New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-02-18
COMMITTEES FROM ALBANY.
MAYOR EDSON'S CHARTER AMENDMENTS.
CRITICISMS BY PROFESSOR DWIGHT, DoRMAN b.
EATON AND OTHERS.

the Governors in the City Hall yesterday 10 near
arguments the charter amendments prOposeu ~
Mayor Edison. The members OF the committee presehV
were NJ. c. Murphy chairman, and Messrs. Roosevelt
McElroy and Clark of New-York; Earl aud Hodges CT
Kings Hawey of Erie; and Beckwth, OF st. Lawrence.
Tine room was crowded with politicians and ohice-hod
interested in the proposed changes In the law
Professor Theodore W. Dwight who said that he repre-
scented the of Reform tue trst person to ex-
press his views He approved the general OF the
proposed measure. If the Mayor was given
the sole power to appoint the heads of depart
ments he said, the rights of the people would
be protected The Mayor could not be held to RESPONSE
biity unless he given the power appoint whom
he pleased without the hindrance of the Alder
If the Mayor granted that power, then the
Council of Reform favored sngleheaded departments.
Political deals and barriers the result of the present
system Of divided responsibility, and politicians were
placed in control of important public trusts. The pro-
posed changes of Mayor Edison were In the nature of
experiment, however, and should be modified The pres
ent Mayor should not be given the power to name the
heads of the departments. The amendments to the
should go into effect until after the expra
ton Of the present Mayors term, He had confidence
In Mayor EdsOn's ability but he thought that the
Mayor had made pledges which he could not
disregard There possibility that he had yielded TO
the political influences that controlled his election 1t
not ,,roper to clothe a man with extraordinary
powers after his election The voters should have an
opportunity TO pass upon the merits of man proposed
for important office this bill would create. Pro
fessOr Dwight said that his objections to the Mayor were
not personal but because OF the political and par
tisan considerations that controlled him. He OPP
posed to eecng the heads OF departments and did not
Mayor should be ;egslated out Of Of
fee He did not think that the Aldermen represented
the real sentiment Of the people. They were chosen at
fraudulent primaries and packed conventions The pro-
posed change IN the terms of the heads of departments
not in the interest of good govern
fhrpa
lead to political deals The Police Department should
have more than one head The Election Bureau should
not be left at the mercy Of one man. The Tax Depart
ment needed more than one commissioner. The Board
of Estimate and AppOrtonment should be so constituted
that could control 1t as at present. The
membership should In part be made up of prominent
citizens appointed by board to be composed of the
Judges and other elective officers.
Dorman B. Eaton said that there were three branches
of the City GOvernment-the legislative, executive, and
judicial This bill the suggestion Of the chief exc
cutive without the operation of any other branch,
and it entitled to just much considerat ton az the
Mayors limited experience in the affairs Of the City
Government would Justify Proper precautions had not
been taken guard the interests OF the other depart
ments. The Legislature should not interfere in radi-
cal with the laws OF this city without the fullest
inquiry and consultation with the whose experience
would ente their recommendations 10 some weight. 1t
was an uDtred experiment to give toe Mayor the sole
power OF removal ana appointment. The very serious
evils that had grown out Of the power vested In the
Aldermen to confirm appointments might justify the
change The slavish obedience OF the Aldermen TO the
will politicians had caused the public to lose all conf
dence in that Board aud welcome almost any change
The Aldermen were elective officers, and the cOndemna-
ton the present system OF comforting powerupon them
WAS in fact condemnation OF the system of elective
officers. The Mayor directly tue centre OF pGbc
interest and criticism. and likely TO he sub
ec TO popular viii than obscure Alderman, who
politics "f you entertain the that the patronage
the city belongs to party" said Mr. Eaton, 'then
the Aldermen should be allowed TO retain power But
you don't assert that Ye yOu propose by this bill TO
cut down the OF officials One-ha from six years
70 three because you them TO represent party
premacy You can't change all the heads Of departments
without changing all the subonates That will be the
practical effect. Win such sweeping change every
three years advantage to the ctvl II the last
election taught any lesson was that limit should be
g. pledges thar respect 1t will do SO at It's peril"
Chairman Murphy-Dd the Republicans pass any Civil
Service bill when they were IN powers
Mr. Eaton-No they went hllndly down 10 perditlon.
Mr.. ROoscvclts 1t not fact tnat such experiment
is proposed by this bll has been tried in Brooklyn
MIR Eaton-Yes so far il has proved success nj ex-
pertinent in Brooklyn. The principle that tried and
p renced public servants must out Of Oc he end
In the National Government the heads OF the Depart
meuts are the constitutional advisers OF he President
o. he 100000 Federal ofce-holders only $500
have fixed terms. The beginning Of The spells system
The /
certain Officers IIe United states senate has the con
fr,nng over but It's majority does not cha with the
election Of President therefore II exercises
serya check The Aldermen % TINS city unable
withstand the corrupt political influences that
~ .ne aid 70 yitSsfsnd hem ~ & - a1 i6 81
last Mayor but and real the letters he wrote
Iarr fIenhIc for the result Of the proposed change
The power OF confirmation brings pnhicy. II this bill
II passed It's pre- ent shape the work BE- carried
ont in secrecy propose, therefore that II be amend
ed so that it contain declaration Of the MAYORS
powers, making 1t nlsdemearOr for him TO tx Tci>e
them IN the interest OF any party church or individual
A similar declaration made il act In regard to the
State has had good effect TIE Mayor should
tile a no ice 1t with clerk the Board of Alder
to i've daily newspapers IN the city. Before
the Manor should b. required 10 give five days notice Of
bis intention the officer aud furnish his for The
n, anu an e ne an n g eon9 IoI tne re-
ting the Mayors proceedings II the Mayor cOrruptly
ercses his power WHOLLY refuses 10 hearing to
the accused officer suit for damages should lie against
Mr. Eaton furnished the committee a draft of an
amendment emhOdying these views.
Cha rman Muphy-Do OF think If tho heads Of the
Mr. Eat0n-Few things would be more mschievOus.
We have 100 many elections now. As for the Board Of
Aldermen. it mgni well be aboshel altogether The
members represent only the politicians who choose
should hold Tor i've years; then only once IN fifteen
years would the changes De MADE In year when there
passed by Congress IN regard 10 the civil Service h0ul
be applied to this city lis astonishing thar the Mayor
Of this city should propose Legislation and include
provisions b. forbid political assessments
appointment OF subOrdnates after examination
htuess The Board Of Health has too powers be
IN rusled 10 man and should have than one
head.
Alderman John COchrane, a member OF OF he com
muee appointed by the Board 10 oppose the proposed
charge in tie charter ak from the
the power of confirming Inc Mayors nominations,
pressed his views some length He ted that the
BIZ proposed by the Mayor was unconstitutional, and
thai :" dreamy. OOZy aud bcsOtted-the vcrcst
nightmare" aud hat -" no man his would ever
have proposed such scheme" lie quoted from
medieval history, ci Cd Instances from the reign Of
the times Of Cromwell and of