New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-01-23
MAYOR LOH7S RESPONSIBILITY.


4 grave responsibility rests upon Mayor
Low. Within two weeks he is required by
law TO appoint Commissioners of Police, Fire,
CITY Works, Health, Buildings and Excise,
besides filing some other important Offices in
the City Government Of Brooklyn His power
is greater tllan that exercised by any previous
Mayor of Brooklyn; and probably there is no
city in the country whose Mayor has 50 much
undivided responsibility. The Legislature two
years ago passed bill generally known as
the "One Head blD which greatly enlarged
the powers of the Mayor who sh0uld be chosen
in Bro0kyn at the election Of 1881. Before
that time the principal municipal departments
in our sister city had been controlled by three
Commissioners, who were appointed jointly
by the Mayor and the Common Council. This
necessarily gave rise to a great deal of dichcr-
ing and bargaining between the Mayor and
the Aldermen, and appointments were often
DELAYED several months because the Aldermen
refused to confirm the Mayors nominees. The
system was bad in every respect, be-
ing cumbersome, ineffective and expensive.
The new Law reduced the number Of Commits
sorcrs at the head Of the various departments
TO one each, thus making a very considerable
certain time after its enactment the depart
mcnts should be rcorGInizcd. The first Com
mi3sioncls under the Ne" law were named by the
Mayor, Controller and City Auditor Uhe Mayor
being Democrat and the two other officials
Republicans, and they will remain in Office
until their successors are named by the present
Mayor, who, by the new law, has the sole
power of appointment. 1t was this fact that
gave especial importance to the contest for
the Mayoraty at the last election the entire
patronage Of the City Government depending
upon the political complexion Of the Mayor
elected As the present incumbents are Re-
publicans, it Is not likely that any sweeping
changes will be made in the subordinate Off
Gals IN the several departments.
The Republicans of Brooklyn have great
hopes of Mayor Lows administration, and the
country ut large looks with good deal Of
interest upon this new experiment i'll municipal
government. Here il man whose nomination
was forced upon the leaders OF the Republican
party in Brooklyn by the overwhelming senti-
ment of the better class of Republicans; who
did not spend penny to secure his election ;
who yet was elected by large majority
in a Democratic city; and who has unlimited
power in making appointments and removals
1t is Of the utmost Importance that lis sclcc-
tion of the men who will practically form his
Cabinet should be carefully and wisely made
We do not think If is too much to say that the
success Of his administration will be deter
mined by this choice. Mr.. Low has said that
the acceptance of an appointment at his hands
would imply willingness TO surrender the
Office whenever he should demand it. This
simply makes more direct and pointed the pro-
vision Of the law in reference TO removals
Thus far the Mayor has kept his own counsel
as to the men whom he is likely to name As
Commissioners; but the goSsips about the
Brooklyn City Hall have already arranged
number of "slAte,' of the probable appointees.
Ii is safe Ia say that none Of these is corr