New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-02-09

said to be little likelihood of its becoming
law in it's present shape.
PROVISIONS OF THE CHARTER.
UNLIMITED POWER OF APPOINTMENT AND REMOVAL
PUT IN THE MAYORS HANDS.
A resolution was adopted by the Assembly on
January 81 asking Mr.. Edison to inform that body
what legislation, if any, he may consider necessary
in order TO economze simplify and improve th'
government of this city. The Mayor has been en-
gagged on the charter amendment for several weeks
the Assembly resolution being passed merely to give
him more plausible excuse for presenting draft
of new charter TO the Legislature. 1t IS under
stood that the Mayor has consulted several Demo
cratic leaders and the heads of departments while
preparing the charter amendments, but has paid
little heed TO their advice In forwarding to the
Assembly the proposed bill Mr.. Edison sent the fol-
lowing communication
have the honor to acknowledge the receipt on Janu-
airy 81 OF the following resolution, adopted by your
esored That the Mayor OF the city Of New York be,
and he is hereby u vted to inform this House what egs
laton If any, he may consider necessary In order TO
economic simplify and improve the local government
of the city of New-YOrk"
Responding the invitation Of your honorable body
economy and simplicity in the local government OF the
city of New-IOrk can be secured only through the
the proper conduct business OF the necessary de-
paTIments OF the municipal governments and | know OF
trust the Mayor with the power TO appoint and to
the heads Of such departments without the IN
teryenOn OF other authority In order TO improve
well simplify the local government Of the city II is,
in opinion necessary that the head OF each depart
ment should consist of person, VINO should be held
responsible by the Mayor tor the faithful and efficient
conduct of the affairs OF his department.
With view the establishment OF this system In the
local government OF this city, have caused TO D. pre-
pared amendments TO the act known as the New-Y rk
City Consolidation act Of 1882" which is 10 take effect
the 1st of March next In the preparation of these
amendments 1t has been intended TO make them as few
and brief possible with the single view or urging
the Legislature TO establish this system IN the local gov
ernment OF the city Of NewYork with as little immediate
disturbance of existing departments as possible, leaving
for further consideration such other changes expert
ence may show l. be necessary desirable.
The intention legisate out OF office any faithful and
city government. except far Is necessary i'll
order 10 establish Responsible and efficient government
in the city OF NewYOrk, Is fully and uDequvocay dis
claimed.
Section l of the proposed amendments provides
that the present Board of Aldermen shall hold Of
fce until the first Monday in January, 1884, and
that Aldermen shall he elected by Assembly dis
tricts as at present section provides that the
Mayor shall be the chief executive officer of the
corporation, and that the present Mayor shall hold
office until noon of January 1, 1885. The Mayor
elected at the general election in 1884 shall
hold Office for three years, and that shall there
after be the term. 1t IS next provided that the
president of the Board Of Aldermen shall act as
Mayor whenever there shall be vacancy IN the
office or whenever the Mayor shall be temporarily
absent. In case of a vacancy lie shall so act until
noon OF the first Monday of January succeeding the
election at which successor shall be chosen. At
the next general election, which shall take place
more than ten US after the occurrence OF vacancy
in the Office OF Mayor successor shall be chosen
who shall hold office for the unexpired term 1t
shall be lawful for the president OF the Board OF
Aldermen when acting as Mayor i'll consequence of
the sickness OF absence from the city of the person
nf niufrp4 mt In
OF removal from Office unless such sickness or ab
sence of the Mayor shall have continued sixty days
or to sign, approve or disaDprove any ordinance or
resolution unless such sickness or absence shall
have con tinued ten days. Under the present charter
the president of the Board of Aldermen can exercise
all the functions of the Mayor when the latter has
been absent from his Office for ten days.
The next section provides that the Controller
shall be the head of the Finance Department and
shall hold Office for three years, except that the
Controller appointed under the provisions of this act
shall hold office until February l, 1855. Under
the present charter the Controller holds office for
four years There is similar provision with refer
ence to the Counsel to the Cooperation, whose term
at present Is four years The succeeding sections of
the proposed act provide for single heads of the
Departments of Police, Public Works. Charities and |
Correction Fire. Health, Parks Taxes and Assess
IN nts. Docks and street Cleaning and these OIL |
cas are 10 hold office for tfee years except that
those first appointed shall continue III Olce until
February l. 1855.
Section 10 provides that a majority of the
members of a board of the city government shall |
constitute a quorum 10 perform and discharge any
act or duty authorized possessed by, or imposed
upon any board and with the same legal effect as II
every member of any such board had been present. |
except as otherwise specially provided No ex-
pense shall be INCURRED by any OF the departments
boards officers of the city government unless an
appropriation shall have been previously made COW
erlng such expense nor any expense III excess of
the sum appropriated in accordance with law. 1t
Is added that any officer VINO, by the express terms
Of this act shall be deprived of his office shall he
entitled to receive his salary in The same manner as
II this act had not been passed up the expiration
Jf his present term OF office but If such officer shall
accept any other office he shall receive no addl-
tiODal compensation unless The salary attached TO
which he shall hold at the time oi the passage OF
this act in which case be shall receive the salary
,nly which is affixed 10 such other Oi1cc.
1t is further provided tlaC the annual salaries to
DO paid TO persons herein named, and elected ana
,pDOinted to the several specified positions, SHALL
rom and after their entrance upon their duties, be
follows aud such salaries shall be III full for all
services rendered by them TO the city and county III
my capacity whatever: TO the Mayor $4,000,
lHtl January /, 1885, afier Which ii shall be
$4,000 Ohe salary is at present $1,000; % the
$4,000 mo change TO the COun sci TO
he Corporation, 81, ,OOO ana all legal COSTS col
by him shall be pald into the treasury of the
,y mo changej: TO the Commissioner OF Pubic
Works s. 900 ono cbangel; TO the Commissioners of c
Police 81 800 the president of the Board OF Police
II present receives SIS GOO; to the Commissioner of
Public Parks, -, 900 uhe president OF the PARK
Commission at present receives S50OOj to the q
JOmmissionsr rs Of Public Chanties and Correction,
81 800 all the commissioners now receive
50 900; to the Commissioner OF Health,
~ 500 dhe president now receives $O1OOl; | {
o the Commissioner of the Fire Department, $1,000
at present all the Fire Commissioners receive tho
anne salary, $4,000: TO the commissioner OF Ia1es
nd Assessments 81 500 he president now receives
$1,000; to the Commissioners OF Docks SI,oOO I
each OF the Commissioners receives $4,000; I
o the Commissioner of Street Cleaning, $4,000 tao
hangel; TO the Corporation Attorney lat present
20 o4oOl, PUBLIC Administrator lat present $4,000
ma Attorney for the Collection of Arrears of Per
ohal Taxes tno change) $4, 900 each to the attor-
icy 1Or tDe EIre DenarI TO