New-York tribune., 1901-01-03
NEWYORK DAILY TRIBUNE THURSDAY. JANUHRr s. isw1

for even the chief executive Of the city to
an honest and faithful enforcement Of the law
Vice can never be entirely eradicated from the
city of New-YoTk, from any other city 1T
can. however. be held in subsection and not
allowed TO faunt itself defiantly before the
public. 1t can be curbed and held under such
control that at least the citizens Will feel that
the Department has done all that lies in it's
power to enforce the law. How this be best
accomplished. and what action shall be taken
by the Legislature to obtain this result? In
looking over the situation, and understanding
something of the workings of the Department,
believe that a more perfect system can be Sc
cured by more complete Capitalization of
authority. AT present we have. first the Gov
ernOf, charged with execution and enforcement
OF the laws. whose sole power at present TO obey
the mandate of the Constitution lies in the sus-
pension of the Mayor and his removal when
charges of official misconduct have, after a due
hearing, been proven. While il is true that,
during the administration of my predecessor,
this power was ample to bring about the reyo-
cation of an order issued without warrant. and
which for time seemed TO make a conflict
between the State and city authorities inmi-
nentr yet 1T is possible that mayors may here
after disregard such injunction until the injury
has resulted or an actual outbreak has oc-
CURED. 1t cannot. therefore be said that the
authority of the Governor is all that could be
desired properly to discharge the duties imposed
upon him. 1t may be claimed that the Mayor
himself possesses ample power as the Chief Ex-
ecutlve OF the city, but this is disprOven when
we recOect that the Mayor has authority
TO remove his Commissioners after the eypira-
ton of six months from the beginning of his
term of office. Therefore, he is powerless except
TO try upon charges and then the same cOndi-
tion that has been cited above may result with
consequent disaster to the public. While ii is
true that a majority of the Commissioners, with
the approval of the Mayor may remove, yet
TINS TINS solution Drings up again divided response
DlIty and renders ii almost impossible to secure
that discipline which is so desirable in a We'll
organized police force
What remedy have We then. for this manifest
eVii, Whlch mas brought the police force of the
city of New-YOrk into such dsrepute? A State
COnstabulary has been suggested but the
strong llSlnCllnarlOn he rt Of nf fba~
municipalities throughout the State to acquiesce
in this solution renders this plan valueIess. A
metropolitan police system is open to the criti-
clSm that 1t is violation of the principle of
home rule guaranteed by the Constitution. We
are therefore brought TO face this proposition
with no apparent remedy as yet suggested. In
my opinion there should be a complete centraIi-
zatlon OF power There is no necessity. it seems
10 me, Tor a Commissioner who is in effect
as well as in name the absolute head of the
police system of the city of New-York An
eihcient man, the choice of the Mayor as a
slngle-headed Commission, with all the powers
now possessed by the Chief of Police would AT
once marrow down the responsibility. and place
IL WITHIN the power of the Chief Executive of
the State to hold accountable the Mayor and
the Commissioner thus appointed. This sug-
sestlon If given effect by legislative enactment
would, In my opinion. be no violation of the
principle of home rule II is moreover right
mat inasmuch as the Governor is equally re-
sponslDle he should have authority over this
department because the people not onlv of
New-York City. but of the whole State are in
teTested, ana certain powers to be exercised
only in cases of emergency should be Conferred
upon him to enable him to carry out the con-
stltutional mandates
recommend, therefore the Substitution oT ,
single-headed Police Commission for the citv Of
New-fork. such Commissioner to be the Chief
Mayor. and subject to removal either by tbe
Mayor or Governor, and that the present office
VI separate chief of Police be abolished.
CITY EMPLOYEES.
The decision Of the Court of Appeals which
IN effect makes the. tenure OF office no longer
r1V-
II has come TO my knowledge that the employees
OF OF various city departments have been coerced
IN numerous instances under the ruling as now
laid down by the Court of Appeals I recon-
mend that an amendment be enacted making
he seSol4h or the civil Service law affected by
that decision legislative. This is due TO the
man VINO works by the day as well as 10 the
5as1 nlgner paid officials Both should have the
same protection under all circumstances and
the full intent and purpose Of our Civil Service
laws be given effect
RAAlAPO WATER COMPANY.
Under Chapter 9S5 OF the Laws OF 1sa5 as
amended, the Ramapo Water Company was
sIteh the power OF condemnation for the pur-
pose OF securing 10 il the water and lands necas
sars tor Its purposes. During the wear 1870 an
th; was tnade TO enter into contract with
.Lis company by the municipal board empowered
TO make such contracts. This prOposition yher
presented TO the citizens of New-Yorz was sa
Vereiy criticlseG by them, and the ouesficr oy
continued municipal ownership OF their yyatar
Supply was thus brought 10 their attention
The Legislature of 1900 enacted a law r-h;t,
llaue the consummatiOn Of such a contracf i'm
possible without the unanimous consent OF those
empowered 20 make such contract The gunner
siilp OK water rights sufficient TO provide the
city or New-York with an ample supnIy oS r,Ire
anu wholesome water should be entirely under
Ihe control and direction of that nlunicinaIitv
by What now seems to have been an IInfortunaSa
omission In the original charter OF the cifv- Of
NeW- new aofh. the city is not given the same rights
that are afforded other municipaIities for sae,1r
ihS an addltional water supply. 1t should there
AOTe' be your nrst aim TO and repeaI s11cb
provisions of the law as interfere with the free
anu Lu4 exercise OF such b,-r
New-fork. and then TO place Il upon an eousIitv-
with the other cities of the State I ask the
speedy enactment of such laws, and the repeaI
regard should be given all rights involved re-
serving the preference, however for the CITY
Wherever there shall be a conflict between the
I tisnts now possessed by private corporations and
those desired by the municipality.
BUREAU OF ELECTIONS.
i recommend the entire separation of the Ru-
feau OF Elections from the Police Department Or
arty rnS Sity OF New Ork and the creation of BIZ
Partisan board. 20 be selected in the same man
iler as the minor election officials i'm the CITY ~
NeW.a aork' l. e., that appointments be made bv
the Mayor OF the city on the certifcatiOn OF the
Htical parties. charging such board VIM tbe
duties now possessed by Election Boards r he
lieVe TINS suggestion is in line with the original
bipartisan idea in the conduct of elections
L recommend the enactment of an aroen5,,,o,,+
10 tie law whereby all lodging houses shall ba
tSqulreu 10 register and secure from the Board
OF heaitn permits; that such records be omen 10
the public. and that they be comneII.J e-,r1 ~
time TO time to report 10 the SuperintenGant 20
Electlons or the Metropolitan District the names
OF and other Information concerning their per~
manent guests. ~
GOOD ROADS.
Under the Higble-Armstrong act for tho bu15
ing OF good roads. the State of New-York appro-
faG fhs.S g = 4.