Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-04-03
lancaster flltelliqencer.
MoNDAY:EvEN1Na, APRIL 3. 1851.

MoNDAY'EvENINo,A APRIL 3. 1851.
The New City Government.
The new city councils met and organ
lied o1lay in both branches, elected city
officers and inaugurated Mayor Mac
Gonigle for His third term. A full report
of the proceedings Willie found m our
local columns. and from these it will be
seen that the duty of organization was
performed in . much more Satisfactory
and creditable manner than thatof elect
ing men to administer the several de-
partments of the city government. In
select council the Democrats, being in a
majority, organized that body by electing
one of their more experienced members
to the presidency, and after Mr.. Philip
Zecher's declination the choice fitly fell
upon Mr.. Berger, who is a Democrat
without guile and a councilman of deci-
sion and force. The clerk-elect, Mr..
Jacob B. Lichty, is thoroughly COM
petent clerical officer of large experience
in such duties as qualify him for the edis-
charge of those of his new position, and
while there is no more deserving Demo-
crat in the organization, the representa-
tives of the Democracy in select council
have done themselves credit and a ser
vice to the public by making ample
qualifications requisite for the clerk
of their body. In common coun-
Gil the Republicans availed themselves
of their majority to make DIR. Davis
president of that body and in his selec
tion they took their most experienced
and best qualified man, from whom the
minority have every reason to expect
official courtesy and fairness. If the
clerk-elect, David. II. Deem, has any ex-
perience as clerk, or special qualifca-
tions for the Office, it must have been
developed as engineer at the water
works or in holding the poll book at gen.
eral and primary elections. His election
is simply the reward of one of the best
workers."
In the choice of city officers the Re-
publicans have prostituted their party
advantage to select men to run some of
the departments who, if they were put
before the people to have popular vote
upon their merits, would be beaten out
of sight. Before the election there was
promise that from an improved set Of
Republican nominations for council
there might he expected in the event of
their majority, at least as good city Off
GERS as the Democrats elected when they
happened to secure majority in coun-
cils against the adverse odds of an infa-
mously partisan gerrymander. How
hollow this promise was can be seen in
the succession of Mr.. Trewitz as street
commissioner with Sam Levan; and
how inadequate is the election of the so
called "better class" of citizens to coun:
ellis to procure better city government,
is forcibly illustrated by the fact that
the Sixth ward delegation, composed of
d. G.. Baker, VIM. Riddle, John Nc
Glaughlin and John J. Cochran, made
everything subordinate to Levan's elec.
tion. He is played-Out politician, ut
terly lacking the experience, the charac
ter or the qualifications of street COM
missioner, and his election promises an
administration which will make
either that of Fordney or Jefferies
respectable by comparison. The sue
cession of Mr.. McComsey with Clay
ton F. Myers suggests comparison
rather unfavorable for the Republicans.
Mr.. Halbach certainly knows more about
the water works than any other ,candi-
date before their caucus, though his sue
cessor has set him an example of economy
and improvement which he should
take pattern from, and he will do
well if he cuts loose from the jobbers and
thinkers who enjoyed a favoritism under
his former administration that was cal
culated to excite public suspicion. MI.
Landis has served one term as solicitor
and shown himself dillgent and capable
in the Office.
Mayor MacGonigle's executive policy
is SO well known to our citizens and has
been so emphatically approved that it
needed no further reiteration at tEis
time than his frank declaration that he
promises to pursue the straightforward
course which has so we'll recommended
his msgistracy to the favor of good citi-
zens. His recommendation to new coun-
cilmen-of whom there are an unusual
number-to read the department re-
ports, is one that they can profitably fol-
low, and he indicates a very proper line
of inquiry when he points out the gross
inadequacy and inequality that must
necessarily characterize the present val
uation of city property. Perhaps if the
assessors performed their duty fairly
and truthfully the present rate of city
tax would not be found greater actual
burden than when lower rate was laid
upon far less real property which was
assessed at q greater amount.
In his police appointments the mayor
has made some changes, no doubt with
a purpose to render the force more &C
Ceptable and efficient. Whatever truth
there is in the allegation that long service
in this department is calculated to de-
moralize the incumbent seems to be re-
spected in the removals =" made, as
those who " must go'' were the only
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