The herald., 1894-10-11
THE CITIZENS LEAGUE.
ITS VIEWS ON THE REVISION OF
So. THE CHARTER.
The Leagues Advisory Committee on
the Consolidation of CITY Of
fees and the Manner OF
es Selecting officials,

A member OF the committee which
the Citizens league appointed to confer
with the council on the charter revision
question has prepared a statement for
publication which eets forth the Citizens
leggue side OF the matter in concise
shape. as follows:
The citizens generally may no. be
aware OF the fact that two committee
the one a committee appointed by the
council from its board, and the other by
the Citizens !eague-have been for
months at work framing amendments
to our present charter.
The only authorized power for prepar-
ing these anencEents ie vested in the
city council, the other committee
having no power only as voluntary
aid to the council committee. 1t 10
fact, however, that the council commits
tee have most kindly listended to and
considered the amendments prepared
the league committee, but not concur
ring in some of the most essential fea-
turee.
The committee from the league, after
framing the amendments as it CON
sidered vice, asked the Merchants as
Der OF commerce to each appoint COM
mittee of three of it's mem bere. and such
appointments were made. and all those
committees in joint session for several
days discussed, considered and finally
agreed on the amendments IS they now
stand prepared by those committees.
1t is understood that both committees
agree that many OF the officers now cleo
tive should be selected by appointment.
the council committee thinking such ap-
pointments should be made by the cuun-
Gil.
The league committee urging that ap-
pointments should be made by the may
or, subject to confirmation by the COM
mon council.
The league committee amendments
provide for consolidating the offices OF
city engineer, etreet superintendent and
zsnjero into into one office, and making
the office of city engineer appointive.
The council amendments favor leaving
the offices separate and elective.
These eeem to be the main differences
in the work OF the committees. These
differences, however, are quite radical.
As to the fret, the appointive power,
many municipalities OF the eastern
states during the last decade have made
this radical change, placing the appoint
i've power largely in the control of their
mayors, and while in some instances it
may not have accomplished all the good
hoped for, still it seems generally ad-
mitteG where it has been tried that it is
decided reform over the corruptions,
tradings and bad officers incident to
political rings and bosses, and leaves
the otfice-holder free from expenditure
OF money and promise of reward in
deputyship and places 60 usual in secur-
ing an office by popular election. Should
it befall us that we elect an unfit mayor
we would still have the protection of
our council in controlling his nomina-
tions, and would have one man to hold
responsible for nominations. Should a
bad council he elected. then no check
could be held over their appointments.
Should the mayor and council both be
worthy-snd there is no good reason
wny such should not be the case, then
it would certainly work we'll.
Another desirable point in the mayors
appointing is that it would largely free
the election OF counc'lmen both in nom
mating conventions aud elections from
the opportunities of place and Office
seekers and from pledges to such per-
sons for their support. which all know
has been q crying evil in the past
As to the question OF consolidating
the city engineer. street superintendent
and zanjsro'e Office into an office known
as "the city engineer"
1t would asem that 90 large part of
the streets have been thoroughly sur
veyed and mapped, the outfell sewer
built and go large portion of our streets
graded and severed that the work and
supervision OF these three offices might
we'll be performed under and by one
head L pecially so as the initiation
and much of the supervision OF all these
works is of and through the office of the