New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-04-01
THE CHARTER AMENDMENTS
DEMOCRATIC coNsp:aAroRs Az WORK. +,

DEMOCRATIC CONsp;RATORs Az WORK.
SECRET MOVE TO PLACE TIN POLICE DEPART.
| MENT, INCLUDING THE BUREAU OF ELECTIONS,
| IN DEMOCRATIC HANDs-RIpUBLIcANs TO Bn
SWEPT FROM OFFICE
| IFsoa THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT THE TRrBUxE.I
| ALBANY. March 31.-An examination of the char
ter amendments by which the Democrats intend to
seize the patronage of most of the NewYork depart
ments dscoses the extraordinary fact that the Police
Department is among the departments whose control
| is to be grasped; furthermore, that under these
amendments the Police Department is no longer to
be non partisan, but that 1t is to be made Demo-
cratic. Authority is given to the Democratic Mayor
to place the Department completely under the con-
| troll of the Democratic party. The Importance Of
this change Will be realized when it Is known thas
the Burean OF Elections is part Of the Police De-
partment, and this Bureau appoints all tho Iuspcc-
tors and canvassers of election--the men who have
charge of the ballots on election day.
For years 1t has been argued that there Is
sity for moro than one head to the Police Depart
ment, IN order that there nay be Pobce Commis.
sioners representing the Republican aud the Demo-
cratic party to appoint the inspectors of election
In this way the interests If both the great political
parties and their candidates Cor Office protected
Now it would the Democratic party desires tn
appoint ali the inspectors Of election, Republican as
well as Democratic There would he no chance ot
| the Republican party ever again carrying the State
| of NewYork if this scheme should be executed.
LEGISLATING COMMISSIONERS OUT or OFFICE
The bill provides that :" tho terms OF offco
of the present Commissioners OF Police.
except the Commissioner now in Office having
the longest term to run, shalt terminate on May
/. 1888" Sidney P. Nichols, Tammany Democrats
the Police Commissioner who mas the longest term
to run," and who would, therefore. remain in Office.
ccio Matt fbawa nd cnuf-
missioners Freuct end Mason, Republicans, would
he egislated out OF office. The also provides for
the reduction of the number of Police Commission
ers to two instead of four as ut present. The new
Board Of Police woud consist, il the act should pass,
OF Sidney p. Nichols and some Democrat 70 be ap-
pointed by Mayor Edison and the Democratic Board
of Aldermen. There is no restriction pu. upon ths
Mayor in regard TO the political faith of the new
Police Commissioner to be appointed. Former acts
require the Mayor to appoint two Republican and
two Democratic Police Commissioners. thus pre-
cerving the balance OF power in tho Board OF Police
A DEMOCRATIC CONSPIRACY.
The fact that this proposed revolution In tho P0-
lice Department has been kept secret shows that
there is u conspiracy among the leaders of tho
Democratic factions in New-York When was tho
amendment in relation to the Police Department
put in the bill There was no knowledge or II
when the bill under consideration in the Assem-
bly, Committee on Cities las. Wednesday. Colonel
Murphy the chairman Of the committee, who pre-
sented tho bill TO the committee, stated to TIE
TRIBUNE correspondent that day that tho
bill did not affect the Police Depau ment that IL was
left undis.urhed with It's four Commissioners. Tho
amendment doubtless put in on Wednesday
night
Mr.. Roosevelt. one of the members Of the Commit
tee said Yesterday to THE TRIBUNE correspondent
" Amendments to the charter were put IN the bill
between the time iF was considered by oar coni-
mittee and the me the bill submitted to tho
Assembly on Thursday morning. We Republican
members of the committee-Messrs. llawley. Beck
with. Hodges and myclf-were informed that there
nature do not know what they are yet. Ot course,
we dissented from the report and the Assembly was
informed Of onr dissent" there was a. thlong OK
night. Doubtless the bill was under their close IN
spection all night. aud when 1t was submitted to the
Assembly the following morning 1t was III the toiin
which they desired
FURTHER SWEEPING CHANGES.
Besiles the P,ce Commissioners, the bin legs-
lates out of Office Park Commissioners Ollife.
Wales, Crimmns and Viele Fire Commissioners
German, Van Cott and Purroy Dock Commissioners
yoorhis, Vanierpoel and Laimbecr Health Com
mssioners Chandler and Johnson, Street-Cleanng
Commissioner Coleman and Inspector Esterhrook,
of the Bureau of Buildings. Two new departments
are creatcd-a Department Of Buildings aud .
Department of Street Cleaning. Mayor Edison
authorized
whose terms of office to begin on May 1, 1888:
Commissioner of Police, Commissioner OF tho
Fire Depart nent, a Commissioner OF Health, Com
missioner of Public Parks, q Commissioner OF
Docks, n Commissioner Of Street Cleaning aud
Comnli, soner of Buildings. II the bill should be-
come q law the Fire, Public Works Health, Public
Parks Docks Street-Cleaning aud Building
Departments would be sincle-headed commis-
sions the Police Department would have two
Chiefs aud the Excise Taxes aud Assessment. and
Charities and Correction Departments wOald have
three chiefs.
MAKING PLACES FOR DEMOCRATS.
II is evident also from the bill that sweeping
removal of Republican officials is contemplated
and that the vacancies thus created will be filled
by hundreds of Democrats nov seeking office. Tho
bill provides that the respective heals of depart
mcnts appointed may within sixty days after tho
date of such appointment, remove any regular
clerk or head of bureau, other subordinate
IN his department, as he IN hls
judgment may determine to be for tao
best Interests of The city.v There is so q cunning
little SECTION increasing the salaries Of the Commis-
sioners of Accounts from $1,000 yearly Ia $1,000.
The MaYor Is authorized to remove tho heads OF de-
partmens without the Intervention Of the Governor.
IN this manner the remaining Republican heads OF
departm ents might be removed. The terms OF tho
members OF the Board of Aldermen extended
from year to two years This part OF the act
will apply to those Aldermen who will he elected
next November
The bill is special order for consideration in tho
Assembly on Thursday evening. In the meanwhile
the residents OF New York may study its PROVISIONS.
THE TEXT OF THE BILL.