Morning journal and courier., 1892-03-08
NON-PARTISAN BOARDS.

AASAS 5o"Ay PeiA<Sho oRSA eAtS guilty.
 NON-PARTISAN BOARDS.
 Ring Politicians a Natural Outcome
 Have Existed and Why They Should
 He Abolished.
 To the Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
 For some days past our community has been deeply excited and convulsed at the alleged outrageous conduct of the mem bers of the Board of Public Works, com monly designated "The Big Four," in summarily removing from office three of their appointees, as is asserted, without any reason or even shadow of justifabIe cause. Clamorous demand is now made for an equally summary deposition and removal from office of the aforesaid mem bers of the offending board, by action of the Board of Aldermen. Thousands of citizens have signed petition in support of such arbitrary course of action, and their demand is said to voice spontan- eous expression of public opinion, intend ed to be all powerful in accomplishing the object sought. 1 am neither the apologist nor defender of the Board of Public Works, nor, as at present advised, am I pre- pared to demand their ejectment from office without a hearing. I am of those who have always supposed that the incumbents so suddenly deposed from positions held by them during many years have proved themselves entirely competent and have rendered efficient and valuable services. Such being the case, I should deprecate any sudden and uncalled for removal, which removal, if made with out good and sufficient cause, as alleged, would be unwarrantable and outrageous. I suppose, also, that the new appointees are likewise reputable citizens, competent to perform the duties devolved by their appointment; and after little experience in the practical working of their respective offices, it will matter little to the public whether Hill or an 1ngersoll, Bassett or Waldron, may occupy and discharge the duties of the positions.
 It has been charged that our early foun- ders fled from intolerance in the Old World to re-establish it in another form in the New. Let us avoid similar inconeis.en-, cy and, while complaining of the supposed unjust action of the accused, be careful to refrain from an act equally summary, and until good cause can be shown, equally
 
 petitioners know or care to ascertain whether or not the Board of Pub lie Works did have any sufficient grounds for their change of ap- pointeess Would not the spontaneity of the so-called public opinion be more ap- parent if less solicitation, either by per sons or through the press, had been resorted to in working up the case? Under the existing charter, if one set of men are re- T .4 I~~ k-1 der precisely the same system as existed when the Big Four" were appointed, and if this is to be the only outcome of all this commotion, is not the proposed remedy liable to drop to the level of mere person ality and become simply conflict between the "Outs'' and the "Ins2" Again, should the Board of Aldermen for any reason re- fuse to depose them, will not the abortive attempt for their removal react and leave the petitioners in worse condition than before making it2 The evils under which we suffer come not alone from malfeasance in office, but arise mainly from a false system under which we are governed and which renders such acts as are now con- plained of not only possible but very prob able. The expression "Non-partisan Board" sounds well and catches the ear of many good citizens who desire only the best interests of the community; but in the opinion of the writer it is cunningly devised scheme of those who care more for the political "crumbs" and public ''pap" than for the best and highest interests of the city. From it's inception l have been openly and unquali6edly opposed to the creation of Boards of Commissioners, whose chief qualification consists in the fact that its members are to be equally divided in their affiliations with the two political parties. A concomitant feature of such scheme has taken from | the chief executive of the city most of the powers which ought to be possessed by an executive officer, rendering him mere | fgure-head and largely subservient in his | administration to the dictation of such the authority of the Mayor, 80 divides responsibility as to render it impossible to | trace or fasten it upon any single indi- vidual or specific source. To this add the l well known fact that the very methods of selection and appointment tend to fill the | Commissions with wire e-pulling and "truck and dicker" politicians, and we have the necessary elements for an arbitrary, selfish and corrupt administration of public affairs. These Boards, deriving their existence from body made up largely of aldermen who to a considerable extent are indebted l to the members thereof for their own elec- | tion, are so intrenched in their position, so far removed from direct responsibility to the public, as to make an appeal to pub | lie opinion almost 8 farce, so far as reme- dying wrongs and controlling their actions. In fact, 'sring politicians' (and these are a | logical outcome of the non-partisan sys- l temp are as impervious to public opinion as is the hide of rhinoceros to the bullets | of hunter. Another source of great evil, I think, may be found in the interfer- ence by law with the inherent right of | every American citizen to have a voice and a vote in the selection and election of those who are to administer public affairs. I | allude to the so-called Minority Represen- tation act, under which am deprived of the constitutional right to vote for each and every elective official by whom the State or Municipality is to be governed. Minority Representation" like its twin we'll, but under it's operation the fact is, that by deals and early manipulation an equal number of partisans of each political | faith can, by securing a nomination, in sure their own election beyond the possi- bility of defeat by any number os citizens who may desire a different result, leaving to the non-wire pulling citizen only the limited opportunity to choose between the two candidates for the remaining odd member of any board.
 In view of the foregoing considerations, I regard the present effort as falling far short of the required remedies for thor ouph correction of existing evils The removal of the ''Big Four' in manner pro posed, if obtainable, would be simply sur. face work, like picking the berries of this
 years growth from the deadly Upas tree,
 and leaving it to poison the atmosphere in
 future by a new and probably more luxu.
 riant growth of it's noIious fruits. If ths
 present excitement shall 80 arouse public sentiment as to lead all friends
 of good and honest government
 to secure the abolition of non ) partisan boards, as at present appointed , and the repeal of minority legislstion