New-York tribune., 1896-01-08

by allowances made for salaries cxcep; where not
to have so pfoVdgd @ M Moa nSs 0'e% 20 % 10 gre
critics acquired by the city and general betlermens,
sm Sa Wnrre ene & OF fbe civ and ADDS
a permanent benefit thereto. | am forced to the
opinion that proper attention has not been given
heretofore TO the preservation of the citys prop
erty. and that appropriations for repairs ana con-
GATH now|ogether % with the added demands upon
our public institutions, owing to increased pop'-
laton-a large amount must be spent. linton g..
seek 20 express only my Individual opinion IN
saying that tie proper way u 10 meet an t1cse
be done In the various departments. consistent WIN
he size G hg S GS ana p0gTr n'S 5o o. a
the nature of its population. maze al, qua. man
cia provision therefor consistent win decent ecoho
e meht ", oF me CITIZENS for jus'ihcaon iheicfr
ADMINISTRATORS.
The bes; results of Official administration can be
obtained when IN citizens are most familiar with
the conduct of aifairs and invite therefore. your
serious attention and theirs 10 this present COM
mun:rat.Cn.
Since the active management Of the ciiys affairs
has, during the last few years. been confined
chiefly to the works OF departments under the au-
thority Of commissioners. the power OF the Board
OF Aldermen has consequently been curiaNed, and
some of the matters herein contained are not With
in your jurisdiction to remedy. but i IS neverthe-
less of importance that theE shond .'ANS I"iia ,
aroused therein by a wise discussion OF them by
the members OF your honcrabie boHy a.u ,. 'liI..
During the first six months Of Ire, last year.
under the authority of an act of The Legs AZURE;
iSe SeaSs of deparments In exercising this power,
was fully appreciativc OF the confusion that would
result from immediate changes, Of possiule !oss
s6,nst to Ss public the sar 0 n S''h lime wcca
rot be allowed for new appoinises. 70 iamil-
fees; and further. that a result Of the te ion
OF 1894 | under obligation 10 The voters o. tAis
city TO make fitness for Office a plefrquS'le II "p
pointment and TO subordinate every other collsue-
alton thereto. The wisdom Of inausuTAu;s SGch
policy was not for me 20 Geiermihe. ont h~I
been determined by the people themselyes s., ana
consider myself bat nstrument for rs Inlhlnen'.
II is but natural ana pioDabiE OF De.ict 10 Az. 'ne
public thai the changes whicA have been made aa'-
during a generation before should have eN .tSe
much public discussion ana have coA- ,Dttc1 sr.1,F
this may De. II Is my settled opinion mat the c.tN
can be best administered upon common-sense. iraAk,
fair and open business principles. and wiihoui
making public Office the mere reward for party
lrresstlpiy io!Gei Up np'n me ic 'i'% ne 49,,
In seeking TO establish proper methods III admins
csrf'i vour own honorsbc BODY may act wtir he
srbere of vomr auth5rity along ihe SANE lines,
fl can never De fully esta bsled that mode. clN
government be brought about, aad leoicsents-
this accomplish its best resn"s- without lts rlt-
zcns being actively and continuously Interested in
public affairs. unwilling t. urs- appo.n;ments o.
submit to executive or drpar tmeHi'l "etholNles
propositions that they would no ihemse;yes nave
authority The actual adniaistr5tion O: municipal
and not in the hands of the Mayor. The ant:es OF
these Commissioners and ~ .ir authority j. as
clearly defined as is tnal OF ihe MsEol ahl a''5: G
their appointment the real responsibility OF, me
MAYOR ceases @ lie IS pIopsM X rs az nv own
exercise of that power wiih appo rihS 10 'EeSe
iious desire 10 make he ctys interest the nrsi o.
iect OF their thought: J. has eoen n! coilS'alt
move what believe has helctofore been an unw.se
practice and detrimental In iis erect; tnat -
and forcing his appoin;ees merely retect and
his personal desires and policies Th.s & has
been of the most unfortunate results 20 i"' 'iN
Of strict party administrations
CITY ORDINANCES
note with interest that you. honorable body
has already taken up the work Of th@,eH'n
and careful revision o. the city ordinances, Win
the assistance OF competent counsel WINE OF 10
serious import 10 many of citizens. the provs-
ions of the ordinances 10 the obstruction or non
obstruction of the highways inc licensing oi "st'-
carts the nctilses lssIeu tn'vGs.t t' W
Mayors Marshal and other s!iniiat pIo'isivtmnS, 80
affecting thous ands OF citizens, should ana VIII con-
tnue to have your careful consideration.
CIVIL. SERVICE.
Among the first appointments made by me were
the Civil Service Commissioners. Actusiel b. 2
desire 10 meet strictly ihe pledges Of the platform
upon which l elected. and believing 'hat
efficiency of public service and proper departmental
administration could only be effected by q change
from previous methods. ! selected ~ sich 'oH'ms-
sioners men who fully identified VIII the
principles Involved and not associated In the active
participation Of so-csiled practical politics. ihe
Municipal Board Of civil Service Commissioners is
branch Of The state authoiiiS an tns roi,s v
proved by the Mayor. and thereafter sahc'io"rI
by the State CIVIL Service Coinmission.
concentrations OF the Commissioners 80 appointed
and report today tnat the city OF Now fotK
grade of its examinations and the car" in ne Sc
lection OF appo.nees, almost every city ih Inc
The city is certanly entitled 20 employ the bes1
grace Of talent for each PQSTa ma, and @ h De o
proper means Of making such selections on.~.ce , o.
service is through the medium o. competitive eN-
Tie work of the Civil Service has been source
of much criticism from party Journals .n4 parry
,saSef9 n. 'os ~ 1v y Serve has received marked
advance during the last year. ana that II mas De
come a substantial and permanent force ia mu-
If party service shall be urged reason
done upon the theory tnat srcr service brings
about greater familiarity with m inlcpsl govern
lection TO submitting 10 competitive examination
IN which those who have not RsrsPaea odG in
those who have so served must ether from sucH
or else acknowledge me weakness OF thfr afgu-
ment for preferment Oh those grounds
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
Persistent criticism OF the police. charging cor
ruption and failure 10 impariiaiiy enforce The
laws has been carried on Ia ,his city for number
OF years and eliminated in the oincni investigation
and disclosures Of the LeNow Committee.
The evidence thereby adduced disclosed the giT-
ing and taking OF Dribes for preferment IN the
force itself the enforcement or non-enicrcemeat OF
the laws according to the social or political sanG-
:ne OF those affected thereby, the oppression Of the
poor for inability 20 pay FOR privileges a'h the
Withholding from others who could mote Out an
eGulvalen, in money, influence. rights wiihoG;
such consldera ion. BY Whatever course o. events
such abuses arose. the fact remains mat on the
lst OF January 1885, the police we're discredited n
the eyes of our cit and sister cities, Dehci
in their integrity wanting. and public confidence
lacking In either their aDnty or Willingness 10 li-
partially enforce the laW.
The eflor, of the Police Commissioners during
the last year has been to restore discipline IN thr
itiell and ASSURE 70 EAely me-nbcr tnere0-