The sun., 1900-11-30
Friday, November 30, 1900.
THE NEW CITY CHARTER.


municipal government, we think one
thing is clearly apparent-a majority of
the citizens desire and anticipate re-
turn to the elective and representative |
principle. That we think is the spirit
of the times 1t is the chief character
istic Of the new State Constitution. all
State officers formerly appointed by the
governor, or elected by the State AS
sembly, are now elected by the people.
IL that is a good principle and theory
of government for the State. it ought
also to be good principle for munich
pal government.
The present Mayor and Council-sup-
posedly the chief executive and legislH-
ture Of the city-are simply ornamental
appendagcs having no voice in udminis-
tration OF legislation. Aside from being
contrary to the accepted theory of gov
ernmant in his country, thr'presrnt con
dition of things was brought about as thc
result of rrpudiation Of corrupt city
government by the people, and 10 Pre-
vent the passing of the city affairs from
the control of the party which had
proved to be both incompetent and cor
rupt. First the water department was
taken out of the control of City Council
because ii was Republican body, to
make it possible to get Democrats in con
troll Of that department Then the
Mayor, also Republican, was stripped
of his magsteral authority in order to
make Democratic City Court. the sue
cession to which would always be Demo
cratic through appointment by the gov
ernor, who, it was assumed would III
ways be Democrat; the delinquent tax
law administration making IL Democratic
political, endless chain theory Of success
sion. Next the Mayor was stripped Of
his power to appoint, and his authority
over the police, IL commission instituted
with the power of appointment of that
commission vested in one of the aSsoci
ate Judges. who under the then existing
system, was reasonably certain always
TO be Il Democrat. Then the Street and
Sewer Directors was created MS another
Democratic body to strip Council of its
authority over the streets OF the city;
in each case tlN,se departments were
given legislative powers, ana City Cpun-
Gil was stripped Of all authority, bcconl-
ing merely finance committee TO revise
taA lists make estimates and fix rates
Of taxation
All this was done for partisan paliti-
cal purposcsto prevent 4 Republican
city from passing from Democratic CON
troll Behind this motive was further
motive Of Il worse degree of PARTISAN
ship. The leaders of the Democratic
party had become so distrustful of ordi-
nary Democratic governmental ability
and purpose, that they decided that it
must be checked. Under such circlum
stances, ordinarily, the recourse would
have been to defeat the Democratic
municipal ticket and allow the city &c
pass into Republican control. This was
too radical proceeding fol Democrats
who wanted the help of Democratic
ward workers and managers, and whil'
they were forced to admit that thcs,
ward workers could not be safely on
trusted VITA the government Of the city
they saw that their own chances for poll
tical prcfrrmcnt depended upon keeping
these workers solidly organized am
ready to vote early and often, and o
course hud to invent governmental
scheme which would check the tide %
corruption and incapacity and at rh
same time take good care Of the Demo
cratic ward workers and hceers. Th'
scheme invented for this purpose is th
present scheme Of government by com
missions, which we have described. III
character comports with is origcn an'
purpose.
The ucmand for Il new City charter
therefore. is the outgrpwth Of publ
dissatisfaction with the result Of thi
sort of city government. Govcrnmon
without Il responsible head. and II centi9l
representative and authoritative bod
has proved to he failure. Tho pcopl
have become fired Of clrcting Mayo
that has no authority ami Il Council thA
cannot egiSatc for the city Suc
oHlcefS anu upphilhl'HiS "rP "nsuIu
tiles in govrrnmcnt-mcrc costly rompli
cations. With these things in view w
have said that the apparent drift of pub
lie opinion is toward q return to III
elective and representative principle 70
municipal government. That department
are necessary is obvious. But Il
these departments are but hranehr
of large and iaore eqia9leE h"d
they should be subordinate to tina
head aud responsible TO it for til