New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-29
TALKING ABour TIE NEW CHARTER.

CONTROLLER AND OTHER OFFICERS THINK OF IT.
The provisions of the proposed city charter
amendments, published In THE TRIBUNE, have
caused much talk In local political circles. The
ofceholders of course strongly object to the plan or
holding a city election In April next They do not
object much to spring election auOS1tner'
as many Of them concede that it would secure better
City Government divorce 1t much rs possible from
State and National elections The present Ocehoders
however almost without exception shrink from running
the gauntlet Of an election this spring. The Irving Hail
Democrats not finding any better objection TO oher are
claiming that the bill is in the interest Of the Republic
cans and Tammany Hail. asserting that Mr. Kelly has
agreed 10 help the Republicans elect Mayor in APRIL
This is well answered by the fact that the machine"
Republicans IN the city as we'll as the Tapmahy Demo
Gratis are opposed to the bill The friends Of the new
charter assert that IL would have the effect of breaking
up that power which has enabled certain eafers who
control the votes Of Republican Aldermen. 10 make COM
buatlons and thus force the Mayof to appoint their
personal representatives to Office The sting charter
work. for the benefit Of such leaders ard hence nearly
all the heads OF departments have been IN the habit OF
respecting Oy the wishes and orders Of their political
bosses" when making appointments, and the Mayor
has been stripped OF the power 10 control tho Cy GOV
ernment supporters Of the new 5, claim that this
irresponsible system is largely the of the prevail
lug exravagance and incompetence They say that the
power aud RESI- onsbiity must be placed III central
head before any reform can be hoped for.
Mayor Grace opposed 10 the spriug election clause.
bt he fayors that in regard the Street Cleaning Bu
reali The other details Of the Mccarthy bill
he WAS rot ready to discuss As he person
ally interested he thought 1t would be Improper to say
anything it. Before the measure was Introduced,
however Mr. Grace publicly expressed himself In favor
of partisan government. He opposed q three years
term for the Mayor and did not think 1t wise u give
him power officials at pleasure ln fact, he
was opposed to Oneman power generally and Thought
what the city needed most freedom from Albany
legislation.
Controller Campbell had not read all the bill. Hs
said he favored the idea OF spring elections o did not
think the consolidating OF bureaus az proposed by tho
bill would be altogether practicable He mad already
done much in this and intended to do still inore
bur the Mccarthy hill, he thought carried such changes
too far The report OF the committee stated he ssid'
that no department head had effected any essential re-
forms or could suggest any retrenchmeo II espsnses
That was misapprehensOn. lie bad expended
500 600 900 less during his administration OF the De-
urtment Of Public Works than was expended Ia tAe pre-
yius five years. and the public works had NOT teen ne
elected Furthermore. he making rctrenchments all
the time. he was In favor Of the concentration OF
power In one head aud thought one head was enough
for any department The Mayor should have plenty OF
power and In that respect the eil was good one he
thought the provision egatng the Mayor out Oh omco
in the spring was open TO serious objections
The office OF supervisor The Cy Record Is abolished
te Mccarthy Dill. InoDas j. ScstBau, VII" ho" h'S
tbe Office "a al Irving Hall leader and member OF the
Demoeratic State Committee. Too many eggs In one
basket was his response inquiry 10 regard to the
bill 1t is In the Interest OF John Kelly anu was
drawn by his man. But the Republicans do not intend
70 PASS It, but merely 10 mako It cover for other
schemes 90 introduced later Tue Kepa9lcans c0uid
not poll 3d. 900 votes In spring election, ana tne
Democrats could not poll 10000; bat there wolld
ne no chance for the election Of q Republican Mayor
even II ths Democrats were divided"
Look at tie inconsistency Of the BILL" added one Of
Mr. Cl.tigans friends 1t proposes 10 transfer The
On, Record bureau to the Board Of Aldermen. Now tbs
bureau is attached TO the Mayors Ufce and the super
visor can re removed any time but paco It under the
poard of Aldermen and there would be end OF re-
snonsby II now furnishes the stationery for all the
denartments OF the City Government, and under Mr..
Co.t,au's this expense has bean reduced
some S2OOoU in q year. Place It under tho Board OF
Aldermen as this bill proposes, aid the departments
would either he without stationery half tho time or tho
city would have pay twice much as 1t does now "a
supply them" ,,
park Commissioner Ollie thought 1t best to let thnss
remain as they are. I'VE are getting along we'll
enough" he said. The Park Department Is mar
monious and am opposed ~ taking from Its care the
hlrd and Tweutyfourth Wards. II ie not right
to egsate tho Mayor ont OF oics. Jhe Dlii IS poEe
:cal measure, not laten6ed 70 p,ss Tue "nse-hea'
PARK Commissioner Lane thought the b,u cover 10
other legislation "Thcy want 20 get toe pipnc ap
nrnya for the measure aud then antni II 10 shis then
nnrooses" he ald am opposed To sping elections
In would much OF good thng tc nave ciectiohs
twice year. II would oe az unnecessary ahS
ther have one dd three, 10 prevent Tue ue1docks
which opcur under the present charter Inc Iweaiy.
third ami Twenty tOurth Wards shond bot DC tafsn
from the rarx Drpsrtu.nt To upset The work we aave
heen carrying u there far yeara." f'.l y.
Ttcmas aila., Commissioners OF Jurors has the rep