The state herald., 1897-10-01
GREATER NEW YORK.
IMMENSE POWERS oFlrs MAYOR
VIII Have tho Appointing Power Over 16,-
800 City Employees, Including Heads OF
all Departments.

The most important election that will be
held In the coming. November is the one
that Will take place IN New York York. h where 'ae ne
be selected. 1t is not often thnt Il municipal
contest overshndows state elections In gen
why il is no in this ease. To begin with, the
Grenter New York election will decide the
government for the next four years Of a
community with population greater than
that Of the thirteen colonies at the time OF
the federation. greater than that of any one
among forty of the forty-five stntes In the
who Is to handle the S50OO0,O00 Income of
the metropolitan Income greater than that
raised for state purposes by the weaithiest
states-nnd who Is TO dlsbursc the millions
which the city must annually spend for Its
own maintenance. 1t Is of supreme inter
est to ne politicians, because 1t mems nm, hun,
an immense amount Of patronage t- be dis
trlbuted-more than accompanies any elec-
tive office In this country. scarcely except.
Ing the presidency itself. Finally. 1t Is of
vast Interest to students of politics and
thoughtful persons everywhere, because II
IL the first attempt to conduct an urban
area so vast and n city population so great
under II strongly centralized government,
such as is provided by the New York char
ter.
In New York the mayor IL to he the pivot
nbout which the entire city administration
will move. He will receive a salary Of $l5.-
tive Office In the United States, Among the
duties specifically imposed upon him by the
Charter 1e, Is ne annointment q so%s .,, thirty
every source Of the city's revenue and
trates who will direct the administration Of
Justice. II will be his duty to I'LL nearly $50
% o,icial positions; ,;, carrying total "a. salaries & "f
vnst army of city employees numbering
something like 1900 men, or more than
compelled Cornwallis to surrender Mt York
town and put an end to the Revolution.
On the Legislative side the mayor will have
strong check on the acts of the city coun-
ell by his veto. which can be overriden only
by two-thirds vote OF the municipal as
sembly. In any ease involving ''the creating
OF debt. laying OF an assessment. or grant
Ing franchise, II fve-sixths vote shall he re
qulred" to set aside the veto. Thus the
mayor IL given practically the power Ia
control these important matters. All acts of
come to the mayor for his consideration. so
that he has wide latitude In legislative, as
well as executive functions.
As the charter was first drawn, even
greater power and responsibility was placed
In tho mayors hands. He was to be al
living cause s any head % of % dcnarinae"t rim b The
object OF this arrangement was. as Mr.. De
Witt Of the charter commission expressed IL.
that there might he only one head for the
people to hit In case of corrupt or inefficient
administration. This power OF removal. by
an amendment of the Legislature, is now re
strictcd TO the first six months Of the
mayors term.
The mayor of New York will he more
powerful official than the head OF any other
grent modern city. His control Of a region
containing population greater thnn most
states. and one-twelfth Of the total wealth
OF the Union. will be more complete for the
four years of his term than that OF any
other man holding office under u popular
government But at the end Of that time he
must give up his sway and become private
citizen for the next four years mt least
Under the provisions Of the charter no man
can hold the position of mayor for two
terms In succession.
In spite OF the reaching powers which
II grants. the plan Of government adopted
for Greater New York IL distinctly an Amerl-
can system, designed to meet the needs and
experience of popular government and uni
versal suffrage. To show how the scheme
differs from that In force In other countries
II Is only necessary to compare the position
of mayor of New York with the same po-
stlon In the great European clties.