The record-union., 1892-05-12
OBJECTIONS ANSWERED.


from time to time set forth the virtues of
the new charter, and its great superiority
over that under which city government
is now maintained. We believe it to be
for the best interests of all the people
that it should be adopted. There are but
three or four points, SO far as we can as
certain, concerning which there is any
remaining doubt in the minds of any
citizens who have given the charter the
study it deserves. These we briefly pre-
sent with unanswerable replies.
1t is objected that the instrument erects
"one-man power" This is so far a
mistake, that the truth is it really de-
stroys ''one-man power" At present
each Trustee is, in practice, supreme in
his department; each carefully refrains
from interfering with the superintendency
of his colleagues in other departments,
that his own autocracy may be respected.
The new charter gives the Mayor no ap-
pointing power that the Board of Trus-
tees must not pass upon and approve or
condemn. On the other hand, the Trus-
tees cannot legislate without approval of
the Mayor or by passage of a measure
over his veto.
1t is objected that the salaries of the
police officers are reduced. This is true
as to roundsmen only. But it is ex-
pressly provided that if the Trustees
deem it wise to do so they may, with ex-
ecutive approval, increase the salaries of
policemen.
1t is objected that the Chief of Police is
to be appointed-a wise instead of weak
measure. The Chief is a subordinate ex-
ecutive officer, and as the Mayor is chief
executive officer it is eminently proper
that he and the Trustees should select the
Chief of Police and have power to re-
move him. The change will take the
police force put of politics-a change the
people have long desired. Similarly it is
objected that the Superintendent of
Schools is to be appointed. 1t is true;
the Board of Education, the supreme
head of the educational department. is
given power to appoint the Superin
tendent, who is the clerk of the board and
should not be independent of it.
1t is objected by few that the adoption
of the new charter practically destroys
the Funded Debt Commission. On the
contrary, if alternative proposition No. 1
is adopted, the new charter cures fatal
defect in the commission, and saves it
from paralysis. The Act of 1889 amend
ing the Funded Debt Act of 1872, was
clearly unconstitutional-the late Judge
Beatty feared it, and expressed to us that
fear frequently. But the Constitution
provides for charter-making, and thus
the incorporation in the charter of the
Funded Debt Commission system as
amended saves it, and that only will do
it. Should the charter be defeated. that
the commission will be checked perma-
nently by legal process in exercise of
power under the amendment of 1889 land
without which the commission is value
less) we know will be done.
1t is objected that the Board of Fire
Commissioners is abolished by the new
charter. 1t is the judgment of the best
minds and the most experienced that the
fire department can be as well managed
by the legislative body, and that the ad-
ditional wheel, commission, is unneces-
sary, uneconomic, and tends to keep the
department in politics. In other matters
1t is conceded even by the objectors that
the charter is a good one, preserves the
proper balance, takes municipal govern
ment very largely out of the hands of
bosses and ringsters, and erects repre-
sentative body to legislate for the city,
and an executive with some real power
and authority. 1t gives us revenue sys-
tenn at which there can be no more snap
ping of fingers coupled with challenges.
daring the city to attempt to collect its
taxes by legal process.
1t separates and makes self-respecting
the legislative and executive features of
the city government. and it provides
ways and means for checking extrava-
gance, the shameless letting of contracts,
The farming out of offices, and the dispo-
sition of franchises for use of the streets
without proTit to the city