New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-03-06
CITY LEGISLATION.

The Legislature has made good beginning
in the way of reformatOry legislation for this
city. 1t has passed the Roosevelt bill to give
the next Mayor the sole power to appoint
department heads. AS the Governor has
repeatedly declared the need of increased re-
sponsibilty in the administration OF the city
government, there cannot be much doubt that he
will sign the bill. This will tend to confine the
Board of Aldermen, which is now KIND OF
fifth wheel to the municipal coach to its con-
genial sphere of authorizing street distractions
| in the nature of meat racks and BARRIERS poles.
The large majority given the bill in the
Senate, there being 81 yeas and only nays,
speaks well for that body. Senators Robb and
DAILY were, of course, the only Democratic
members from this city who had the independ-
ence to vote for the measure. Mr.. Kellys two
representatives, Cullen and Plunkitt, opposed
the bill, as did Mr. Thompson and Mr. David
sons men, Campbell and Murphy. They were
reinforced by the pilots agent, Senator jacobs
and by the counsel of the liquor dealers
association of Buffalo, Senator Titus. The
only other negative vote was that of Mr.. Van
Setback the Democratic representative from
the XIVth District
We trust that as large a majority can
ne ODldlDCu Ill bOlH OiStS OOliCi NItJ lNiOihi
measures. The bill passed yesterday must
necessarily be supplemented by further legisla
! ton. In itself it will not have any practical
effect, until a year from next May, when the
first vacancies occur to be filled under it. AT
that time there will be a Commissioner to be
appointed in each Of the following branches Of
the city governments Park, Dock, Police,
Charities and Correction, Tax and Fire
| II D. mold hp
Commissioners whose terms expire at that time
are all Republicans Messrs French, Laimbeer,
! Wales, Hess Van Colt and Asten. The only
| other officers whose terms expire during the
incumbency of the next Mayor are Police Com
missioner Mason, also a Republican, Park Com
missioner Ollifie, Chamberlain Tappan and the
three Excise Commissioners. Hence if there is
no further legislation, the next Mayor, during
his two years term, cannot change the control
of a single Department under the city govern
ment except that of Excise, the terms OF those
three Commissioners expiring on May /, 1886.
In every other case there would either be
majority, or one half Of the members of existing
commissions, who would hold beyond the
| term of the Mayor elected next November.
| Without further legislation, therefore. the
Roosevelt bill will practically effect no change
in the city government for several years. 1t is
a step in the right direction but a step only.
What is demanded is the power to eject Mayor
next November who can be held responsible for
the conduct Of the city government from the
beginning of his term. If the amendments to
the Civil Service law, now pending III the
Assembly are passed, that will be another I'M
portant step. 1t will remove from the depart
ment heads, and the next Mayor as well, the
power TO use the 10000 subordinate places in
the municipal government for political purposes.
That accomplished, the people can safely trust
a Mayor to appoint department heads for purely
administrative functions.
The bill introduced yesterday by Senator
! Gibbs, to terminate on December 81 the terms
of department heads hereafter appointed this
year, should by all means pass. Late in
December the terms of the Controller, Commits
sioner of Public Works and Corporation Counsel
expire They are, next to the Mayor, the three
most important city officials. Ii the principle
of the Roosevelt bill passed yesterday is good
! for anything it would be absurd to weight the
| next MavOr during his entire term with three
important officers appointed i'll the expiring
hours of the present Mayor and Board of
Aldermen.
Mr.. Roosevelt's bill, introduced yesterday, to
provide for the election of Controller next
November is also a good measure. That would
give another representative in the Board of
Estimate and in the Aqueduct Commission
elected directly by the people. 1t is perhaps
not well to give to the Mayor the sole right to
dispose of the $34,000,000 annually drawn
from the city treasury. The election of the
Controller and the President of the Board of
Aldermen on the same ticket with the Mayor
would make the needed change. And, of course,
after the passage of the Roosevelt bill yesterday,
some other provision must be made for the
Election Bureau. 1t should no longer remain
in the Police Department.
MR.. JAMESS SETTLEMENT.