New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-01-02

Will than compensate for any occasional friction III
| the adjustment OF local Affairs.
| HOW TO GOVERN THE METROPOLIS.
The ard increasing population and business OF the
city Of NewYoTk its position as the commercial merop
oils Of Western world he rapid extension OF Its lin
It's, Its large corporations and institutions OF various
kinds its political power, its immense trade, ana It's D.
naneia and commercial interests, render its proper,
economical and efficient government problem or the
hghs Importance and OF very serious difficulty About
twenty years ago. the which had arisen
IN the local government led first to the establishment or
legislative commissions to control various departments.
and finally transferred to the State capitol nearly all the
appropriate powers Of the Common Council Since then
session Of the Legislature the Senate and As
semy have. Ia large extent presented the appearance
OF board Of aldermen and assistant aldermen for the
| city OF New-YOrk
The result has disastrous In the extreme Within
that time upwards of 2ioO laws have been passed rela
ing the city These have been. some subjects. so
confused and conflicting that the court OF last resort
hs pronounced il impossible to ascertain and declare
their true meaning The enormous extent OF corruption
| and plunder perpetrated under these laws Is
| too well known to require repetition. II
stands out as the darkest blot upon the
records OF the city and the State. or the
oppressive debt which hangs the city, the amount
OF Ss5 600 put upon 1t by legislative acts for
which the city itself never applied OF the 2.4OO acts
above referred to, the majority o. them VIII be found to
be TO for plumber, or to change
official power from one class OF men to another
At the last session Of tie Legislature $50 bills
latng the city introduced into the two Houses
AMI majority OF them passed Some Of them orig
nay contained very good provisions for remedying evils
which had become lint IN their through
the Legislature there had been attached to all such
visions amendments which were intended to keep mn
the old aud corrupt system, and which could not fail OF
producing injury than benefit Many Of them were
also in fragrant violation Of the Constitution For these
REASONS, and In the fun conviction that 1t than
useless to pile upon the city of NewYOrk any more laws
the description OF those which had been passed during
the last tweny year. returned all bills OF this cbarc-
| ter " ithout my approval.
The question, "Whnt IL 90 he done 7"
remains IN open and important The whole
subject Of municipal reform under discussion
for many months by commission composed OF very able
and learned men appointed BY my predecessor, and
their report made to the Legislature ut its last
sion. The plan Of government proposd 10y the commits
sion involved however. certain eXte,- amendments
10 tie Constitution. These amendments approved
by the last Legislature. Under the Constitution they
must approved by you also before they he sub
mted TO the people. II you &c to do So they viii
be referred the people for action nj the next general
election In the event that YOU withhold such approval,
will remain question Tor the Legislature TO de-
| tcruniue what should be done
Ia my message returning TO the Assembly the bill en-
titled AN better local government for the
City OF New York" stated that IN my opinion the great
want Of the city a charter.
lam sti OF the opinion that the only efcctun remedy
for the evils under which the city suffers. viii be- care
fu and well considered charter the nature OF
situtiou organizing local government with strong
and responsible executive head with city legislature
| composed OF two houses, and clothed with all the
| powers OF local legislation, subject TO veto by
| the Mayor. | believe taat such charter may
b. easily framed, although II would he out of place to
attempt q got forth the details oi IL in this message
| W fuIiv Is
believed that the advantages Of would be- apparent
10 induce s ads adber 10 IL. and To the local gov
rrumrnt established under il rather than 10 return 10 the
dangerous experiment OF passing local laws for the city
| of Ntw.Yovk by memb"rs of the legislature, three
forhs Of whom know little OF The wants Of the city In
the meantime IL the Legislature shall adopt any meas
ur-s r. ting city which promise real and subsan
tiai Trir nom III eNtravagant expenses and oppressive
taxation. and rom the owls which ay" NAMED -
many previous acts, u.S WIZ me- ny ti ''ni
The LARGE amount nnnmsly p@a ~ H"toor
nhsi.rS ana loit ""iu.ns w - f iors' rs
| direct tax upon The commerce OF that port
! u ms been suggested 10 me by many persons ell
rag,i In sd ping trade. that ar The services re-
aGir,d nv those officers might east he PERFORMED hy ne
police the ciV through The Dock Department, with
ont material increase ~ expense to the cty. and
urun H. informed thnt NcwNork d, the only port
known IN any oi The clics when b., her
u,rcal rivals 1t -, mor'oNcr quite doubtful whether
under r-ccn DECISIONS ~ the supreme Court of the
Intcd states submit the matter TO your coisIdera-
-REAPPoRuoNMENT.
Tie state OF our Excise laws seems todemand atten-
ton. Krcrn.y nghcst court Wac called upou III
case brought bcfprr IT, to declare what the conditions are
under whi,h licenses se spirit, IN small quantities
nay ho granted It's conclusion contrary to the
construction under viii n the officials administering the
Law nad acted generally by legal advice for som" years
past. may be sad tAc provisions now IN force were
found not 10 De- the public generally had sup
| posed them 10 b.. Tho pain, ta,cn b. the court
| ~ discussing the question proves that 1t WAS
one 81 some Intuc,cy. The doubt du"
! In f.ere i,sluU
ia force The time and the consequent necessity
al r,ornr to older statute, IN order TO Had tho
rt Of more recent ,nactmcnt- and Of deciding where
the oI and the new law conictrd. aud 70 what extent
repeating clauses operated. II, under such crcunsan-
c,s i.oicra erred constituting their pryie II would
not be- just hold them 10 penalties rs for Wiini yo-
| laiion OF law The Legislature IL bound To make It's
! cnarimrnts ex pc't and easy 10 be understood
Tsedccison Of the Court although undoubtedly correct.
was surprise, aud caused much excitement among all
Interested IL enforcement doubt, accompanied
by hardsys What Is needed ~ 10 substitute FOR all
existing laws the subject carefully prepared statute.
reasonable in lis limitations and restraints, clear aud
explicit in all ts provisions and above ALL complete
in nsclf; to be uniformly, steadily and constantly
enforced
Among the dutfes d"yclved upon the Legislature by
the Constitution WI .e ths rr"nSe,m s o, 'pr sain's
! Of the Constitution expressly charge the Legislature.
after census. adjust these districts inat they
shall contain. may be. an equal number OF IN
| habiiants From the beginning to the end OF The
constitution there Is No stronger obligation placed
upon tho Legislature than this. IL involves the mos
| important right of the people under our lor,l OF
NV tnr terms Of the Constitution, this duty should
I'VE been discharged in 1876 but II wa not performed
In maj or the succeeding year. do notdeSire 10 carac-
t@ize this pasI disregard command OF our highest
law that the present LEGISLATURE WIN observe
j il oath 10 support the Constitution To adjust these
districts according the return Of the census is matter
OF mathematical calculation IL II easy 81 ncconi-
psnment approached, rs presume II VIII be- III far
| aud impartial siru. ,, -,