The New York herald., 1921-12-18
Fewer and Better Aldermen.

TeWeT ana Detter Aioermen.
A report on Charter revision just
issued by the City Club contains
some recommendations well worthy
the consideration of the New York
Charter Commission.
The most fundamental change pro-
posed is one which has been advo-
Gated frequently. 1t would cut the
Charter proper down to it's ground
work: the definitions of corporate
powers, of the jurisdiction of the
Board of Aldermen and the Board of
Estimate, of the powers of appoint
ment and removal by the chief ad.
ministrative officers, of the depart
mental structure and of the proceed
ure for appropriations and bond is
sues. The remainder of the present
bulky Charter would be shifted to
an administrative code, amendable
by the Board of Aldermen with the
Mayors concurrence and without re-
sort to the Legislature. The State
would be the maker of the frame
for the city's government; but the
city would have home rule in the
making of the details.
Such a reform would of course
transfer a mass of important work
to the Board of Aldermen. The Al
dermen are an ancient and of course
an honorable body. But for a long
time they have not been looked up to
as great lawgivers. The City Club
has thought on that side of the case.
1t admits that the Board has "almos.
ceased to function" Indeed, it's abo-
lition has been suggested. But the
City Club does not ask for Alder
manic euthanasia. Probably the
sounder course" it suggests, would
be to give to the Board some real
business to transact, such as would
devolve upon it under the plan al
ready outlined for an administrative
code and fuller measure of home
rule"
With the right kind of Charter
the Board of Aldermen would i'm
prove in quality, the City Club thinks.
Now, when all the important local
legislation is performed in Albany,
Aldermanic seats are not eagerly
sought by efficient men. What the
board needs is more power and fewer
members. The most feasible reduc-
tion, says the City Club, would be by
way of making the Aldermanic dis
tricts correspond with the Senate, in
stead of the Assembly, districts. In
stead Of nearly seventy Aldermen
there would be twenty-three.
In this connection the club makes
very sensible suggestion. that If
the Aldermanic districts are en-
larged they be called by their local
names instead of being numbered.
Alderman Smith of williamsburg"
means something to the voter; "Al-
derman Smith of the Eleventh" usu-
lalIy conveys no geographical mes
sage. Under this plan, says the
clubs report, every active Alderman
would come to be identified through
out the city and particularly in his
own bailiwick.
In the proposed scheme an Alder
man would be busy. Besides his
work on the Administrative Code he
would have enlarged duties on en-
larged local improvement districts.
So, as any existing Alderman might
be too modest to say, what about a
larger salary? The Aldermen now
receive $4,000 a year. Reduce their
numbers So per cent and their sal
aries could be increased 100 per cent
with no loss--indeed, with saving
to the city.
Would the office of Alderman, with
real powers and responsibilities and
salary of $4,000 year, attract men
and women better equipped than the
grade of Aldermen has been for
years? That is question which the
Charter committee might ponder.
But of course the exaltation Of the
Board is contingent upon the win
ming of home rule for New York in
the details of its government.