New-York tribune., 1884-01-14
REFORMS IN MUNICIPAL GoVERNMENE
AN ARGUMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE POLIrI-
CAL REFORM COMMITTEE,

AN ARGUMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE POLlII-
CAL REFORM COMMITTEE.
To The Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: The amendment to Section of Article
TX. of the Constitution proposed by city Democrat and
before the Legislature for concurrent action with
that Of 1892 provides follows First The Legis
ature shall pass any special local bill affecting the
municipal government OF city - Second, Nor shall the
Legislature provide for the filling OF any municipal Office
now existing hereafter be created otherwise than by
popular election by appointment Of the Mayor with or
without confirmation the highest legislative branch of
the city government" Neither be adopted alone.
The Eec York Times supports both and attacks the Com
mittee OF Political Reform Of the Union League Club OF
which chairman, for opposing agreement to 1t by the
Legislature In this the committee supportedby tho
Club.
The adoption Of the first branch OF the amendment
would prevent any but general laws applicable alike to
ali cities Test the wisdom OF this by single case The
present charter Chapter 4O3 of the Laws OF 1882
quires that each OF the twcnyour Aldermen shall re-
side the district for which he Is chosen In the First
Ward for instance numbers OF best citizens do
business on large scale at their offices stores, but
they reside in the fashionable Wards No OF them,
therefore, can be nominated In the pistrct where his
Office Is situated and the nomination and election OF an
Alderman is left to the persons who reside there 1t is
unnecessary describe them, for they well known.
Their nominee is OF the class Of his constituents Some OF
the important who transact business in
the Ward desire to have the charter 80
changed that the nominee for Alderman may be
selected from among those who have places Of business
the district, but reside elsewhere in the city They
think that tho district might be carried by great eXerons
If the change made, and that great benefit would
result Now II the constitutional amendment were in
force such change could be made by the Legislature
1t would special local act affecting the municipal
government OF city" This the am endment prevents
general law applicable to the whole State providing for
such change IN the election Of Aldermen would be I'm
pOhc other cities it is proper and neces
sary to have each representative in their respective
Boards OF Aldermen resident OF the locality he repre-
sents
Other citizens think that II twenty-four Aldermen
were elected under general ickethe nominees to be
selected from any portion OF tho cyesch party would
nominees of higher grade This change could not
be accomplished the constitutional amendment were in
force.
Take the case OF the Commissioners OF Public Works for
another instance This officer is charged, hrst with en-
cOuraging in all contracts for excavations
system OF unbalanced bids by which contractors
in collision with engineers heavy for
tunes; and second. with hourly evading the
positive provision OF the charter requiring contract
made with the lowest bidder sealed bids after public
advertisement, II tho amount Of purchase exceeds
81 600 The Club resolved that these methods OF man.
agement should undergo legislative investigation and
that such action should be taken as the case should be
found TO warrant.
These methods Of management need to be remeded by
legislation. Suppose tho amendment were in
force that the Legislature shall not pass any
special or local bill affecting the municipal
government Of city. What could be dOnei
The Commissioner could not be lcgslated of Office
however richly this deserved. That would affect
the municipal government II would equally affect the
municipal government TO require that contracts or
purchase should be made by him. without the
OF some firm reliable head of other Department,
fl such can found. True the laws provide mode for
the of of this officer by the Governor, the
commeudation Of the Mayor after investigation but the
MayOr, Is ALLEGED, 1ecliDed to investigate.
These OF hundreds OF instances which may he pre-
seuted indicate that the first branch Of the proposed con-
stitutonal amendment is precisely what the Commits
sOner OF Public Works would prescribe. Home rule Is
feasible at ALL must be preceded by charter prepared by
citizens proper local government must exist
before imperative and practically Interchangeable con-
sttutOnal amendment shall be adopted III adopted In
advance Of such provision, great confusion wOdd result
Disaster would also follow, except to the party which Is
heavily reinforced by large emigration and quick ma
turaliZatiOn.
The Commissioner OF Public Works with his great In
huence over Mayors, Judges and legislators, and
with no other power him than might be exercised by
a home government-fOr which owing TO defective leSs-
laton wholly unprepared-woud be supreme.
Respectively.
GEORGE b. BUTLER,
Chairman Committee OF Political Reform Union League
Club.
Netc- York, Jan. IL.