The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-05-26
How New York Can secure Good
City Government.

The government Of the city Of New York
is conducted under charter passed by the
State Legislature five years ago. When this
law was enacted the corruptions OF the
municipal officers who had held power un-
der what is known as the Tweed charter had
been fully exposed. and tire new law was
framed with the object OF preventing re-
currence OF such misdeeds in the future.
There is no reason to doubt that this was
in good faith the intention of its authors,
butsthe desire to protect certain political
interests married some of its features
Among other Objectionable clauses grow
ing out Of these selfish considerations
was one which prevented the removal
Of unfaithful or incapable heads OF de-
partments by the Chief Executive Of the
city without the consent and approval
of the Chief Executive of the State. This
provision was inserted to protect certain
republican city officers from removal by
democratic Mayor by giving 0e republican
Governor the power to veto the Mayors
action. It was no more justifiable on any
grounds OF public policy than would have
been a law empowering the Governor TO
veto the ordinances of the Common Coun-
Gil Of Buffalo or the resolutions OF the
Supervisors of Munroe county. This and
some other partisan features OF the law
excited disposition to tinker the charter
session after session, but no material
changes have been made, and the law is
now substantially in the condition in which
it was enacted
Despite its shortcomings the charter OF
1873 is capable OF givi ng and would give us
a good city government if its provisions
were faithfully carried out. Although the
final expulsion Of an incapable or dishonest
city officer cannot take place until tho Gov
ernor Of the State has in writing assented
to his removal his trial and conviction are
placed in the hands of the Mayor. 1t is
made the duty Of the Mayor to keep himself
informed Of the doings Of al the city de-
partments and to be vigilant and active in
causing the ordinances OF the city and the
laws of the State to be executed and en-
forced. II, therefore, the Mayor is ignorant
of what the Health Department, the De-
partment Of Public Buildings. the Po-
lice Department or any other depart
ment under the city government is
doing, he is wilfully neglectful Of his
duty. If he is familiar with their acts and
knows that any Of them neglect or evade
the execution and enforcement of the city
ordinances or Safe laws he is equally Gull
pable. It is therefoye evident, as the
Herald has frequently insisted, that what
New York needs to insure good govern
ment is. not new charter, but a MaycA
with sufficient intelligence, force Of charac-
ter, firmness and what is known as "back-
bone" to be in fact the head Of the govern
mcnt, and to take care that every sub
ordinate department does its full and en-
tire duty. With such Mayor we could
not have filthy streets, becauses the
law requires the proper officsrs to
clean the streets, the city supplies
them with the necessary funds,
and the Mayor would be ''vigilant
and active" in seeing that the work was
faithfully done. With such q Mayor we
could not have the foul stenches that have
made New York one Of the unhealthiest Of
tho large cities of the world, because the
law requires the health officers to prevent
aud suppress oil such nuisances, and the
Mayor would be 'vigilant aud active" in
compelling them to obey the law. II we
had real, vigorous chief OF the city gov
eminent, all would be well. He would
do his duty when public officers were
neglectful, incapable or dishonest, no mat
A he ,,,,. 4a1<
and if the Governor should protect the evil
doers-which is not at all likcly-the Mayor
would find some other means of bringing
them to justice and Kidding the city Of
them.
All our troubles can be traced to the want
of a firm Ter at the head Of the city gov
eminent. The Indifference and negligence
Of subordinates, the jarring Of the depart
ments, the farce OF this department doing
and the other undoing, the conflict of au-
thority, the cool impudence Of official de-
malls Of facts known to all our citizens, in
GLIDING the Mayor himself, could not exist
for moment if strong, vigorous, deter
mined man sat in the executive chamber
and rcsolutcly carried out the law. It is IN
idle excuse to pretend that because the re-
moval Of a city officer by the Mayor must
receive the asserting signature Of
the Governor before it can become
operative the Mayor is powerless to
enforce the laws and his authority is un-
needed. II an earnest, fearless Mayor were
TO call offending officials to reckoning and
prove his determination TO compel them to
obey the laws no person can Soubt that we
should have clean streets, FREQ from unlaw-
ful distractions and from nuisances haz-
ardous to the public health. If Governor
dared TO stand up against such efforts to
secure good city government the law Off
GERS of tho city, the Grand Jury room and
tho courts would still be ut the Mayors
Rnridn. Tho fnaa. Of lut 1