New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-04-02
VIEWS OF EX-MAY0RS.
Hoo Losc, Fan Wyck, GiIrOy and
Ely Regard Term of Chief office.

There are only Eve living ex-Mayors Of this city
ana all have given their opinions to The Tribune
concerning tae length Of the Mayors term except
one. Seth low. who was Mayor for the two years
preceding the present administration. and Thomas
r Gir0y, who held the city's chief Office in 1898
end 1921, both favor four years. Smith Ely who
was Mayor In The years 1877 and 1878 believes two
years long enough Robert a. Van Wyck who held
ohce for abe nrst four years Of the greater city
from 1885 90 1852. says that the number of years a
Mayor holds Office makes no difference as long as
he is 'lie,atc5 10 from Albany" Hugh J. Grant,
Who preceded Nr. Gilroy as Mayor. refused TO say
anything regarding the subject
M Low said:
The argument in favor Of the four years term
2or the Mayor Of New-York seems 10 me irresstibly
strong. To give the Mayor a term OF only two
years means that every two years the entire admin
istratye direction q the city may be completely
changed. SlcA change IS not unlikely 10 take
pace. - a greater extent even when one Mayor
@ the same party succeeds another.
When IL IS remembered that outside OF the in
teFeat on the city debt and outside OF the ex-
pendure for schools which is under the control Of
the Board q Education, itself a permanent body,
the expenditure az the city from taxation exceed
~9V1t99 annually, and that bonds 10 the amount
o. ksap05D annually, more or less. are issued for
permanent betterments, the folly OF attempting 10
carry on a business % this magnitude under the
direction OF heads that change 50 frequently is evil
u every new Mayor and every new commissioner
began his term as an expert in the department that
&c ~ss 10 carry for. 50, there would be no
such thing possible IS a continuity of policy. But
as matter Of fact in almost every case, both the
Mayor and The commissioners whom he may ap-
point have 20 learn the work % the department be-
1ore they can begin 10 shape its policy.
II Is hardly toe much 10 say that. under tho
present charter the Mayor is likely 70 be Obliged
% leave Office, and the commissioners Of his ap
pointnent with him. just as they have become thor
opghty well equipped 20 do the work for which
tAsy have been elected No one. matter how
capable, can thoroughly understand the problems
p ne city Until he has been in position 20 observ'
them from the INSIDE FOR al least year. Imme
os'ey after the election Of his first year the new
-paign begins. and everything that he proposes
a-1 everything that he does from that time on Il
key 10 be Interpreted solely from political poin
O view
q IS We. known fact that IN every politica
i,aencg throughout the United States the grea
sei.g oi men vote upon party lines. Despite tn
800 'i Independents voting IN cities. this is stil
1Is case IN The city q SeW-Yorl. New-York City
b'''slally. Is 80 one-sided that those who contro
ne nominations fo- Office on the majority side cal
t tleH candidates nine times out 81 ten. II q
@Aeh public sentiment IS so strongly arousei
:. 'ieAk eoWn party lines in local matters tina
festea '''''
I.-.s means in New-York City ordinarily that IN
'saton OF the government under their hand
-' % act only bad. but seaa6aiOus, before IN