The record-union., 1892-03-12

out system OF government than to prosper
unuer new one-that is, so far as max
ing change is concerned. But, then,
| that IS neither here nor there. ] believe
that the proposed new charter is about as
near perfection as can be made by ordi-
nary men"
A"Haye you heard any comments from
citizens regarding the radical departures
you speak OPP asked the reporter.
'Oh. yes; great many. Every day, in
fact. And they all seem to center on
what they call the 'one-man power
vested in the Mayor. 1t keeps me busy
explaining to people who did not read
| the newspaper reports of the l'reeholders'
deliberations, how we came to be carried
away with the 'one-man power idea.
Many have expressed the fear that it
would be dangerous"
What, may l ask, led the Freeholders
to place so much power III the hands OF
the Mayor was asked.
We'll, MIR. WelnStoclk was the first to
suggest the idea. He referred to the man
| ner in which many large Eastern cities
were governed, and cited the case OF
Brooklyn, III particular. He considered
that that was one of the best governed
cities IN the world, and there the Mayor
has almost absolute control over city af-
fairs. Mr.. WeinStock was in favor of en-
ulating Brooklyn's example in our new
charter, but the rest of us feared that
such complete revolution as this would
frighten the people and defeat the charter.
In Brooklyn the Mayor in making his
many important appointments does not
have to have the
CONCURRENCE OF THE TRUSTEES
As is required in the charter we have
submitted to the people. Personally, /
like the 'one-man power as it is prac-
tlced IN Brooklyn, very much. You see,
| the more Importance that is attached to
the office the more important it is for the
| people to get the right sort of man III
the office. | think that the Freeholders
had that idea in view when they put those
provisions in the charter All that is
wanted is good Mayor, and we can get
lots of them if we want to. Nobody will
dispute that. If the people will only
read our charter they viii see that we
| have put the concurring power in the
hands of the Trustees, and so many re-
strictionS are thrown around the Mayor
that it would be impossible for him to
force Objectionable appointees upon the
people. The Mayor. of course, makes all
the appointments, and his nominations
are submitted to the Trustees. If the
candidate is not fitted for the position
| that the Mayor would have him occupy,
the Trustees will simply refuse to con-
firm the appointment, and then the
Mayor must name somebody else. Then,
under the new charter there are nine
Trustees, so you can easily see that it
would be rather hard to effect any COM
binations.
NO SNAP JUDGMENT.
"Now, even to provide against any pos
sible jugglery," continued Mr. Smith,
1--WE have also put in the provision that
at least five days and not more than fif-
teen must elapse after the Mayor
makes an appointment, before the Trus-
tees can act upon that appointment. The
Mayor makes public his nomination at
once, and then, you see, the people and
the press have at least five days III which
to decide whether or not the Mayors
candidate is fitted for the Office he is to
occupy. This prevents any snap iudg-
ment being taken. If the Trustees fail to
confirm an appointment the Mayor must
present another within ten days. and SO
on until a satisfactory official is obtained.
Il really think that this so-called one
man-power' idea is one of the most valu-
able features of the charter. But the peo-
| pie must read up, and understand it,
Now, gentleman told me to-day that he
would not vote for the new charter be-
cause OF this feature, but upon question
| ing him L found that he knew
absolutely nothing about the re-
strictions we had thrown around
the Mayor. 1t is the same with
great many more people, and that is
why | say that it is important that the
citizens should inform themselves. The
fact of the matter is that under the new
charter the Mayor actually has not the
opportunity to perform Objectionable
acts as has the Mayor under our present
charter. So you see, the alleged 'one-
man power is not so dangerous as some
would picture it. A careful reading Of
the new Charter will demonstrate the
truth of my assertion
WILL WATCH EACH OTHER.
! Mr. Smith asserted, as another proof
! that the Mayor and the Trustees would
not be likely to go into ''cahoots' on ap-
| polntments, that the EreeholderS had
purposely provided that the legislative
| and executive departments should be
/ separate and distinct, and are therefore
| placed in an attitude that each will have
/ to watch the other. The trouble with oar
/ old charter is that the two departments
! are combined. 1t was that very thiuv
! that persuaded the Freeholders to pro-
vide that the Mayor should not preside
1 at the meetings of the Trustees, We
have given him the privilege, though, OF
! being present at any and all meet
/ ings of the Trustees, and seeing what
| is going on. The board must. under
| the charter, notify him of all
| special meetings, when and where they
are to be held, so that they cannot shake
! him Off. Still he cannot vote at the meet
4 ings. The Mayor may also call special
meetings OF the Trustees himself. He is
called upon 10 give the Trustees any and
all information in writing that they might
desire, regarding the workings of the
various departments of the city govern
ment, Immediately under his super
vision, so that they have check upon
| him as well as he upon Them"
Don't you think, Mr.. Smith, that this
might cause hostile feeling on both
sides, and bring about a deadlock be-
| tween the Mayor and the Trustees on
some important matter?' asked the re-
| porter.
| mo; I don't see how such a state OF
affairs could very well be brought about.
| The fact that all the proceedings must be
! public, and the very responsibility rest
| ing on the officers, would, in my iudg-
ment, prevent indulgence in such trans
| actions.n
| NOT LIKELY TO CLASH. fHg
''But," persisted the scribe. sswouId if
not be possible for trouble to arise over
| the rejection, for instance, of one of the
Mayors appointments, and a deadlock
to ensue?"
well, such thing might occur. of
course replied the Freeholder, thought
| fully, ''but, still / think such a
/ proposition highly improbable. It
looks to me like this: It the
Mayor makes suitable appointments
1t doesn't seem probable that the legis-
| lative department would, in the face o
public opinion and the fear of trouncing
from the press, attempt to do any little