New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-06
THE GOVERNOR md THE REFORM BILLS.

THE GOVERNOR And THE REFORM BlLLH'
When il became known on Friday mat
Governor Flower had signed two of the reform
bills affecting this city there was Il Gehorai
dispostion we are sure. to give him due crc'u'
for his action For ii was rot known until sever
NJ hours later that he had vetoed the Mayor
Power of Removal bill before his departure
for the country. During this brief interval
many snngunc persons probably entertained n
hone that events would show that the Governor
had actually found courage to resist the pressure
Of the bosses and was preparing To approve Ill
tho GREAT measures for the promotion or good
government which the Legislature left IN MS
hands II had been said that he was sensitive
10 the reproach Of subscrvlence to the despouc
leaders who have disgraced and shattered his
Marty in this State, and every good citizen SIN
cerely desired 10 see conclusive proofs that such
WAS his mood Experience had amply JUSTIFIED
the reproach, but repentance and atoncm"nt
would have been most welcome. 1t was
falacious hone The Governor was merely
nlovinc n game Of policy. expecting 10 diminish
Inv his approval of some salutary measures the
nonular condemnation which he felt assured
Iyould otherwise follow his disapproval of bills
even more bitterly hated by Tammany. We do
not believe that the performance Will deceive
ANYBODY. The strongest feeling that ii eXciteS
is regret that the Chief Magistrate Of this great
Commonwealth has chosen to fall so far below
his office
The statement which accompanies the veto or
tbc Power of Removal bill is not an argument
but an excuse. and fimSy one nj that. what
n few individuals constituting n municipal com
mission surmisod twenty years ago as 10 the
consequences of concentrating power and re
snonsibilitv in the hands Of the Mayor Is not
important today. The experience OF other
communities since that time has inyaliddicd
their predictions and justified the belief that
the opplication Of the principle embodied in this
hill to the government of Ncw-Iork would
nroduce desirable results. But Tammany, al
ready confronted with disaster at the polls next
November could not bear the thought OF losing
everything in that wreck, and called on the
Governor for help He has done what was de-
,nondnd but il will not amount 10 much.
Rcpublican Legislature and Republican Gov
ernor will give TO Il Republican Mayor next
January the powers which Flower withholds.
He has merely strengthened the determination
of the people 10 abolish government by secret
society for the benefit Of its members.
Though II Is impossible under the circum-
stances TO give the Governor much credit for
his apDroval of some Of the reform bills, II Is
reasonable TO expect excellent results from
! them 1t is n satisfaction 10 In o the privileges
Of the Manhattan Company In respect to con
| dcmnation proceedings curtailed, ana to have
the regeneratcd government Of Brooklyn ex-
tended over several Kings County towns. we
confidently believe that the operation OF the
contract system In the Dock Department Will
promote economy and efficiency and greatly
diminish the power and plumber Of the machine.
The Governor thinks that the public may be
disappointed in the pccuniary consequences OF
the statute putting the Sheriff Of Newiork
on large fixed salary and turning the fees OF
his office into the city treasury. But the value
Of this reform will not be measured by the
revenues derived from it. The most odious
| feature Of the existing system is the use which
| Tammany has made of IT, Hereafter, whether
the city gains much or little in cash from the
arrangement which will go into effect next win
ter. the Sheriff OF NewYOrk will not be able
TO pay a huge sum for his nomination nor gave
$4,000 to the daughter Of a covetous boss.