The record-union., 1896-03-13

1EuS arranged, the department Sy ySlChA
is best kept out of politics. As to the
weight proposition, the committee
should have gone farther and have rec
commended certain gymnastic exercises
and training, as is done in some de-
partments, and in all well-ordered po-
lice departments, to keep up the phys
| ical capacity.
DR.. Strader asked if it was lawful to
give to one department the sole ap-
pointing power, while another depart
ment had to provide the salaries for the
officer appointed?
The committee replied that 1t was
| lawful. A charter officers salary is
not affected by any act of the Trustees,
except the charter SO provides
Mr. Weinstock said the question was
one Of gravest Importance, and divides
opinion among the best minds given to
municipal problems. He urged free eX-
preston of thought upon it as a most
valuable exercise of the mind.
Mr.. Avery referred to the power of
confirmation exercised by the United
States Senate. But the conditions are
very different where men are closer
as to one another, as in city. He be-
lieved the Senate but rarely exercised
its right to reject.
| Mr. Holl-But if there is good reason
for the power lodged in the Senate,
then it should be freely exercised. He
could not see why the Trustees should
| not have voice if they are to be re-
spcnsible for organizing and supplying
the department. If one man were alone
responsible for all things relating to
the department it would be a different
case.
Mr. Kingman-Our committee be-
lieves conditions have changed Our
forefethers fought one man power. They
| were chafing under it, hence their guard
against it in the Senate's power to re-
| ject But in this day we chafe under
the ring, not under the one-man power
Of a monarchy. The ring is less toier-
able and more dangerous than the
power of one man chosen by and re-
sronsihle to the people.
A member whose name was not
caught, feared that one man could be
more easily controlled for i'll things
than a number of men chosen by the
people.
Mr.. Waring replied in support OF his
amendment that the legislative body is
representa- tive of the people. To give the
Mayor the appointive power exclusively,
and yet to compel the Trustees to sit
| to try the men he appoints, is not con-
sistent.
| Mr.. Turner-The Mayor is elected by
all the people The Trustees are not.
| They are less responsible to all the peo-
pie, therefore. The conclusion must be
| that under usual circumstances the
No. II
the best men, since he is to be re-
| sponsible for them and to supervise
them and hold them to performance of
duty. But he'd limit the appointment
so that the Chief Engineer should Sc
lect his subordinates, and be respon-
| sible for them to the Mayor
Mr.. Sims presented the question in
both lights, and concluded that the
preponderance of wisdom supported
the proposition of the committee The
trend of modern thought is in favor of
one man having the appointing power
without interference. The idea is to
keep executive and judicial functions
entirely separate. That is in accord
ance with the spirit of our institutions.
However, he believed that the ideal
system would be one in which the
T Mayor should appoint only the heads
of departments. When it is said that
the Mayor shall supervise the depart
| ment, have supervision over it, it is
not meant that he shall do so as an
expert fireman, but as a business exec
utive. Let him appoint the Chief with
out interference, and the Chief select
| those to serve under him. Who is bet
| ter qualified than he to select men to
give the best service and sustain him
| in an administration, for which he
should be responsible to the Mayor?
The Chairman of the committee for
that body replied to all the speakers,
defending the report as in accord with
experience, pointing cut that the char
ter now inconsistent1y makes the Mayor
| supervisor of the department, requires
him to see that every man does his duty,
and so on, yet has the Engineer send his
reports to the Trustees. He officially
gives the Mayor no reports monthly or
annually. The whole scheme of the
| committee was to wholly separate judi
cia1, executive and legislative functions.
AS Ut now is, there was friction in the
late administration the Mayor saying
to the Engineer submit your reports
to me-, the charter saying submit them
to the Trustees. His only way out prob
ably was to report to both by duplicat-
ing. The committee provides that the
Chief shall report all things officially to
the Mayor, who shall transmit Ithe re-
ports with his recommendations to the
Trustees. This follows the State and
Federal systems.
The motion to strike out the advice of
the committee eliminating the power of
| confirmation and rejection was lost
sc to 4.
mittee to formulate provision in place
of their own that the Chief Engineer
should be appointed by the Mayor,
without power in the Trustees to reject,
and that the Chief appoint all to serve
under him and have supervision over
! the department, with reports to the
Mayor. Lost-5 to 80, 6 not voting
| Mr.. Holl moved to strike out the
weight provision, and instruct the COM
mittee to formulate provision that all
! firemen should, prior to appointment,
! be subjected to physical tests, under
regulations to be prescribed by the
/ Trustees. Carried by seven-tenths ma
! jority.
At this point the further consideTa-
| tion of the report was laid over two
weeks, to be then resumed, and the
Committee on Municipal Salaries was
instructed to report at that time, also
/ the Committee on Official Bonds.
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