New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-24
TIE MLrNICIPAL ASSEMBLY.

No one who reads Controller Coler's letter TO
Tho CornoratIon Counsel. urging him TO institute
mandamus proceedings to compel the Municipal
Assembly 10 authorize an issue of bonds for the
payment of awards for lands acquired by the
citv IN the Croton watershed, can reasonably
doubt that such legal action ought to be taken.
The money needed to settle just and proper
obligation ought TO have been provided long ago.
even II no consideration except the citys creut
had been involved; but the peculiarly exasperat-
ing feature Of the case is that the awards pear
interest at the rate Of per cent so that the per-
sons whose property has been taken Tor mul'ci-
nal purposes are making an extravagant proht
out of the Assembly's obstinate neglect OF duty
For this reason they naturally have no desire 10
take legal action themselves to compel the pay
ment of the debt. and there seems TO be no other
way OF stopping an outrageous waste OF puDhc
money than that which the Controller earnestly
recommends 70 the Corporation Counsel.
Mr.. Coler's appeal derives much force from
the simplicity and decorum Of his language.
The remedy he proposes is. as he admits. I'M
usual, though not unprecedented and 10 De al
vised only for reasons of weighty public policy;
but It appears to us that there is an ample war
rant for its employment in this instance. III
could scarcely fail 10 be effective. we should
suppose. If the case were actually taken INTO
court, and II is not impossible that the first step
in legal process would reduce the municipal
LEGISLATORS 10 submission There would be con-
siderable advantage moreover In directing pup
lie attention sharply to the miserable manner In
which the charter provision relating to the Mu-
nicipal Assembly operates. 1t Is curious to re-
fleet with how much pride large majority OF
the Charter Commissioners contemplated this
feature of Their work. They reported that after
q careful study Of the lessons contained in the
history Of New-York they were fully convinced
that an Assembly Of two branches and large
number Of members would conduce 10 the dig
nity Of the public service and the welfare of the
community, necessarily insuring greater dellb-
"eration, publicity and public discussion, with
"out endangering the ultimate passage OF meas
lures meritorous in their character EX-Mayor
Strong and Mr.. Seth Low, on the other hand
| showed their sense in rejecting an hypothesis
which brief experience has utterly discredited
saying: Whatever merits may appertain TO
'the system Of q Municipal Assembly with two
chambers 1t can hardly be contended that 1t
lends itself TO efficiency. II Is much more
'Ikely to lend itself TO vexatious and costly
delay" Though they chose their adjectves eX-
| ceedingy well, they might have made their case
still stronger without mourning the slightest
| risk. Outside Of the Charter Commission there
never was so far as we are aware, particle OF
faith in the bicameral scheme, and 1t has al
ways been a mystery whence and by what
means majority Of the Commissioners derived
so strong n prepossession in favor Of system
which found no support In our municipal expert
ence or in any reasonable estimate of proba-
| bilites.
1t would be difficult to show that the present
Municipal Assembly has served single useful
purpose which would not in all probability have
been better served by some other means If the
| Assembly had never been brought into exist
ence. From the moment Of its organization 1t
has been a spectacle Of ignorance, selfshness
and vulgarty. 1t might be rash to say that the
elimination has now been reached in the hold
ing up" of important bond issues with the ap-
parent object of compelling lavish and dispro-
pOrtionate expenditure of public money in the
Borough Of Brooklyn; but, at all events situa-
ton has arisen for which II Is necessary TO find
some remedy, and the Controller, who has re-
Gently given many evidences of an intelligent
regard for the public interests, Is entitled TO
credit for his efforts 10 stop a reckless abuse Of
/ power