New-York tribune., 1885-01-06
MIR. GRACE ON CITY AFFAIRS.
THE TEXT OF HIS MESSAGE AS MAYOR.

DOCl, cChOoLo AAHN-'
OTHER TOPICS. .
Mavor Grace's message was submitted 10 tno
Board of Aldermen yesterday. The to1t OK II Is ~
follows:
MAYORS OFFICE,
NEw-YoRK, Jan. 8, 1885,
To the Honorable the Board Of Aldermen
GENTIEMEy-Among the other duties imposed upon
the Mavor nv the City Charter is that Of communioa
ting tn the Common Council cat least once year
general statement Of the finances government anu I'm
of the city, No specific time Is prescripoo
for the performance of this duty but It mas peeh long
customary for the Mayor to make this communication
the beginning OF the year. 1t apparent however, that
this is pecuarly difficult of performance by incoming
Mayor at time when he has enjoyed neither the oppor-
tunities nor the facilities for careful AMI detaied
examination OF the city affairs through tho nspecton
not only ma reports but also OF the BOOKS anu
personnel the several departments SHALL therefore
avail myself the privilege 10 time, and while now
making general report the present condition OF city
affairs Ishall hereafter communicate to you, from time
70 time when my examinations shall have been COM
pleted the condition OF each OF the municipal depart
ments with such recomme for their improve
ment as TO me may seem just. The Mayor now enjoys
facilities for nquring the affairs OF the departments
not heretofore possessed by him. BY chapter SIG OF the
OF 1884 the two Commissioners OF Accounts whom
the Mayor may appoint and at pleasure are not
only required in each three months 70 mako al
examination OF the Department OF Finance, ana 10
report the Mayor detailed aud classified statement
of the financial condition OF the city, as shown by such
examinations but they also required to make such
special examinations of the accounts and methods OF
tho departmepts and offices OF the city and county
Government as the Mayor may from time TO tmc direct
report the Mayor the results thereof ana such
other examinations the said Commissioners may deem
for the best interests Of the city and county For
the purpose OF ascersining facts in connection with
these they shall have full power to compel
attendance of Witnesses to administer oaths and 70
This is not only most important, but most necessary
power and under 1t shall at once undertake thorough
county Offices. and shall instruct the Commissioners OF
Accounts proceed they would IN examining the ~
fairs OF private corporation business house. in order
that any Official incapacty. neglect exravagance or
(which which be ereor 70 % al
Of tho departments for future confederation In
such special messages as may ind necessary TO trans
init to you.
CHARTER AMENDMENTS.
Nothing Is OF great Importance to the city as the nun
damenta law by which IL Is governed. Tho great eyia
which tho city has suffered In tho past have been
mainly due to the character OF the legislation affecting
the city and to OF the State Legislature act
Ing under constitutional power OF altering and anne nd
ing only too often In the interest Of political
parties individual ohiceholders. or private schemes
m now even more satisfied than when originally made
the statement to the Board OF Aldermen IN 1882 that 10
strive for reform In municipal government whilo admit
ting the uncontrolled right OF partisan legislative ma
orties ~ the State capital To change our charter system
will f. TO strive for the Impossible Thc CITY OF New
York, well as well a. every city OF the STATE Is enti
tied local segoyernment free from central ntoror
ever lies in our power securing tho city such
OF local Independence from legislative dctaiion
This can ultimately be secured only by the of
constitutional amendment providing general charter
for all cities and prohibiting all special legislation In
regard to municipal corporations. Meanwhile. the
citizens OF New-York, and We as their repre-
the course OF the Legislature with the object IN
view OF preventing. 50 far ~ can. all improper ineI
a Affecting
addition to this conceive II To he onrduiy 10 insist that
our representatives ia tue Legislature shall cooperate
any welireced effort which he made To secure the
Improvement of our organic law ~ long a. the Lessla
ture has the OF Interference by special legislation
representatives. should endeavor TO remedy the pa
nSs IN D s N b G Icc,d lone , by
the passage OF acts Increasing the power and responsible
oy Sy saT OF The Board Of E.i%as aud XppeTonmen
the Mayor COnT troer and President of the Board OF
Of The COUNTY oicsrs y salaries instead o by fees after
the EXPIRATION of the terms OF the present ncumbens
SPRING ELECTIONS.
The manner In which the elective franchise Is
csed and the assurance the purity aud nyioaby Of
the baiot-box. OF transccndant importance. 1t is
immatcrIa whether bribery the polls be effected by
means money By the trading OF votes II Is equally
bribery where bribery In any form exists the Ma
tona state and municipal interests must snfcr direct
ly the viii of the people l. thus defeated 10y partisan
fraud. But certain forms OF bribery can never bs
II possible be thwarted by preventive In order tnat In
municipal elections the present practice of sacrificing
local STATE or Nhliohl 'lht' anu w
The personal Interests OF party leaders
NAV dictate may be prevented and in orlcr that the
the true deerminng motive In all eecions for muni
cipal oiccr. would recommend that yOn join with me
law which shall iy the timc OF municipal elections
in the spring OF the This will not only have the
effect preventing in large measure very insidous
and dangerous species Of fraud but II VIII weaken the
control Of mere partsans city affairs. aud prevent the
determination OF municipal questions n accordance with
the interests OF parties IN National politics instead OF
purely local Interests which often sacrificed for tho
sake a. of "a
would also urge that the Buroau OF Elections be
made of the Police In so far as
of all election officers While the machinery OF The Police
Department be used with beneficial ults IN
ing prompt transmission OF returns 10 the Chief of
the Bur,au Of Elections IL does not follow that the
Bureau. Not only have tho two Offices nothing com
mon. but every consideration OF safety aud proprety
gures that the Police Commissioners should neither
directly Indirectly have any control over or influence
TEN standing menace 10 the safety and purity OF tho
ballot and tends 10 render the police OF the city rs
masters rather than It's servants.
sINGLE-uEADED COMMISSIONERS.
There Is one other respect which very salutary
change might be effected in city charter All OF the
departments, only the Tax and Health Depart
mens. should be put under single heads multiplicity
commissioners in any department to divide ro.
sponsbty and leads In too many cases 10 the making
OF appointments upon give and take " principle
which must prove detrimental to the public service
The greater the power which Is vested any ono de-
partnent the greater the necessity for single re-
sponsibe head who be held accou nabc to the peo
pie for the administration OF the all rs OF his depart
and who cannot shield himself by pleading that he
was haInpcred aud Ovcrrulcd by his fcllOw-commis-
siOners. The Health aud Tax Departments excepted
from this recommendation bccal-G Of the wide egs!a
tive powers conferred upon the former and the duties
partakng of II judicial character which imposed
upon the latter
In my Judgment charter for this city will he found
TO he satisfactory In its practical working which does
not abolish mutipc-headed commissions In all OF the
departments except those named above.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT-TUE CITY pFnr
III my messages to the Board of Aldermen in 1881 and
1882 called attention to the necessity for a consttu-
tiondl amendment which should limit the power of cities
their debts, and which should establish