New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-25
Van Wvcks testimony, in which he set forth

his peculiar ideas OF his duty. such as:
I should state that my method Of running the
government is to let the Commissioners sug Sne
teaches me that when they ask me whether ap,,
prove certain thing ,d Is f t6sy tns Suggest It to
me IL AS members OF the Municipal io Il As s.
mby and ether t R sppfoy ye
DO dos what bat is FOR the best" They have got to ap-
o|De You think best officially, as Mayor not
10 condemn or influence the ac,lI ION OF ,hey come
70 ssk YOUR advice A.-That Is right; yes
Q.-The Commissioners are your appoih'ees' A.
oHAnd they are responsible to you' A-No.
they are responsible TO the law
COMMISSIONERS AGREE WITH MAYOR
That the Commissioners fully agree with the
Mayor In believing themselves to he IN no way
accountable TO him for the way they run thelr
departments is shown by extracts from the
testimony Of such OF them as were examined
.retariing the Ramapo water steal commas
sifner Dalton said:
fhe design q the charter is that such matters
should originate with the Commissioner OF water
supply and when the Commissioner Is satisfied
improvements. The Commissioners composing that
Board obliged 70 rely largely upon the feeI 16s
In question and would mot hnf matters wScS
my fellow members might state.
MI. DdItOn confirmed the MdHOI
Of his method OF running the government by
saying that there had been no conference or
advisement on the Ramapo matter between him
self and the Mayor. He said that once he saw
the Acting Mayor who asked him what there
in the Ramapo talk. and who said; VI
course. you are the Commissioner OF Water Sup
ply. and OF course II you think it is the pest
thing TO do you are responsible to the people
But how is :he Commissioner responsible to the
people? Can they remove him? Can they do
more than TO appeal TO the courts TO en)oln MN
and is that a perfect remedy? II is dfhcult
indeed, TO make a case for injunction against an
officer acting within his prerogatives. In the alb
sence of direct proof of fraud (see Judge Glider
sleeves recent decision in this very natter
THE BLACKWELL'S ISLAND BRIDGE.
The report continues:
other examples OF great works which the
Commissioners have undertaken TO originate
without being checked or advised by the Mayor
are the locating OF the Blackwelrs Island and
East River bridges and the Newtown ana
Flushing Canal on or close to the lines or pri-
vate franchises. and the holdings OF associates
and the mapping Of Queens County in such
way as TO destroy scores OF village streets ana
many OF the roads just completed for the city
at great expense. to ruin the houses and grounds
OF very many people, and to make utIes I'M
certain during the years that must elapse before
the improvements, which will cost over $50
600 600 can be carried out. These and other
similar works are vast In their probable cost
as to seriously jeopardize rapid transit and this
essential Improvement is at the mercy or Com
missioners and the protests OF citizens before
the Board OF Public Improvements. Louis
Windmuller showed that the location Of the
Blackwell's Island Bridge was very faulty ana
that the mapping OF Queens County on the de-
partment plans would amount TO the connsca-
ton of the property OF It's inhabitants
Mr. Moss shows how the great powers Of these
Commissioners tend to kill home rule in the
various boroughs. saying
What has been said about the Commissioners
appSes with increased force to the Board or
Public Improvements. composed Of six Commits
sioners and the Mayor and the Corporation
Counsel (who do not attend, the Controller the
president of the board appointed by the Mayor
and five borough presidents. who have no vote
except I'm matters relating exclusively TO their
respective boroughs though Commissioners may
be represented by their deputies There are rev
measures on which more than one borough pres
ident can vote The Mayor Corporation Coun-
sci and Controller are busy officers. who can
hardly be expected 10 attend the long ana ire
quent meetings Of the Board.
The various Commissioners II attending 70
their respective duties are engrossed in their
own department affairs, and are not generally
fitted or disposed 10 master the details or nVe
other departments. The result Is that in most
matters the president and the Commissioner
whose project for the time being Is on the table
practically compose the moving power OF the
Board. The Commissioners naturally rely on
each others recommendations and stand to-
gether for each others projects. There Is only
a shadowy pretence Of popular representation In
this very important Dooy.
THE BOARD OF ESTIMATE.
The other powerful Board is the Board OF EST
mate and Apportionment. which hXes the al
lowances to the different Offices and depart
ments and determines the amount to be raised
by taxation. 1t is composed OF the Mayor, Con-
troller Corporation Counsel, President OF the
Council and President OF the Department OF
Taxes and therefore has a majority of one on
the side of elected officers, but its constitution
is such that any representation from the smaller
boroughs is hardly possible.
The local boards, consisting OF elected officers,
have little power, except in tagging sidewalks
and originating local improvements, which they
seldom succeed in getting through the higher
boards.
The Municipal Assembly, consisting OF elected
officers, has no power to originate or even TO
amend financial measures. being practically re-
stricted 10 a veto power in certain matters. All
officials are dependent on the Corporation Coun-
sci, an appointed and uncontrolled officer.
leading member Of the dominant organization.
and are required to take his advice and to be
represented by him, or to make default by him.
whether they like 1t or not.
Local boards which are expected to originate
local improvements have no engineers, and
have no way Of compelling the departments
10 furnish them with estimates or plans. De-
partment heads ignore local boards Municipal
Assembly, Aldermen and Councilmen and re-
fuse the information necessary for intelligent
action.
In these particulars land in many others that
we could cite) popular government has broken
down in the city, while the rule of the political
machine grows stronger daily. Much Of this
evil is due TO the system, which was never de-
signed for the rough and selfish handling that 1t
is receiving.
Boroughs borough presidents and local boards
were created to serve for home rule. but their
powers were so attenuated that the borough
officials outside OF Manhattan declare there is
little or no home rule and almost public
improvements.
REMEDIES SUGGESTED.
For these abuses Mr. Moss makes the follow
Ing suggestions:
II the Board OF Public improvements be re.
tanned its proportion of elected members should
be increased by removing the Corporation Coun-
sci and giving TO the borough presidents a vote
on all measures But II is respectfully submit
ted that IT is practicable 10 relieve the city en-