New-York tribune., 1884-03-03

THE ROOSEFELT ELL IN 1hE 'H'' -
AS the dav draws near to settle the tate Oh inc
Roosevelt bill depriving the Aldermen Oh 'ncr
mower over the Mayors appointments tle lac-
tions and bosses, whose influence and authority
are menaced, are using every means Ill tner
mower to secure its defeat. passed the Assembly
bva decisive vote. 1t will come up in the Senate
on Wednesday, and the attitude oil every
Senator toward it will be watched with thc
keenest interest by the people oil TINS clly'
Senators who 20 counter to the VIII ol OHe
people in this matter may pro1iaOiy rencc' Oh
the fate of certain opponents OF the ouee'
Cleaning bill not long ago.
Rarely is there a bill in the Legislature when
has so strong a backing of public sentiment
This has been shown by the press, by the great
meeting at the Cooper Union and by the commit
FOO Of our best citizens which is now working
for it. The respectable classes in this commun-
ity are thoroughly disgusted with a Board OF AL
dermcn made mp so largely year after year from
the dregs Of the dramshOps. 1t is the lowest the
vicst, the most depraved elements OF city ille
which govern the selection of our Aldermen III
many of the districts. This Roosevelt Dill Is
straight, sure blow at the strength OF the worst
influences and combinations in our politics.
If has been objected that if the bill becomes
law. after next January the deals and tricks
and buving and selling which now make the
hail of our Aldermen place OF shameful ana
dctestable traffic, will be transferred from the
twcnty-four men TO one man; that the bosses
and factions will then have only the Mayor to
coiolc and whcedlc and seduce instead of the
hodv of tventv-four. There is little force III
this. The Aldermen are too often recruited
from the grogshops and from other debaSed ana
contemplate sources of supply. Inc ward poll
ticians who choose the candidates for the Demo-
cratic factions do not consider character III theI
choice unless to make sure that 1t is bad enough
for their purpose But our Mayors come from a
different class. The most inSOlent and un-
scrupulous of factions does not venture to put
forward as its candidate for Mayor politician
of the stamp which it finds best suited to carry
ont its schemes in the Common Council. We
can fairly rely upon it that our Mayors will be
men of responsibility, especially when the
citizens realize that upon the Mayor is to rest
genuine responsibility, and that he WILL here
after, determine by his selection of heads OF
dcDartments whether the community is to be
governed well or i'll.
The Roosevelt bill should pass the Senate
promptly and by a strong vote. Its progress
toward becoming law should not be clogged
Inv any amendments whatever Here Is a
simple. single, clear, definite, positive measure
of relief. The author of the bill did not scatter
his fire. He sought to accomplish one important
result and to accomplish that by the most direct
and effective means. Amendments and delays
can only serve hostility to the pro-
posed reform. The proposition to sub
NIT the measure to popular vote in this city
should not be entertained This is not
Constitutional Amendment, whose adoption
must be hedged about with every possible
precaution and must be reached with painful
dcIiberation. The abuses which this bill is
intended to sweep away are open, notorious
abomnabe. They can be removed speedily
and eflectually in this way. The people have
sent Senator, and ASsomblymcn to Albany with
full authority to settle this question there and
now. They do not ask that every change in the
city charter should be referred back to them. Let
thc Senators have confidence in themselves and
in the powers which their constituents have con-
ferled upouthcm. Then if the opponents OF this
reform think they can count on public support,
which assuIedly they cannot, let them make this
an issue in the election Of AsScmblymcn this
year. The next Legislature can repeal the act
if the people demand it. Bymaking this an issue
in the campaign the enemies of the Roosevelt
bill can get all the popular vote they have any
stomach for.