The record-union., 1892-03-19

the police force to aid him in preserving
order. He is, in short, to lie the city's
official superintendent, and see to it that
all the city officers do their duty, and that
economy is conserved and the laws en-
forced.
How is it now? The Mayor has no au-
thority except to sign warrants and vote
IN the Board of Trustees. Every depart
ment in the city is independent of him,
and of all other departments. Every
bowl in our present system so stands on
its own bottom that no one can interpose
to prevent waste, malfeasance or mis-
management. No business could pos
sibly be conducted well and economically
upon such basis; no society or organiza-
ton could exist satisfactorily under such
a system.
But according to the new charter we
are to have one man chosen by all the
people who must make it his business to
constantly oversee all the details of the
city business; to note if officials earn
their salaries; if they properly keep their
books; if they act within the law in
making contracts; if they adhere to the
charter and ordinances in disbursing
money. He is to be the one chief and
responsible agent of the people, to stand
for them and as their representative in an
executive capacity. He is given power to
enforce the laws, to check offending Off
cials, to stop both bung-hole and spiggot
if there is willful waste. To him officials
must report, and he in turn to the people,
through the Board of Trustees.
In our opinion this city needs precisely
such Mayor; an executive in fact, not
in name alone; one on whom such re-
sponsibility is imposed that the people
will select only fit and fully competent
and trustworthy men to fill the office.
Under our present system we have no
Mayor in facts and we appeal to the pres
ent and to any ex-Mayor of the city to
say if it is not true that they found their
offices to be nominal, and their power
absolutely nothing, beyond the right to
vote in the Board of Trustees and to
sign warrants.
1t is true that the present charter by
word gives the Mayor supervisory con-
troll over all subordinate officials, and he
is required to be "vigilant and active in
compelling obedience" to laws and or
dinAnces; but unfortunately for the
Mayor, these authorizations are wordy,
merely. Behind them there is not par
ticleo power to execute; he cannot do
single act in that direction more than any
unofficial citizen can do. Under the pro-
posed new charter, however, his author
ity has the backing Of force. He is given
power to make his executive duties eff
fective and command respect for his au-
thority, and officers and employees who
defy him he may suspend and bring to
the bar of justice, and in case any official
refuses to report to him, or to permit him
to examine his books and accounts. or
conceals from him violations of the law,
the Mayor may remove the rebellious
and negligent officer.
Clearly the new charter is a great ad-
vance on the old in this matter of insur-
ing the city an executive officer, and thus
giving vitality to the hope that economy
and efficiencv in local orovarpnoort NOV
be secured.
We have advanced now in our exam
ination well into the Instrument, and
have found nothing as yet not worthy of
commendation. While still reserving
judgment of the instrument as a whole,
if it continues to make as good a case for
itself as it has thus far, the judgment in
its favor will be emphatic.