New-York tribune., 1886-01-06
Assembly among the several districts and counties o, AS

The ConsstatiOn does not require census. It does
not require s an 10 ,a Si sas nor;e shee
relating to any other subject tlan population Such
oar does rSae
enumeration OF the nhabitants This constitutional
was Intentionally neglected evadeo. No acs wa;
passed providing for simple enumeration -tne passage
an acr was twice passed and twice met With ESecutvs
disapproval. which required q complicated elaborate
people Of hls state nearly $5000o0 Sucn outlay Of
tue public money wa was @ tndeisns6is It The pesP aid ne.
eysnts have justified the action OF the Executive.
II was urged as one excuse Tor such measure that
certain provisions OF It's laws would reimburse the State
it was SHOWN on the other hand that the amount likely
to be received from that source would not equal
tion Of securing IT, aud been established that
States Of Colorado aud Nebraska having
Union regarded il as wise economy to attempt such
and other has avaied itself Of that pro-
II is unnecessary at this time discuss the dfercncos
existed bsssesn ss n, ss Last .ssss snsn and re
constitutional requirement. remains unfnhled. and that
becomes the duty Of tue present Leysatuse to perform
authority this State, and recent legal decisions in
mended tS.t this obligation be faithfully met iy the
prompt enactment OF proper Mil providing for simple
Of the Inhabitants OF tue necessity TOR
the wisdom OF such legislation there can he dispute
among fair-minded men, TO attempt more than tho
Constitution reGrres leads to differences OF opnon sn
necessarily invites controversies which should be
avoided.
Last year recommended to tho Legislature that tho
enumeration: noe be taken In the summer months
when large numbers Of the people IN our cities were
prOpriey OF prsydiug that the enumeratOrs should DO
appolnted by the county clerks OF the respsc'iye
upon these points aud these ars
renewed at the present time
enumeration OF tue nhahtants every ten Years is the
% as Ss S f
evrr. condition precedent to tho latter The sacred
the Legislature dependent upon the faithful observ-
of tuese constitutional obligations. and they
its adjournment II there honest eudeavor fath-
fully dIsonarse tben assume that the '.sent Legis
iature will observe its oath to support the Constitution
censns taken In 1873. and under the Constlta-
ton It became the duty OF the legislature In 1875 20
State but thar day was neglected that year an by each
successive Legistnae TO- .n'eo nesrs anu :, ass nos
plared upon the statute books. Federal census
in 1881 to reappuron the Congressional of the
State but it neglected. for fwo years aud was not
1852 elected a Legislature which In 1888 promptly
performed Its constitutional duty II TO be hoped that
derived from failure to observe these imperative
sttutonsl obligations will prevent the present Legsa
dangerous examps OF OF those Of the political
faith that have preceded it, AS one OF my predecessors
in referring this subject well saii: Certanly we
expect that the sople viii long CONTINUE 10
observe TIE ordinary restrictions aud rel1rsme's Oh
utterly disregard aud defy the especial man iate Of tue
CONSTITUTION thcy Lave sOlemnly sworn I" SUI port
MUNICIPAL REgORM.
The Inauguration OF WE'LL effort to I'm.
prove local OF tue City OF New York Is
worthy serious consideration. The rapid increase OF
in that city, the enormous expenses Incident TO
administration OF its affairs, the def ectye condition
many OF the laws app cable to It, and the evils Which
have mantestly grown up under tue abuses OF its vast
patronage render earnest endeayor for the accom-
psment Of municipal reform OF the demands Of tho
hour.
IL Is believed that the separation o! munic pal from
State elections, thereby relieving The choice Of local
officers the influence Of strictly par tIsan politics.
and iusurug the seeeon OF state ational officers
free from tue embarrassment OF woad 10
tue right direction frior "a the year ls.o Tue
municipal officers ia the CTS Of New-fork mad been
chosen not at general election but at what Was
known as The charter election held for many years 10
In eath year. In 1870 tue Law VA, chrnsed, by
providing tast the municipal officers should be vort for
OF the general so ,tOn IN soeembsr.
AMI It has remained ever spce Public srn uncut.
bot6 In the cy ana IN ahe country recpSn]4s .as
support OF the proposition fayorixa return u the
anceut system q! spring elections for charter officers
Toe proprety oi separating the Bureau OF Elections
from ihe Police Department aud providing tor tae
part san character. having no connection with. and
deriving hone OF ITS powers or authrity from that d
shall not be officers or members OF the general eeni
ntee of any political organizaton or hold any otIes
ohco and cOnferrlng the power OF their appoihtweat
upon such authority an In sch manner as 10 in-ore tue
service independent czuus the highest character
standing Ia tue community presents sabiect sgd
embraces proposition eminrntly worthy OF fa"0r>De
hunesty our elections security OF tue bao, and
the Integrity Of tie Official The marhncry Of our
oe"tous everywhere shonld 10 removed. as far as
possible from partisan control. aud shielded from
OF portunity FOR rre.ulirity and fraud
OF New York City he lessened by the abolition
OF nrmerons useless oe's whicn have been create AM
the reduction OF the cxravasant salaries pai many oi
It's officials. IL ts apparent that many officers arc
receiving q compensation greatly beyond wnat they
actually earn and which they could not receive ron
any private employment in which they miEht engage
thereby hIrenng the city with unnecessary taxation
The additional inducement OF pr0disl salaries shond
not he held cut To tnat already numerous class % po
emolumrlits wnich they confer.
The charter OF tho CITY of New-York needs amend
men II not an entire revision II may well DC dountei
whether IL has bern the part OF wisdom or for the oe
Interests Of tue city 10 make many important Offices
tendency OF modern LEGISLATION. I have faith in III,
people and in tne,r capacity for setsoyern nsu! sn
believe that they should bs trusted with tue sreoti0n
thrir local Oh cis 10 every reasonable extent Ie
Msyor o. the s SSn s rs Ss GsSe
III its carscter ani To enaps bin To carry OUT MS views
OF municipal policy. aud the people could then propry
hold him responsible for the good governaent OF tue eJ
Every session Of the Legislature disclose, the defects
In iht present charter aud its naeq lacy fJr the noc
OF tue city Instead however. of asmodic efforts 70
resulted aboriively after h,yiae occnprd create,
portion 81 lhe valuable time OF the LEGISLATURE sare na
pariug charter, commission be authorized toe
gS." repTsssatins all % sSacs OF political opSSn as
the various interests to he affected and taken top
different Walks IN lie, III Is uelieNru
such nelligently and consclentonsly periOlmeu
would unqncstionably meet the approval o. tue e@''
OF Now York city. , D..
But aside from charter revision. the applcAuos Vs
which Is necessarily ma 10 10 the LEGISLATURE anu sau
be acoonpl nowhere else there shO id DC esseS
tally home rule for cities. All nsttcrs OF discfein,
imposition OF local taxes and assessments tue
OF publiu improvements the cre,fl0n OF h'-op'i
inieb eduess. tho cement and contro %. stre s
the selection o oihcials and all oihcT questions ..
local cOgnzauce should as general rule. be rrmittn
the authorities for their sole action sud so "a %
he irtrf ferei with acted upon ny the Lessis.@s
New. York City be more saeiy and properly -.
erned at nJne than from Albany. It's cliizchs ns
suffered In past quite much from bad lessisou
the Capitol they have from NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. ~
home. .t,.
Sufficient power and authority sho Id be conierreains
revisrd charter or granted by some ono com
enactment to the local departments or tue leSisiy
branch OF the city government giving 10 al her as
he most proper, aiDpe jurisdiction over matl-rs ~.
fully md essentially local IN their Character, tnus