New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-23
CONS OF THE PILGRIMS.



THE TOWNSHIP AND THR CITY.
xynateyer value my words may have win be because
they come from who comes TO you from the WORK
shop and not from the study 80 of the New-EnglaDd
Townships cannot expect IN gathering IKE this 70
speah a length There here who have forgotten
a,uu the New-Engand townships probably more than
ever Knew. And yet I want TO trace In few word. II
You win bear with me- some thoughts rom Ine NeT ~
the spirit Of the child the daughter Of Clergy VINO
excused her father from seeing visitors oy s;S h'ert
Of nS9iry was anything concerning the plan Of salvation
sho would be very happy 20 answer them Ior sue h,
only on sGS 20 speak Of that Which life
care Of s great city p sae sSxnshps 1t
to that they stood for one Or two ,sV we're planted
pretty clear and DISTINCT First t Of Sr S 'I e good
government and they did get good for their
for gG0f Their country by
esting members Of the township t1e %nC1 pnitV
sSs Ssn e Ssy did that its to be
just the opposite OF that for which IN my 9wn IT,
sS%sr and '' saSddeG It up numbers little
AZ read re- Do they the work that
pected to do; but they interested the community very
soSisrs az nv mating great many ofcers and having
comparatively few privaes That they dld IN the SINAI
towns and the well-known saying OF DE fooque'ii'e
MUNICIPAL institutions constitute the strength of free
schools are 10 science They bring within the peoples
reach They teach men how TO use ana no" 10 eho' H.
DIVIDING THE RESPONSlBlLlf
Now those are the ends, II you please, OF the
Eew-England town meetings and l want you
10 test the work and life of a great city in
onr day by those tests and yourselves does city cd
mipstered upon that idea Of dividing responsibility meet
have in the city Of New-YOrk such government as we
have had in ell our cities snch government as you @
fhe city of Philadephado feel that In that sense
municipal Institutions to-day constitute the strength o.
RePuDc Are mot thCT ga me9 ' of the United
States is drifting and more into cities me Jay 10
% be there and is it not Just there that to see
the greatest weakness ofthe Republic ana not TUG ee"
Then il says "Town meetings to liberty what pr
mary schools are to science They pIhg Sd how to
enjoy it," BY the mere multiplication OF numbers town
meetings become impossible in CITY We have no par par
that other question, do You believe ana Go you ee gen
emen that in The life Of great n city b6v h of s peoe e
are being taught how 70 use liberty ana now 20 ENJOY III
ask this question: because seems aye 10 WHAT e the New
England townships stood for and what they meant 10
OF getting those things ia not IN tho mere DIVISION Oi
power but IN something else
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TOWNSHIP AND CITY.
want to ask your attention now TO
one other difference between the New
Encland townships and our cities in the
state of New York. The NewEngland township is an in
egral part of the Commonwealth II bears the SAM RE-
Union 1t does not get its powers from the state
but it rather gives powers 70 inc o'a' i,
SoVerpment was historical before the Pilgrims landed
In NewEngland. But what is the condition in our ctle
NcwYork wipe out your great city to-day H. II SO
wishes 1t can wipe out the cry nness cSrnorsons
and not townships according TO me New
England idea. Therefore we suffer as we always nave
sn0ered for OF late years, all OF us have suffered from
continual changes in organic Law made at Albany ny
DO not know needs and who do not 81 reP5 ne
sent MS, and yet they can take hol OF the
most vital concerns in your city and in mine ana change
The whole course of daily life as cities. therefore
you see the conditions prevailing III the cry Oh new
York to-day vastly different not only IN the extent o.
reputation in organic relation OF the city 10 the
State from the conditions prevailing III the Ne"-Ens'hd
Then again we have in these great cities not
"a on aTr}V nation IN the Civilized world
Just whore we ought TO make public affairs more
10 I've understood by people least familiar with our s
tHons there seem to nave endeayored 10 cont 70
1t"A0 seems s"sH' to me that the method Of
sOPTone uadvers sfh from tSe township
idea of division responsibility Iousee at iOf instance
in BostOn which, suppose has grown to DC Guy Ir Sn
Board of Aldermen-two ee1satiye, eodies ooS Que
to be check o,G on te aeb Sdon az that in
Pladelpha and they carry the subdivision OF power 90
far there that seven different officials IN tnai
Civ who have the authority to tear up the streets and
MOI single one upon whom the duty Is laid distinctly 70
put them down and keep them III repair lAPPiauSe
on. HEADED BoARDs.
One other point gentlemen. think out OF that old
NeUEnglaud idea the New-England township and nut
,iueaon Of Offices has grown this idea OF departments,
sometimestripe-headed sometimes In one person, so
called, but never, almost never, singie-headed.
Now, gentlemen, let me ask your attention TO a
few tbourhts on that point. Surprising you
have a trfIIs-headed department II the Commits
soners Will heI I HSa bSTe harmonons Board Il they
Won't then you have two against one am speaking
now of practical results not Ol tne0y-and when say
eaS pf urascsI results speak of results and
know Of II they won't take an even share theh TWO or
against one and you have spectacle OF Board
subject 10 the other TWO; But poorT Th Sa.
:aled~then you have that condition OF things winch
brings over the face Of the politician that smile whlcn
he held four aces. 1t is such fair thins-t~o OF
kind. or course it is non-pItsan ana II mT d
eaeS organization you but the people believe
de5artments Of almost every kind and never saw yet
hign degree Of efficiency Of aamnstr%liSh obtained IN
iors there is wisdom; but | never yet read
that human experience demonstrated That IN Il
oio,nT and At engh. II the national government be-
gan putting wuOle care OF the fost-oce o. Tue oo
dor one head If the diplomacy OF The Nation can DC
ried on 10y II al me great portfolios tOSethei
over this whole country can be safely emu 9eu ana can
Sond we NOT have city at the heads OF the great
administrative departments Just one man ana nou i
fespohs ve zone AIN through that experience in Brooklyn
tden aud do moi believe that Brooklyn will ever
lose that idea gAtl the people lose ler Interest
in public affairs e lney before 1eH''0 NV DIV
6y wear have sT TWO and under whatever conditions they
have tried IT, they have found noe only tney ndd safety at
econeIny and greater efficiency and better administration
nv whatever test you wish 10 try II. ,,- =, .
pe 11fs Chatter, that gives 70 the Mayor the
absoute power of appointment Of ms > heads OF
M5yor appoints them an Tier terms G o arc Q co
IL hcones The duty OF the Mayor 70 appoint these heads
Of departments whose term also Is foL tso years 20
odvsers and appoints bis executive cbeis 10 SUIT MN
ser he people Brooklyn have tried that exp rheni
9TH ,rI1at resnltl This much thlnk can claim u
rncstonably that interested tie people or BOOK
n In the aiirs of Brooklyn as city as lh{ never were
o"as4ad nefOre and that Ia one thing that the New
EnoIspd township did for its population We bad =
lsrser registry in rookyD TINS Iai Oh puIey ioca