New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-02-14
4 PLAN FOE CITY REFORM,
MR.. TEALL's SUGGESTION OF COMMITTEE OF
ONE HUNDRED.

ONE HUNDRED.
In The Cosmopolitan for March, Oliver sumner
Teall has an article Municipal Reform IN which
he asserts as his conviction from his experience IN
local politics that municipal reform can never DC
attained by the organization Of new party. Ills
plan for obtaining a better city government Is a.
follows
If We cannot arrive at desired reform through the
organization OF new parry now De ~ " The Existing
organizations 20 nominate for Once men VINO Nh
honestly, faithfully and for the Interest OF tle Guy,
and not OF their organizations, carry out inc laws vi
the statute books. mi, ,..o,
suggestion Tor a plan is THIS That Committee iu's
of 100 representative citizens be formed wmch con-
mittee shall have no executive power bui whose
functions shall he simply advisory Ater tls Ieeaidt
ORGANIZATIONS have made their nominations Vnch tHis
committee Of 100 shall convene, examine tie records
and the hnc, Of the candidates OF the different paiuc
and ndorsc the best nominations. There should De 10
demand, no power, nothing but request for votes
for such and such men who would best serve tit
ctys Interests and be best calculated TO make honest
Every party and every candidate would strive for
the Endorsement Of such committee ana greatly lear
the effect upon the public Of It's adverse judgment
ms committee should be permanent, and composed
Of nifty Republicans and tfty Democrats. Ivy having
a committee equally divided between the Republicans
and the democrats there could Dc no question oi party
advantage 10 be gained. In case Of resignation or
death the RepubIcans on the committee should MI the
vacancy in thcr ranks and the Democrats In theirs.
No men of doubtful political feeling should be upon the
committee; no men who could possibly have any
personal interests serve. and no men who had nOs
The confidence Of the public ayey man on te COM
from tbs it State or National Government any Office
or any until least Ave years after he had ceased TO
be a membcr Of the committee. Every meeting 81 the
committee should be held with open doors, and every
conf renee should be open 10 the public at large a
committee o. this Kind mast be honest. not only IN
is intentions. but In It's work. To be cectNe u mast
be trusted and 70 be trusted. il must give 10 cause for
be an ideal one, but it can be obtained. In every
the candidate " be TcfOmipended 10 the people
must have d majority OF the votes 70 entltlc Inn 10
have 10 be- allowed so that 100 votes lid always be
secret ballots should h. cast 10 prevent numi.
dalton and influence The vote should be announced
considered BY the committee ndsmuch
tine action Of this committee would be simply ad,
have In the vote Of the committee the favorable
would ~ his reception by the public AZ large.
The committee should have no expenses but that of
u hall engaged for meetings. and proper clerical at
tendance.
broad and fair and generous that personal PARTISAN
ship could not unduy taken into consider uOn for
II i impossible - find men Of intelligence. no matter
how great their honesty who would be altogether above
party Influence II Is possible, however. 10 ind men
who If there was much difference between the nom
iurl/ Of party and the nominee, % another foe
city Offices. would vote for the Endorsement of the
4 ceat dcal would depend upon the spirit with
which committee ~uch q, described was organic d
ard commenced IT, work n is aim was high It's
motive, honest, he MI would be most effective.
II IT, WORK open. ard every act and every word
known by the public. its acrs and word, would be
honest and fair There would be chance 70 capture
such 70 committee and no chance II work petty deals
and small politics The membc Of such committee
would have nothing ~ gain hut the Consciousness Of
work well don" and the appreciation of the community
for a trust uneeld,hly and honestly administered.
All personal Interests would be eliminated. All indi-
viduqIitv made eub-eTvcnt principle and honest
large.
nrsrtIcal nolitice and II would be municipal reform
That could be effected and that would be lasting.