict cxccu-
tive should in some way be held aocountabIe
aud the way proposed 10y The commission IS
that he shall be removable for cause By the
governor. Whether that IS the best way Is
questionable, perhaps, especially if, as the com
mission recommend, The governor Is to have
power TO fiIl the vacancies created by himself.
Chicago 7n,es
How TO MAKE ROSES GROw.-rhe follow
ing %re giveo ~ the main requisites Tor success
in the cultivation Lf roses in pos: Select the
best fitted sorts uf plants rl's,i aud kept III
pots. and not from the op:u grouod; keep 10 It
room not too dry, at tclDpcrlturc about ScV'
cury degree: in the d!yIia.n aDi fifty degrees
or m0re At p2ht, u-icg i;qud manure II tho
aoi is pOor, arJiiuS over watcIIng or soakIar
with standing water, showcrng ono: or twic2
week, ard turning h2 ball ct earth out s2mc.
times TO see if there ar auG ic wlrus, or water
lug with iinIc water 10 rcpc them. Remove
plan; lice with tobacco wafer. Cut back shoot
that has bIOssVmcd, 10 i good bud. Avoid
4 Ia ~ 'trk n