New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-13
II HARD, COLD FACT"

In the open letter of Colonel George Bliss TO
General Tracy, chairman of the Greater New
York Commission. expressing disapproval of the
charter provisions for a Municipal Assembly,
the Colonel answers the contention of General
Tracy that the people having been educated,
will choose better men than they have done IN
THE past. and that the increased powers ana
"emouments will induce better men TO seek
election to the Municipal Assembly WITH "a
hard cold fact" which has been overlooked, ana
that is that the people won't get chance TO
select better men. even if they desire to do
So" Speaking from a long experience IN what
is called practical politics. he says the office
seekers who have no reputable business are in
the majority in influence and usually in num-
bers and they select the candidates for the
uurplv local offices in the Assembly districts.
What is called "the better element" in both par
ties interests itself in the choice OF candidates
for Mayor and the higher offices, and does not
concern itself with the subordinate places. SO
rbp candidate for Alderman or the Municipal
Assembly captures the district leaders. secures
the saloon vote and obtains the nomination,
leaving the contest 10 be fought out, not be-
tween a good man and bad man. but between
candidates OF equal unfitness. This is no new
discovery Of the Coloners, of course. but as IA
hard. cold fact attested by his years of eX-
perience and observation AT the head of the local
organization Of his party ana in the thick of
many hard-fought battles. it deserves serious
consideration.
In The present discussion the immediate bear
Ing Of this hard cold fact" is solely upon the
ouestlon whether the provision in the charter
for a Municipal Assembly is wise; whether, on
the whole. it offers the best form of municipal
1.,;,,.x init
the public service for the discharge OF functions
of vast responsibility and Of the greatest impor-
lance to the general welfare. We believe Colonel
Bliss is right in his premises, and that his hard,
cold fact" cannot be successfully controverted.
And il seems 10 us TO be the most important
factor in the situation. The purpose of the new
charter is not to set up a temporary makeshift
under which the machinery for the government
of the greater municipality may be started, with
the idea that any weakness in its structure or
failure in its operation may be corrected or
remedied hereafter. 1t should not be treated
as an experiment or a merely tentative effort
in the direction Of municipal government on a
large scale. II should have in its preliminary
stages the most rigid and careful examination,
the most searching scrutiny and the most ex
haustive analysis not merely of its main feat
ures but c its most minute details. There is no
need Of any hurry. None Of the townships await
ing consolidation are suffering under their exist
ing government There is no emergency that de-
mands immediate action. nothing that calls for
the erection of anything like a provisional gov
eminent. On the contrary, every aspect Of the
situation calls for the exercise OF the Wisest de-
liberation. so that the instrument when adopted
may have in itself the essential elements OF sta
billty and permanence.
In saying this we do not wish 10 be understood
expressing irrevocable hostility to the charter
as a whole, but only calling attention to yhe
significant circumstance that a Republican prac-
teal politician Of long experience and wide OBJ
servation finds in one Of its most important-!f
not, indeed, absolutely the most important-pro-