New-York tribune., 1879-11-28

cussed yesterday with TRIBUNE reporter Dy q
prominent member of the City Government.
He thinks that economy and efficiency may be
gained by consolidating the Departments and CEN
tralizing responsibility Boston correspondent
writes of the coming election in Massachusetts,. in
which women will vote for members of the School
Board.
CHANGES IN THE CITY GOVERNMENT
WHAT MAY DE EXPECTED FROM TIE NEXT LEGTs-
IATURE-REDUCrIoN OF THE NUMBER OF DE-
PAYMENTS AND GENERALIZATION OF REsPoN-
sIBurrY-vIEws OF NEw-YoRK OFFICIAL.
prominent official of the City Government
was asked Yesterday what was the meaning
of the nomination by Mayor Cooper of Jacob
Nj. Patterson to the vacant Police Justice
ship lately held by Judge Kasmire. He replied ::
" / do not think much political significance can be
attached to it, although it would seem to indicate
that the Mayor was willing to make friends with
the Republican leaders. It does not indicate an
alliance between the Republican, and Anti
Tammany members of the Board of Alder
men, for the reason that the Tammanv
and Republican members are still acting in
unison. There has never been any bond COM
pact between the Tammany and Republican leaders.
When the deadlock between the Anti-Tammany
and Republican members of the Board of Aldermen
had existed for some time. certain of the Repub-
can leaders came TO us and proposed that
We act together in the Board. Governor
Robinson and the Mayor were working actively
against Iammany Hall at the time and the offer
was accepted With the new Legislature largely
Republican and Republican Governor for the
coming three years, there will be likely to be de-
cided changes made in the City Government. and
these will probably affect the Anti-Tammany
oflce-hoders more than those of Tammany Hail.
In the case of Mr. Patterson. however, think the
MAYOR was actuated as much by a desire to obge
the nominee as to make his peace with the Republi
cans There has been for some time n warm feeling
between the Mayor and Mr. Patterson, and few
days ago the latter went to the Mayor and said 10
him. Will You nominate me for of the
Police Justiccships' The Mayor replied,
You cannot he coniirmcd' Nominate
me. and will run the risk of that Mr.. Patterson
was nominated and confirmed unanimously"
"You spoke of probable changes in the City Gov
ernmcnt what changes are likely 10 be made !"
Nothing definite has been decided upon,' was
the reply " But there several amendments TO
the City Charter which meet with favor among the
Republican leaders. One of these pre-
vldcs for a Board of Public Works, which
shall comprise that now presided over by Allan
Campbell and shall also include the work now
done by the Department of Docks aud the laying
out of streets and avenues IN the annexed
districts, now performed by the Park De-
parlment. The Street Cleaning Bureau is
likely also tn l,- transferred from the Police
Board to the proposed new Department of Public
Works. II i held that the province of the police
is 10 protect the lives and property OF our citizens,
aud that the work If cleaning the streets better
be done by separate department"
"Will this not make much more important
.s-psrtment than any under the city government
one possessing vast rcsnons bilticS aud dsbursng
large amounts of money!
Yes Bnt there is IA department answering to
this in London, Paris. and all the large cities of
Europe. Yon must centraze power somewhere.
and II is better 10 place IL in sach manner that
the resporsibl lty can be fixed and deter
mined by hs public. IL is possible, also,
that the Department of Parks may be
merged in the new department.. There is no
reason why it should not he. 1t could just well
he made a bureau IA 10 have u separate organiZa-
ton. with costly officials"
viii the Police Department be remodelled ~
II IS almost certain 10 be. hut IN what way
is not yet clear. Something will certainly be
done 10 improve ITS efficiency, and prevent
the deadlock and clashng of some time past
The Building Department viii most likely be ma ie
n bureau IN the Fire Department. This has been
talked of heretofore. IL i really of the most
important departments under the City Government
If properly administered Much of the building
which has been cone Tor tLe past few years
has been Of kind winch should not have been al
lowed. The buildings erecied are the merest shells
-shams put mp bv speculative builders, with
good exterior and not much else"
" What is the object OF the changes :"
The Republican leaders believe that a great
deal of money can be saved in this and the
affairs Of the city NAV be better administered by
making the proposed changes. There will doubtless
be some notifications but what have stated is
urged by several of the most prominent men in the
Republican ranks
Is there any movement looking toward ousting
the Mayor, under The suise of Spring election for
municipal officers"
&" have heard of none vet worthy of notice OF
course, the Legislature being strongly Republican,
and having a Governor in accord with IT, any
changes in the City Government can be made that
/.