New-York tribune., 1885-01-07


providing that the Superintendent OF State Prisons
shall not nor shall any other authority whatever renew
h OF any ecnyc
Of tho prisons pententiaries or reiormatorles w' M
other system Of labor for such institutions to provide
any means moneys sufficient for the proper empioy
Contracts In the light OF such and other facts It
seriously disputed whether this act was intchdeu as
permanent abolition Of the contract system or only as
1t remains for the present Legislature to
this subject Gl prison P tn aocr m tnr system be
adopted and become the permanent pocy Oh lne S,e
sions to re-investgate the subject The Legislature
itself Is competent to dispose OF this estlon without INC
necessity OF I'M mpos1s any that move
ment Will be made during the present session Tor the
continuation restoration OF the contract system anu IL
IA that the present superintendent OF state
Prisons that policy OF prison management
Effort G rs seament Of the people upon
the subject the abolition OF the contract system Should
proceed in entire recognition OF that fact to simply en-
dea provide suitable and weliperlected system
take its place and furnish the necessary means ior m
Il may properly be submitted that in whatever meas
re may be contemplated by the Legislature should not
only aim TO make our penal institutions sefsupporting
aud to avoid keeping the prisoners IN ihehess out care
should be taken to provide against unnecessary her
ferepce with ousiae industrial interests. In this
view is suggested whether it would not be advisable 70
shod be- eamszed and dversed by rovdng that
more than limited number OF eonycts should pe kepe
prison products should he sold for less than market
prices such reasonable rules and reguatons as
to be requisite that the superintendent OF State Prisons
should be invested by statute with limited supervisory
which he now has no jursdction) In order that one
recognized head authority might properly carry OUT
the objects sought to be obtained by such an enact
ment.
The amount OF business transacted upon the canals
their general condition, management and supervision,
payinn
number years substantial improvements having
been made upon the cana seemed absolutely necessary
that an effort should be made to restore and renew as far
as possible the structures OF the Erie Canal ana IT'S Dak
Accordingly with IL object III view Tue supelneene
of Public Works during the past year has very properly
caused skilled mechanics 10 De employed upon tne
masonry and WOODWORK ana twelve new neeD
since June last up TO the close or navigation IN to Woth
OF raising the banks where lley were ,on' aa ~
ening them where they were weak and otnefwlse pro-
ceeding to restore the canal to Its original condition. anu
when this work shall be completed the towing path VIII
be covered with heavy coat OF grayei from Albany 10
Buffalo The value and efficiency OF thls WORK dS wen .
the general satisfactory condition and managenent o,
commended by committee from the Produce Exchange
OF NewYork who carefully Inspected them along their
The people having heretofore voted to the canals
free ana being resolved snain them for the promo
and benefit Of the commerce OF the state ana con
try. It IL clear that they should be preserved ID con
the necessities OF business from time TO time shall
require. In providing for their maintenance ana I'M
the hand nor parsiinony on me other'
NATIONAL GUARD.
The National Guard OF our state has mover been IN
more seryiceable ana effective condition The adoption
OF the new state service uniform by nearly every COM
mand the State has greatly improved the appearance
of the Guard and the practical seryceaby OF this uni
fofm besides the mnaifest benefit Of common dress
has think been satisfactorily dmonstrated The proper
housing OF several regiments OF he Guard mas received
attention, and armorles Will soon be under way
ToARD OF CLAIMS.
The proprcty OF the act Of 1888 aboshng the Board
OF Audit aud Canal Appraisers and substituting there
for the present Board Of Claims Is now generally ad'
mtted The latter Board which possesses all the atri-
bues Of court is diligently discharglng its duties with
SIGNAL ability and with entire satisfaction to the people
OF the State n has heard upward OF two hundred
claims during tho past year. and the claims wpch nave
dar about seven hundred. and those upon the appeal
calendar transferred " 1t from the Canal Board about
three hundred.
SPRING ELECTIONS.
In the city OF New York there chosen at the
oral election certain officers who connected with TIT
municipal government OF the city OF New-YorE and who
have no relation to the state or county officers
elected at the same time. These officers are twenty
seven In number, namely: Mayor, whO holds his ofce
for two years. Controller. who holds his Office for three
year, President OF the Board OF Acermen VINO holds
his Office for and twenty-fonr Aldermen o
whom aoh holds his office for one year
prior TO the year 1870 the municipal officers in the city
of NowYork mad been chosen not at the general elec
ton but at what known the charter election held
for many years In the spring. bat more recently IN the
month OF December IN each year It Was found now
ever that the December, charter election, following
closely upon the general election OF November failed 10
attract the general attention OF voters ana 10 induce
more general participation II was provided ny law In
$50 that the municipal officers might be voted for on
the same day OF tie general election III November IOr te
state aud county officers. Almost Immediately the ey
Of thi, association developed In the practical am
Guilty Of relieving the choice Of local officers from the IN
uence OF strictly partisan politics and OF conducting an
olecion Tor tue State National officers free from the
embarrassment Of local contests An opportunity ioI
politicians Interested IN local Offices and the opportunity
was not disregarded. The consequences were unjust
alike both to the people OF the state outside OF the city OF
Sew-York whose interests were subject 10 the over.
whemiug influence OF an enormous vote IN the cry OF
and 10 the citizens OF that city whose local contests
we're by the introduction Of general issue.
liable To determine questions with whch they were ,o
necessarily connected. ,,,. -. .. =.
Accordingly. upon the accomplishment OF tne great re
form move nent In 1871, the Committee or Seventy ~
the new charter which passed through the legsstute o.
1872 proposed return TO the ancient - S'o M u. @
elections Tor charter offices The proposed ohh.er WA
vetoed by Governor Hoffman who objected to the pro
vision concerning spring Sn sbem in be Month Of
Nav "A most unprOptous tne because tne theh geu-
ea habit OF removal upon the rst daF OF Nay VI enc. dn
year led such! changes OF residence as %ou,u uis
qualify many from voting at an election TO De heo WIN
In thirty days thereafter In the succeeding year Isl
the practice OF choosing the municipal officers AT tht
time the general election In he eleven years yea s. I'M sb.
country has strengthened In support tot he sentiment
which found expression In the charter OF the ooinne!
of seventy against common election OF geherai ant
local officers ut one aud the same time Common ex-
nerence has testified to the evil OF this system ana ht
principal the only argument for It's retention ha
been that IL avoids the expense and the loss OF pubic
interest incident upon too great frequency OF eiec.os
rcmoyrd n il were TO provided by law that the term,
of office OF oil elective municipal officers IN the ely o.
NewYork should be two years and that sucn onicers
shoud be chosen ut municipal election to be held II
the month OF April In every alternate year oegnnihe
terms of all present ncumbents except the Cohtroier
whose term expires December 81 1857. it mignt M pt
that the succeeding ter, or this Office shono
beDin January J. 1883 and expire April 3o lsSo me
,sr,ns ~ office OF all other municipal officers cnose II
nsmber 1883 should expire April 80 1887. The
system thus introduced without Injustice TO any prescR
incumbent would be well worth trial ana wVua no rveS
tainty and Irritation which has given dissatisfaction
many OF the people throughout the state
THE CIVIL SERVICE.