New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-12
IROCKLYN's An IDEAL CITY CHARTER
UNDER IT WHOLE ADMINISTRATION CAN u,
TURNED OUT At ONCE-G0VERNMENT
WHAT TIE PEOPLE MAKE IT.

Under IT A WHOLE AD|1lNlSi 'fiio.> NH-' d.
TURNED OUT At ONCE-G0VERNMENT
WHAT TIE PEOPLE MAKE IT.
To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir; Not many days since you called the atten-
,jon Of the author Of the "Cosmopois city Club
70 The fact that the city of Brooklyn with pre-
clselv such charter as was advocated in his little
story was the worst-governed town In America.
Superlatives in this connection are rsky Out ad-
hitting this one. let me ask how Is 1t with BROOK
Ign to-day? That worst government Is swept from
mower every yes,ige OF II. So far as the executive
is concerned not 4 rag OF the bad administration
is left The city Of Brooklyn has utterly abolished
its corrupt and inefficient government Inc cam
paign of education has taken place. ana the people
have weighed and judged and condignly punished
their misrepres entatves. The charter under when
they are organized gave them the power to do this
s,,mr,a rilv and thoroughly. They begin anew next
January with clean decks and new officers in com
mand.
Under the kind of charter which has been much
in vogue throughout this country no suen result
ing political reaction like that OF Yesterday II
would have been possible 10 chrgT no, NOR a ti,ai
and the corrupt administration would nave sone
wears wonld have been required 10 make any
thorough change in the executive; and before that
period had elapsed the people would have lost heart
in the fight Tnder the BROOKLYN charter the people
ha aD 'he rf" h&v N have !e BAD govsrment they
can make an end OF it at once as they dld yes
terday. , - ,,.., .
There is no hint o. suggestion in my little story
that the plan Of municipal organization then out
line! or any other plan will guarantee good gov
eminent The people can have. under tnat plan.
just bad government as they wish IL + alto.
gcther probable that under that plan they VII very
often be- 50 careless of their duty or 50 drunk with
party madness that they will choose weakling
or a rascal for their Mayor. If they DO. they will
have a bad government But they win know, pre-
ciseiy whom to blame for it: And they will know
exactly how 70 get rid of it. II they like II, OF
course. they will keep it. II they do not Ike 1t,
they have the power to abolish H. Inc BROOKLYN
plan puts the responsibility squarey on the people
and places all the power in their hands. That |
think is precisely whore it belongs. | have no
expectation Of seeing any better government In
any city than that which the people desire. IT
ought 10 be made evident to them IN every cleo
ton that the whole matter rests directly upon
them Perhaps it will appear. by and BY. that the
people cannot govern themselves If that time
should come. some other form of government Will
have to be devised. But 50 long as We pretend to
believe in government Of the people, let us put
the responsibility directly upon the people and
let them see that they are bearing it, Those checks
and limitations and divisions Of responsibility by
which the will of the people is prevented from hav-
ing any direct and effective expression are not. |
think. conducive TO good government In republic
WASHINGTON GLADDEN..
Columbus, Ohio, Nov. S. 1899.