New-York tribune., 1896-12-25
five executives 1t Is believed that the system VIII
work efficiently and smoothly.
LOCAL. IMPROVEMENTS DEFINED.

property benefited II assessments always
paid without default It might be possible 10 leave
the entire control OF such questions 10 the ocay.
but experience has shown that when assessment
bonds Of the city have been issued in order 10 pny
the city al large is sometimes compelled to pay the
bonds without having collected me es crn'n.
stanccs It is clear that the city large is inter,
the financial side. only less than the locality; Ac-
cordng to the draft. If "A local improvement! ~ ~ ~
upon calls together the proper l-ocaI ,he
Local Improvement Board finds that majority OF
the owners affected I'm favor OF ine impiiottS pi
men II transmits the record 10 the Municipal AS. A.
sembly which thereupon is given the power TO ieyy
the asscss mt and to order contract 10 ns %
for he %0rk % he pa do
moi favor the Improvement. or II the o"ners o, OIL.
ha}Gr hG Of hc Gr 'e be in ad
vance the Board OF Loo al Improvements; ,,sns s
mits it's finding in the first instance TO INC ,oain
Of Public improvements, Instead oI TO ,nc
pal Assembly The Board Of Pubic improveh'.nnsS ne
must ind in either OF two ways. 1t must eltne,
find that there s no reason why ne pnoonnrfw
owners afrec,ed drrire il or it must find that, no.
withsanding the objection o. those VINO mus. t p~
in the public interest In the latter case II 'raS
mits it's recommendation 10 the Municipal Assem-
by whch then has The power to order ,S
affected do petition for 1t. and though ohe-tnrn
Again. assessments for benefit must sometimes , ne
laid In connection with works mat are IN ine,i ,l
nature, public works rather inan TOrns o' Of th
Improvement though they partakc IN par. ~ Nv Nv
iatler charac,er good Illustration o' tn,S nd
widening Of Elm-st work of this ,'rt i,, una+1
tho proposed charter. must In general u'lsllidr
with the Board Of Public improvements. "no mn, w.
prepare the plans. est mate the eo', |ns-eS, 1 ~
proportion he paid for At ptoic sSpnsc ni'' % ~
he horne by property hcnciiicd a',G 10 ,e Mn
nicpal Assembly. II the Municipal ASscnnE 70, INK az
prove the matter men goes 20 , 'he onurrcpce in
the plan on the Hnancn side Ihtfe ~, LIN i'm
in the chart Wy prGvred loF Thr commt,o
think that the plan suggested VIII coinm'h' i''
as hoth practi able and rei.onab,'. 60, xo,,yorL
II viii! fhus T., seen tha, The Greater NV, ,o.S y,
while unified under cen'ra! goyernmGnt ilmbnt snr,Sn
all subjects. VIII have rye hoFougns, ncn"
tan. he BronN. Ri oohiyn Richmond ana Vnetin.,
each cf which will be seated 'hc annnhi',,ht IVA ~
departments in form and number Adapi"d 10 'h'
public convenience. ,, :,
Each Of these boroushs will have president 10
carc Cor its local concerns 'f me Ii;ni'eo ri' id T.,
dsecrihcd ihc c,is,enco Of hose Office may alH III
perpeiuaiing as much OF local pride ana anecuo'
for ihe old Municipalities as shall bc coinpa'ipe
Win consolidation and will be pro,notire OF health
fui rivalry in various parts Of the great 'i'E'
MEMBERSHIP IN LOCAL BOARDS.
rh. Groai,r New-York vii! likewise contain
twenty-five local boardsone for each Senatorial
of the local members OF the NH
uiciral Assembly, so that local improvements may
be intended 10 by a home body. which in turn VIII
bc 2 part of the whole body or Nnniclpai 'S-
senbly. 49,, .,r
We have concluded besides 10 charge the member
Of the local boards with the duty o. turtherins
good order peace. good morals and good govern
,ncnt IN the neichborhcois Of heir districts not by
vesing thein With any Stparate OF yinni
I'm; they ,aey aid The police the judiciary, the on
Gers Of charity of the Street Department ny car
ing their attention TO whatever requires their ac-
ion This moral or supervisory duty. in aid and
IN reminder Of public officers. has proven OF groni
fcneni in foreign cities. where ths system Is ear
-jed 20 a null further extreme than have
adopied ir me draft Il is not difficult fof th" in
fuential TO make their grievances heard and APP
ci.tp "A
scure citizen VINO might never be heard cthef ~
me Municipal Asse nLly or by the administrative
Department can AZ least make known his wants or
his wrongs to the i.eghhorhood 'n'mh"rs OF ms
local Poard snd The duty and ambition Of that
member viii bc pledged to help ;hc lowly and To
adVa the good government OF MS con. 'iti'ntS.
Sro'. Il the members of any local EoIrd pro
ion cf he general government will remain al the
same. and hence the general system cii no, IN any
event be impairel: hut the action and III" dominion
Of tho general government will be Greaiy oided ana
enlarged whtr" tie ;lemhein oI 1le 'o-"' "o'iu'
alert In tho interests OF the people
BOARD OF PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS.
One important and radical departure is made f.
the creanza lion Of the city FOR the conduct OF pub
l.r work. It mas seemed 10 the committee clear
that no one nan was Ct mpetent to have the de-
Gliding voice on every question relating to The
water works. :he sewer sys:"'n. the highways ana
the Ike through sEch a vast territory IN"
Greater New.York The co,nn:,tee have therefore
decided recommend the adoption Of what IS. in
effect. the ST. Louis system.
The draft provides for Board OF Public In
provements. TO consist OF ne following depart
e4s nc T4s DTp"Ti'n e6mays 9r W'ier rSc s' b.
partment Of street Cleaning; Tne DHPartmehi
ines. Lighting and Supplies 6. The Department
Each department is presided by a. single
Commissioner who Is made responsible FOR his
department. precisely as the Commissioner OF
Public Works is nov responsible for his depart
ment: and in order that j. may nc clear That these
ere separate and independent departments and
no, simply bureaus of a. single department. The
the President OF the Board Of Public Improve
nens. On the other hand. the draft permits the
to serve vcepresidcnt Of the Board, or. Win
the consent Of the Municipa n'hy. 10 aproint
who shall devote his whole time 10 the duties Of
the Once This provision is made in one aspect
stani attendance upon the meetings Of III" Board
Of Public Improvements. and IN the cthe: a>rec;
II III" work Of the president proves 20 he so great
as 10 demand A special officer TO attend 10 il.
While eacn Of hese c2mmssontrs in these depart
mers IL responsible for The Gnn,inisration OF NJ
department. the BOARD of Puolic ImproI "monts as
helping 10 determine what work should be done
and when. and how. These various departments arc
intended to take Tie place of various agencies that
have grown up under the existing cnaitore. such
as the Department Of Public Works and the
responding department in the other cities The
Board Of Croton Aqueduct Commissioners. the
Board OF Electrical Control The Gas commission
and the Trustees Of the New York and Brooklyn
Bridge. The Commissioner Of Bridges IS to have
control Of this structure and Of all other bridges
outside OF parks in the territory Of the Greater
New-York Ordinances regulating the Of he
bridges and Of the railroad on the Brooklyn
Bridge to originate IN the Board Of Public I'm
provements and 20 he adopted by the Munci-
pal Assembly Il Is believed that the Board OF
Public improvements OF the side Of al! public
works will prove TO be important agency
In securing careful consideration and systematic
and safe action the Board Of Estimate and APP
por;ionnent has proved Itself to he tho side OF
the city's finances.
LAW DEPARTMENT
In the construction OF the Law Department all
special attorneys in the several administrative de-
partmcnts or wheresoever located. nave been
abolished and the entire law business of the city
will be cared for by the Corporation Counsel. "Eo
Is given power appoint. subject to the limitations
arising from tho amount appropriated annually for
the purpose. many Assistant Corporation Coun-
sells or attorneys may be necessary to attend to
all the legal business Of the city.
EDUCATION.