New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-27
MR. FASSETT on LEGISLATION
DISCUSSING THE SPIRIT OF INDEPEND-
ENCE.
HE TALKS BEFORE THE POLITICAL SCIENCE
CLUB ABOUT BALLOT REFORM AND

HE TALKS BEFORE THE POLITICAL SCIENCE
CLUB ABOUT BALLOT REFORM AND
PROPOSED CITY MEASURES.
What Sha! the New Legislature Do?" was the
subject of the paper read on Friday night by D. Sioa
Ia ssett before the members Of the Political Sci
ence Club at its monthly meeting, he'd at the
Hotel Savoy. After speaking of the .ast election
as an indignant and successful protest by an
awakened people against vicious tendencies anu
as a victory Of higher and more progressive forces
over lower and destructive forces. the speaker
said that the most important duty of the Legs-
lature was to bear in mind the causes which led
to Its creation, remembering that the forces which
called 1t into power can, under provocaon, re-
woke its commission.
THE spirit OF independence In political thought
Is abroad in the land" he said, land is paying
havoc with the spirit of allegiance TO mere parry
ties Another duty is to elevate the plane OF ohcai
action and dignity public service and antasoni~e
the mischievous tenets of the politician whic 'eho
that TO the victors belong the spols
Mr. Fassett spoke at length of ballot REFORM anu
urged legislation which would give the 'o'e's
blanket ballot, pure and simple. for the 10TH" VI
wnret he knew Of improved Civil Service laws
next spoken for ana a6a aher would be death
blow TO all forms Of bossism and ring RUE
Some of the things which Mr.. Fassett said ioi.ow'
future duty Of the Legislature. ana one WaisG
comes home you Just now with unusual most
is the enactment of such legislation as Hna ,nn ~
directly tend the best possible sur hrafe 81
time This BEING psTnabb ayne recently
city affair and NswSSMT ayo Ga rsey upon
revelations of corruption in the Police pepaarmehh'
would that In this matter Oh an ou. what
the Mayor as representing the reform clemens
this city, wants 1t in hs PTe and Exactly G meeting
wishes It would seem that d no more hs Wishes and
az II those Whom he represents We have
recently had inquiry into the c,rGns whlcb Was
pushed With considerable vgor and great skill Inc
public followed this inquiry WIN he eTeatest Of the
many factors which conditioned the last election !"
~" The Committee which through many months 50
ably and resoutely pursued It's nqnry nena ,ie
ni ~ sn,ed for the most excellent work which
| II accomplished, to the gratitude oil ever! soo'
| imnroner nterferences. hlackmail and many other
forms of guilt and delinquency Inc S So', nun
tTv It ' is matter Of regret that in Its report and
Recommendations the committee has not rlanH
| the same high plane characterized us spiehu,'
| preliminary work that work, in fact, which made
PSsSe , fSr y Ts sR
| try caused 10 be 50 generally eomprehe''ue' anu
For one seriously deplore the proposal that the
question of the personal reorganza,ion Gi ,ire an
pointed by the Governor rather than by the MayU,
There not only is reason either IN tnr
| Of his nomination and election why he should ps
against as ner but s and
me circumstances Of his nomination and election
| AFFORD the most conclusive reasons why he should
nnt have been disseminated against. As Repub-
hcan regret that representatives Oh III; pa ~ ~
should have committed themselves to so nasranS NJ
and UNNECESSARY violation OF the principle xce es
home rule. There might have been sGm s ce eHGu5e
for the proposition had their proposea n,s hdnd
hended the theory that metropolitan poce
be entirely cut of from Sn hee IS no such
scheme W e in this measure. This particular feature
Oh Il, s is no no answer that Governor Morton Is as far
above suspicion Mayor Strons he that IL; as fd ~
the Governor In the absence OF the most over
whelming reasons to the contrary. the Mayor 81 81
the local authorities here should have been chosen
to do the work assigned to ,hese three Goh ms
sage and by recen, reported utierances is 80 lat
committed to the Tnois ef is to be
! expected from the Executive Chamber can nh
several other features contained in the legislation
now pending at Albany ana rem'he 10 '"e io"'s
In view Of the revelations brought out by the
Lexow Committee why would II not DE wen LOT
'n Firs.That the Election Bureau should be. as in
Brooklyn entirely divorced from the fohce De-
second-That appointment to the force should
lion. the highest standing taking appointment a.
a matter OF right. This examination to be In addl-
ThrdThat promotions should depend o,, upon n
! nNfeiallv recorded in accordance with fixed rules
Fourth-That removals by captains and the Shiei
court for police trials.
Fifth-That the CIVIL Service examiners for the
Police Department should be entrey uiscohhec'e"
from the department, $500 ,,
sxh-That there should be court exclusively lasde
which court should be entirely separate from the
seventh-That the department should no longer
have the power Of audit Of Its own bills;
Eighth-That the code Of rules and regulations
governing the employees OF the department when
! once uttered al 1t should be by the agreement OF
the Mayor the commissioners and the Supefintend-
| ent or Chief should not be altered save by con-
| sent Of the Mayor .
With these changes made we should find that 1t
| would be a matter Of relative unimportance whether
| the Police Commission were singe-headed, as the
Mayor. or hydra headed, as the Board OF Educa-
! ton. or whether II unparisan or bipartisan
| or muti-partisan The causes to which the lexo"
| Committee attributed most OF the trouble II DIS
covered would by such changes be extrpated.
There would be no connection between the
Police Department and elections invited by law
ments because one could bargain for GER
tainty. There would be no more payments for
There would be no ogroling because s the trial "a
outside the department
One cause only would not be touched by the
changes l have suggested and that IL human ma
That is something which legislation cannot mod
the cause and the channels Of It's activities.
AS matters are to-day no party leader would be
headed commission He must insist upon a fair
show for fair play But with the f9r
! II to me the question OF craftsmanship be.
comes reduced to minimum. for ne department
the uniformed force under the discipline and control
force having the custody and control
estate and moneys OF the city OF New, York The
ers. who would be simply business managers.
The meeting was largely attended. and the paper
was discussed by Edmond Kelly. Mrs A. W. Lozier
Simon Sterne and J. s. Lehmaier