Morning journal and courier., 1884-03-20
journal aita Gouri.r.
SINGLE COPIES TWO CENTS.
Thursday, March 90. 1884.
NEW YORK's e EmANcTPATION.

NEW YORK'S z EMANCIPATTON.
The good citizens of New York, and, in
deed, good citizens all over the country, are
very much pleased over the passage Of the
so called Roosevelt bill, which provides that
after January 1, 1885. all appointments to
Office in New York city now made by the
mayor and conirmed by the board of alder
men shall be made by the mayor without
such confirmation. And well they may be
pleased, for the system which has prevailed
in New York has had much to do with the
shameful maladministration of its municipal
| affairs.
What may be expected to result from this
| change is indicated by the governors mes
sage which he sent to the legislature with the
signed bill. The governor says of the meas
ure: 1t appears to me to be change of the
instrumentalities. 1t will hardly do to say
that. because the aldermen are elected an
nually and the mayor every two years, the
former are nearer the people and more espec-
tally their representatives. The difference in
their terms is not sufficient to make dis
tinction in their direct relations to the
citizens. Nor are the rights of the people
to seit-goVernment in theory and principle
better protected when the power of appoint
ment is vested in twenty-five men, twenty
four of whom are responsible only to their
constituents in their respective districts, than
when this power is put in the hands of one
man elected by all the people of the munich
pality with particular reference to the exer-
else of such power. The intelli.
gence and watchfulness of the citizens of New
York should certainly furnish safe euaran-
tee that the duties and powers devolved by
this legislation upon their chosen representa-
tive will be well and wisely bestowed, and if
they err or are betrayed their remedy Is close
at hand. can hardly realize the unprinci-
pied boldness of man who would accept at /
the hands of his neighbors this sacred trust. |
and standing alone in the full light of public |
observation, should wilfully prostitute his |
powers and defy the will of the people
1t is highly probable that no mayor of New
York will dare to seriously abuse the great
and open responsibility placed upon him by
this bill. The direct tendency of the existing
system is to dissipate responsibility and to
make the possession of public Office matter |
of bargain and sale. 1t secures the selection
of worse class of men than any member of
the appointing board would select if left to
himself. AS the Brooklyn Union says: When
the filling of a lucrative office is made de-
pendent on the agreement of q number of
persons intent on securing for themselves or
the party bosses to whom they owe their
places, part interest in the profits of the
appointment, it may safely be assumed that
The lowest motives thus brought into play
will gain strength by combination. s'deal"
Or bargain, more or less corrupt, has to be
to which no appointes of any
character or self respect would become a
party, and the business of filling a responsi-
Die public position degenerates inte as shame |
ess transaction as the partition by parcel
If thieves of the proceeds of a burglary.
The people of New York will now have :
'nly themselves to blame if stop is not put
o the shameless performances which have
'een SO frequent in the city government. r
Doubtless they will appreciate their opportu- . !.
ity and choose for their next mayor a man F
f the right kind