New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-04-02
LOW OFFICIALS TALK.
Majority in Reform administration
FaUOr Longer Term.

officials OF the Low administration divided
in their opinions concerning the lengthening of the
Of the Mayor. The majority, however, whose
views were ascertained by the City Club in
favor of four rather than two years. j. Hampton
Dougherty. who for time Water Commits
sioner under Mayor Low. said:
In view Of the size Of the city and the highly
important functions which the Mayor discharges
under the presen. charter, his term shold continue
for four years. AS the charter commissioners o..
1896 well said the Mayors patronage and hisEeager
are so great that it is. perhaps exaggeraaon 10
say that he Will in these particulars be a hgni-
tary second only IN Importance TO the Governor OK
The state or the President OF the United States
1.-The objection to the longer tenure springs IN
large measure from fear of misrule, il the city
should pass under the control Of unworthy officials
But the true way to avoid the danger OF sueh mis-
rule is to educate the community TO beIer IN non
nartfsa CITY administration. ana to tnsiStence upon
the coluct Of public business as a public trust
"It Is to be hoped that the legislature this year
will PASS an amendment to the charter extending
the MAYORS term to four years 1t Is especially I'M
portant that the longer term should begin a1ter'
rather than before Presidential election
Colonel r G. Monroe, who succeeded MT Doush-
ertv as Water Commissioner, said:
II am strongly in favor OF legislation extending
the MAYORS term from two to four years The
change should be made by this legislature II a
Mayor can be elected this fall to hold office for
fonr wears the next Mayoralty election would Oc-
cur i'm the fall of 1909 the year succeeding the
presidential election MayOralty election should
erccAed and not precede. the Presidential election
p R 1, Gould who City Chamberlain under
Mayor Low, said:
i am decidedly in favor Of extending the term Of
the Mayor of the city of New-YOrk TO four years.
/ 1t takes any Mayor from six months TO a year
70 aeouaint himself thoroughly with the duties of
his office and then few months thereafter mu-
ricinal campaign comes on to disturb his admins
| tration Municipal elections should also be sepa-
/ rated as far as possible from national elections
Voters are then enabled to pronounce intelhgently
/ upon purely local issues
/ Thomas Sturgis. Fire Commissioner Of the Low
administration. takes opposite view. and IN this
/ opinion he is most decided He said:
/ THE Mayors term of office. in my opinion, under
present political conditions should not be extended
MY reason is that under prevailing conditions we
are more likely to have Mayor who falls far short
of our ideal of a non-partisan administration than
/ one who measurably fulhls it, and that the best
chance for reform lies in preserving 10 the electo-
rate the opportunity to change at short intervals
From such recoil We got the better adninistra-
! tons of Strong. and LOw-twO in ten years-and
each has had lasting and beneficial effect. Grad
ualIy the public will learn that the government 1t
wants is more closely represented by such admins
tratiOns than by their more partisan predecessors
and successors The selection OF such men will be-
come more frequent until ultimately may justly
hope and believe that it will be the rule and not
/ the exception.
Like all these questions police, fire. education,
etc it lies with the people. What they want they
get and when they demand nOn-partisan admins
tration they will elect the who stands for it..
Longer terms or frremovabIe officials will not bring
/ IT, II can be found only in the education of the
! masses TO a higher ideal OF municipal government
than a crib filled with fresh Sl0OOGO00 each year
for the successful party to fatten on"