New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-28
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THE CHARTER BILL.

The report and bill prepared by the major
ity of Senator McCarthy's Committee have
been submitted to the Senate, and we now
have the plans of the Committee for reform
in the City Government spread before
us in full. Whatever becomes OF the
BILL the Committee have rendered the
City of New-York great service i'll the
thoroughness of their investigation, and in the
fearlessness with. which they have announced
the conclusions they hive reached. The Wig
orous discussion which the bill is sure to UNI
dergO may disclose defects in the scheme
which have not yet attracted attention, but
the sincerity and zeal of the Committee are
apparent and entitle them to the gratitude
of the people of this city, who have not
been accustomed to find politicians really
anxious TO bring about reforms and willing to
abolish the evils by which so many of their
class exist. The report is signed by Sena-
tors Mccarthy, Baker aud Mills, all
Republicans it has not been signed
thus far 10y the two New-York members
Senator Strahan, Republican, and Senator
EiXby, Democrat, who showed some dssatls-
faction with it yesterday.
The main idea of the bill may be described
in single sentence-to put the government
of the City of New-York i'll the hands OF
the Mayor, and to make him clearly re-
sponsibe for it. The report i'll which
the Committee explain and summarize the
provisions of their BILL makes a striking
statement of the official imbecilty of the Ex-
ecutive of this city. The Mayor, as the Com
miuee state, "has less power in the gov
"ernment than the head of any of
A. orIi ~
"The heads Of the departments can iAvo;yc tie
Getty in expenditures amounting to mill ions 0i
" dollars. can undertake, some OF them,
"public works compelling the issue of city
"bonds without limit, and have powers
"greater than are possessed by any
"officer of the National Government, or by
"any officer of any State or municipal gov
"ernment on the continent" The Mayor. the
nominal head of this system, can spend
500 600 for clerk hire. and a small SUN for
contingencies. The Committee do not propose
an exchange of these powers, but readjust-
ment of the whole government by which
large share of authority shall be l0dg, d with
the Mayor, who cannot then escape response
bility for ma'admlnistration, or claim. as he can
now, that he is hampered in almost every
sphere of action by his lack Ofpower and the con-
fusion of the laws. The Committee propose that
he shall appoint all heads OF departments, police
justices and marshals, without confirmation
10y the Board of Aldermen, and remove heads
of departments and marshals without the APP
prevail of tue Governor; that the Mayors
term shall be three years, aid the
heads of departments shall go INTO
office and out of it with him and that he shall
have direct control of the street cleaning
They propose a consolidation of unnecessary
bureaus and departments; the cOncenrra
ton of commissions into a single head, or at
most into two heads; an increase Of power
and responsibility in the superintendent OF
Police and of the Fire Department; a sharp re-
duction in the number of clerks in the courts and
departments, and of snccuIe bureaus and com
missions; q representation OF taXp yvrs
in the Beard of Estimate aud Appur
tonment; strict regulation of the sums
paid out to charitable institutions, and
of the issue of city bonds and stocks;
and the abolition of the system of ul-
balanced bids. They propose, also, spring cleo
ton of municipal officers, with the first cleo
ton to take place tins spIAig. For this THE
TRIBUNE has long commended whether it would
be Just to thrust Mayor Grace out of his Office
before he has fairly settled himself in it, is Il
question to be considered-with this point in
view, that the people of New-YOrk are of
more importance than any Mayor.
The spirit of the bill is excellent, and many
of its recommendations are as sound as they
are courageous. We ask for it fair hearing.