The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-03-16
fairly safe, if clumsy administered,

from a city government with checks and guards in republican form, to one in which the character and wisdom of one man is the sole dependence for G0od governmental other words, to the most absolute and autocratic form of municipal government conceivable.
 Here permit me to say that there are some changes and reforms upon which our citizens are particularly united. One is the consolidation of the town and city and the complete abolition of our dual government.
 We want no more town meetings like those we have had-travesties of good order and deliberation with their dangerous possibilities. We do not want longer two street departments two sets of engineers and surveyors, and two sets of legal advisers-one sometimes pitted against the city.
 There is also almost unanimous agreement that the mayor should not be q mere figure head but that he should have and exercise substantial authority, but there are some and am one of them, who do not believe that we require at this time an irresponsible dictator in respect to appointments to all important offices. I believe that the confirmation of the mayors appointees by a majority vote Of the board of all dermen alone with the conseduent pub licity, would not impair his efficiency or hinder in the slightest municipal re- form. I suppose most people have for gotten, if they ever knew that for a number of years the police, fire and road commissioners were thus elected, and in no case did the mayors choice fail to he confirmed. Yet am sorry to say there were few nominations which were mot fit to be made" so judged by general consent. I assume that majority of the board of alder men would be likely to have the city's interest at heart as much as the chief magistrate, I would require also Q two-thirds vote of all the members to override his veto.
 Is it not easily within the range of possibilities that we might elect a bit
 ter partisan or an arroeant and wilful man. or a very weak man, to this high office, with the natural and inevitable results following? Some check on au- tocratic authority looks reasonable and prudent
 The general public has not, think, been favored with q sight of the pro- posed charter, though the press has given a very brief abstract of it. If I recall one section correctly, it provides for new and unnecessary of- flee entitled assistant corporation counr sel, at a salary of $2 800. It also in creases the salary of the mayor and some others with a proviso that the salaries may be increased whenever the common council sees fit in the future, There is not probably leading law yer in the city who would not. hat in 1 hand. tender his heartfelt thanks for the office of corporation counsel without 1 the assistant. Strike that out Messrs, | Committee of Ten, as well as the plan 1 to increase the salaries of any one in 1 the way proposed, and I venture to say you will receive the commendation 1 of a considerable number of citizens who have not been put on any commit | tee, but who are watching your pro-
 ceedines with interest. That you may go on to perfection and present us with
 a new charter at last with the essen-
 tial features necessary is the writer's s
 sincere desire. c. L. B,