The San Francisco call., 1897-11-12
NEW YORK'S KINGLY MAYOR.

MORNING journal asserts that Mayor-eect Van Wyek
~ of Greater New York will exercise more political power
in administering his office than proposed TO con-
feed by charter theorists the same official in this
city 1t would give pleasure to that the in ques-
ton mistaken on this point Indeed would that did
know that assertion the result of dense gnor-
the new of the greater city and of the
to be exercised by the Mayor-eect under it.
1t is true that New York is larger city than San Fran
cisco and that municipal ording will be smaller man
than the individual whom Boss Croker has chosen to rule his
people But it understood by all intelligent persons that in
speaking mayora powers in other places proportions
to prevail We do hesitate to reafm therefore,
that in proportion his sphere of activity the Mayor proposed
by local theorists WILL political despot throw Judge
Van Wyck completely into the shade
In the first place. the Mayor of Greater New York in the
sodcaton of his power must not only Municipal
Council of nearly representatives OF the people elected
from different sections of the city, but he will be compelled to
pacae the Legislature of the State WELL Unlike the pro-
posed charter of this cy the charter of Greater New York
may be altered amended repealed by act of the General
Assembly When the time comes to clip the wings of their
municipal knge the people of that city need not appeal to
election commission appointed by him, but they make
their grievances known the Senate and Assembly and
have them redessed In order control the legislative
department of this city, and thereby the tax levy our pro-
posed Mayor will only have take fifteen Supervisors into
camp Would that be easy compared with the task set
before Mayoreect Wyo of paoating Council of nearly
200 and Governor and Legislature?
Besides the New York despot at the threshold of his
career will face State civil service commission, organized
under constitutional amendment which the Court of Appeals
has decided to seexecung. When is said that Mayor
elect Van Wyck will control s3ooooooo in patronage, it is
that he will dispense that amount under civil service
rules, in accordance with State law and by direction of
commission appointed by the Governor. True, our local
charter makers propose civil service commission for his
city, but they intend to invest the Mayor with its appointment
How could skul politician be prevented from controlling
appointments to office in San Francisco when the to
create the body which set enforce the law placed in
his hands2
1t childish to talk about distributing political power in
cities upon national State models None but fools discuss
municipal government from any such standpoint The fact is,
the advocates of kingly Mayor have single sound
argument upon which rest their empty heads Good gov
eminent emerged from perogave On the contrary,
the rights of the people have been amped in the dust for
ages by political tyrants. The idea that by returning to
CRsarism going to pure politics and honest
administration of the laws the result of loose thinking and
desire for a change The ills endure
tain to be aggravated by the adoption of such system