The herald., 1898-11-14
A TRANSFER OF POWER
MAYOR CLOTHED WITH GREATER
RESPONSIBILITIES
MUST ANSWER TO THE VOTERS
Varied Provisions of the New Charter
Explained and Their Effect
Made Plainly Apparent

Judge II. IL. l.. NuIlel duuIesSeu all duul
ence which quite filled Vincent hall, at GA
South Hill street, yesterday afternoon on the
merits of the new city charter. The meet
ing was held under the auspices of the Union
Reform league, and William H. knight, the
president, read the schedule of the leagues
program for municipal reform With words
of commentator, MIR. Knight introduced
the speaker of the hour, who was intently
listened to.
Judge Variel briefly reviewed the circum-
stances which led to the election of the
board of freeholders on July IA last to for
muate within 80 days new city charter.
OF its composition, he said, nearly all were
men of affairs, most of them engaged in
business and none of them men OF leisure.
During his association with them they had
worked earnestly, industriously, faithfully
and devotedly, and he could vouch for the
high qualities of civic patriotism that led
each member of the board TO give so large a
share of his time to the performance of the
duties devolving upon him as representa-
tive of the people. None had tried to ad-
vance any scheme for private or personal
benefit If there were defects in the charter.
they were due to the inability of the board
in the limited time allowed for the accom-
plishment of its task to perfect every feature
Of the instrument AS for that matter, how
ever, it seemed impossible to frame char
ter which should be absolutely acceptable to
all people.
COMPREHENSIVE, CONSERVATIVE
All good charters, like all good laws, were
matters of compromise. The individual gives
up his personal liberty in some degree that
the community as a whole may be benefited.
So the theory on which the board had
worked was to frame charter that would
accomplish the greatest good for the great
est number not to produce an instrument
that should be extreme in its provisions, but
broad, comprehensive, yet conservative; to
give to the citizens at large the best possible
government at the least possible price.
THE MODERN MUNICIPALITY
Gin presenting the salient features of the
charter in the brief time allotted to me,
said Judge Nariel, Il shall ditferentiate it.,
select certain points wherein the new char
ter is different from the old, presenting new
rights or correcting old abuses. Comprising
81 articles and 406 separate sections, the
charter deals with great variety OF mat
tiers of municipal control. 1t is an extensive
document, being much more lengthy than
the existing charter. Under its provisions
the first municipal election would occur in
December, 1899, and succeeding elections
every four years thereafter. This would
bring the city election on an odd year, re-
moving it from the state, national and coun-
ty election influences, which are partisan in
character.
Party policy is bent on making party
fealty the test of preferment. Modern
municipal corporations are not the out
growth of the same conditions as the nation
or state. State and federal constitutions are
nicely balanced on the majority rule and
avoid the Capitalization of power. But the
inventions due TO the use of steam and elec-
tricity have brought on an industrial age in
which the modern municipality has been de-
veloped. This was not foreseen by the
fathers Of the federal corporation. Deem
ing it of the utmost Importance that the
municipal elections should be separated
from those of the nation, county and state,
the board of freeholders arranged the char
ter so that they should fall on the off years.
So, too, believing that better results would
follow if city officials were given longer
term of office, the term was fixed for four
years. That plan has worked well else
where, diminishing the evils of frequent elec-
tions and reducing the public expense and
disturbance of affairs generally.
TRANSFER OF POWERS
"By the new charter transfer OF powers
from the council to the mayor is effected.
AT present the mayor has the power OF veto,
while the councilmen legislate, fix the taxes
and make the disbursements. | am aware
of the fact that by these innovations we
have run counter to the opinions of some
-ho hnva ,,lncoI ta1 inttnb mo in,
the hands OF the mayor. One man told me
that he knew me too well to suspect that |
had been a party to any scheme, and that
be had no doubt there were no jobs, but that
we had placed too much power i'll the hands
OF the mayor. | asked him: How are you
affected by it!' lie could not answer. I
will assume that you, too, are of the opinion
that the mayor has been clothed with too
much authority, and then l will give you
some ideas have why he has not.
1T is true the mayor is given greater pow
er in the appointment of the various boards
and commissions, as well as of three officers
at present elected by the people-namely,
city attorney, city engineer and superintend-
ent of streets. As these officers must all be
men of professional and technical skill, it is
considered probable that the mayor will
make DeJUef selection Oh dOle Inen TO HI
these positions than would the political con-
ventions, and, being appointed by him, they
will be responsible to him.
PREFERRED OPTIMISM
"Do you believe bad man will be in
duced to mismanage the affairs of the city?
] assume that there are more patriotic peo-
pie in the city than bad and don't believe
we are going from bad to worse. Most of
the men | know are good, virtuous, trying
to do and be better, toiing sometimes under
adverse circumstances, ill-health, disap-
polntments, but pressing steadily onward
with determination. The public schools, the
pulpit and other ennoblng influences have
been working in the land till today we have
such a race as has never before existed on
the face of the earth. When the time came
to lay hand on Spain and say, Your crimes
shall no longer be committed on the soil of
the western hemisphere there was an alb.
solute unanimity of sentiment. There was
no longer north, or south. but one land
throbbing with an intensity of patriotism
which caused the young men everywbere
to rally around the flag in defense of liberty
which to the nation was all of life. It takes
some powerful influence, some tremendous