New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-03-23
municipal government would be much less diff

cult .,
What do you think of spring elections - i',n,a ,o
81 confess that / do not sec how we wo"io NC
helped by recourse TO this measure"
at Is said that If the charter election were had
at another time than the election for state oihcrs
partisan considerations would rule less strongly.
Well, the nemachinery would exist thcn az nov"
The machines would be practically as strong. lney
would be none the less partisan machines Deca r
the elections were charter elections SIMPLY. the
result would be that we would really play INTO inc
hands of the professional poll ,icians that 49, OF
those who devote their ives to the work as pro-
fessional pursuit. The citizens p0htical duties
would be increased and conventions ana prhlailss
would be multiplied IL You ask the citizen 10 90
too much he will eventually do nothing at all ana
leave the whole business TO those VINO make ,neir
profit out Of IT, 1t is sad fact but II is Almost in
possible to prevent political considerations from cx
tending themselves into non-politlc3i issues In
conducting purely municipal affairs
well, suppose the municipal election were ABOUT
t e m's@'" Vi "'''' ''l' ''''''" -.
{" do not sac that that would be any improve
ment The prime difficulty still remains; that In
multiplying elections you multiply questions ana
corplicate matters, whereas what we now heeu ~
their simplifcation.'
NO EXPERIMENT WANTED.
e In other respect, what legislation would you
" do not advise any legislation at all of specn-
lative kind am averse TO experiments There Is
a good deal of detailed legislation which we are
new law relative to the Building Department. 80
also in want of excise legislation ana cal-
not say that am altogether convinced OF lhe WIS
dom of the measure which seems likely TO become
a law. Then think we ought TO have some legls-
laion to relieve MS against the railroad companies
in cities to enable the city TO collect larger reve-
nues from Them and to restrain them from encnin-
bering the streets through which they pass on to
one hand, and, the other, to compel them 10
keep such streets clean in both summer ana winter:
do you not think something will depend, as 10
your main suggestion relative to charter alhehu-
ments upon the experience of BROOKLYN
Yes, but since cannot be worse OH tnan we
are, think might as well follow IT'S lead, ine
result there that just soon as the people uh-
derstood that they going to have representa-
tive who should have full power and upon whom
they could faSten all responsibility, they mmedl-
ately took an interest in the election, party ties
were dlsregarled and such Il canvass was con-
Quoted as the City of Churches never saw before.
As result, believe they have better men as heads
of departments than ever before"
" Have you anything to say, Mr Grace, III IegdIu
to the Board of Aldermen -
"Onlv that do not believe IN our present system
of minority representation and should he inclined
10 favor Mr. RoOseyclts measure for electlng one
from each Assembly District"
what about the proposed changes III the BOARD
of EducatiOn?" ,
"If you allude to Mr.. Gideon's bill, WHICH is the
only one know of am against it absolutely
know of no such body of men anywhere ~ our COM
munity as this Board. People are perfectly salts
fed. Our educational system is remarkably goon,
though possibly more expensive than Is necessary
and while should not say that 1T was perfect 40
not believe i'll tamperlng with 1t Ill an Ignorant anu
senseless fashion,