Year: 1859

s MUNICIPAL REFORM.
The cry for municipal reform is heard generally
from all large cities in the confederacy. Were the
clamor limited, instead of universal, there might
be reason for the opinion that some municipal
systems were worse than others; but as it is uni
versal the conviction forces itself upon all nelli-
gent minds that the system of municipal govern
ment in this country, not the administration of the
system is the source from which the manifold evils
complained of spring. There must be an inherent
radical defect somewhere; for there have been
good administrations OF local government, but
even they have only been able partially to redeem
the general system from obloquy and rcproach.


Various remedies have been suggested and
pressed upon the public attention by the city press
almost everywhere, but none of them appear to
meet the emergency. And, for very good rea-
son. too for most of them have been the fruit OF
the brains Of seheming politicians, solicitous only
for their own advancement without any regard
whatever for the good of the people. Besides,
none Of them yentured to touch the root of the
evil, fearing that such q course would prove un-
popular.


The latest plan emanated from what was termed
the "Reform Central Committee" Of Baltimore.
In surrendering their trust and dissoving their or
ganizaton they issued an address to the people, in
which they suggest application to the Legislature
Of Maryland for the following enactments


1. OF a registry law.


a OF a law providing for the appointment by
commissioners selected BY the Legislature of
proper Judges and Clerks of Election.


5. OF a considerable increase in the number of
voting precincts.


4. Ofan entire reorganization of the police who
should be appointed, as in the city of New York,
" v he I.pOis md
paid by the Treasurer of the State out of money
derived from the taxes to be levied on the city.
The police should be selected without regard to
party, and should be enlisted for period of five
years, subject to removal for misbehavior.


Some Of the above recommendations are very
salutary, but the adoption of all of them would not
accomplish the object professedy aimed at. The
cause of the evil and the decentralization lies
deeper, and an adequate probe and scapel must be
used or else it will be impossible to eradicate it per-
manently. Superficial remedies will not answer !;
or if they do answer at all, it will be for very
brief period, and then the elements of bad which
have been partially smothered for the time, will
break out with more virulence than before.


The suggestion in favor of a Registry Law is
good one. But. to be effective, it should be ex.
tremcly stringent, and provide against all possible
violations of the purity of the elective franchise
!
in order to prevent the certificates of persons who
have died or gone away from being used fraudu.
lently There are over fifteen thousand registered
votes in New Orleans, and we do not believe the
full legal vote of the city swells above eleven
thousand. 1t is to be hoped the next Legislature
of Louisiana will order new registration, to take
place before any important election transpres.


The second recommendation is bosh. If the au
thorities Of a city cannot appoint suitable judges
and clerks Of election, the Legislature should not
do it for them, but should take away their char
tered privileges at once. This kind of Legislative
tinkering can DO nothing but harm. The Reform
Committee y of Baltimore have shown themselves
anything but true reformers in making the suggcs-
ton.


We do not know how many voting precincts
there are in Baltimore. But we do know that there
are twice as many in this city as necessary: and
that our legislative meddling has produced ncon-
venence, confusion trouble and expense, without
giving birth to solitary particle of good.


The fourth suggestion kills itself by the reference
made to the law and practice of New York. A
Black Republican Legislature, for purely partisan
purposes, took the appointment of the police of
New York out Of the hands Of the city authorities
and placed it in the hands of Commissioners to be
appointed by an Abolition Governor and confirmed
by an Abolition Senate! What has been the re-
suit? Why the New York police is confessedly
the meanest, most dirty inefficient and unutter-
ably corrupt, of any police in any city on the con
tinent. The plan has failed utterly and com
pletely, as all such plans are bound to fail. The
spirit of partisanshp prevails in the one case
stronger than in the other, without the necessary
experience only to be acquired in large metro
polls; and the Governor and Legislature, and the
Commissioners they appoint knowing little ant
not caring much, proceed to elect political favor
ties to responsible trusts Such has been the resu
of the experiment in New York, and such will be
the result, we firmly believe wherever it is tried.


The only true remedy, we apprehend, is to gv'
the control of municipal governments exclusivel.
to the tax-paycrs-to those who have to bear thu
burthens, pay the expenses and stand the losses
to those who have direct pecuniary interest IL
the city, and who are to be benefited by goo,
laws well administered, and disadvantaged by ba
laws badly administered. Let the municipal gov
ernment be subordinate to the State Government
as matter of course, but with that exception, lie
the control be in the hands of the payers of taxes
Then, we firmly persuaded, we would have
faithful, efficient, well-paid municipal police al
economical and wise administration of government
an enterprising and liberal civic legislature an
all the reforms and blessings, and more too, cor
tcmplated in other movements, would flow in a
an inevitable consequence--and New Orleans
should she take the lead, would become the mode
city of the Union.


We suppose, from what we have heard that th
question will be brought before the next Legisls
ture. If so, we hope it will be duly considered
and the experiment tried at least long enough
demonstrate its utility or inutility. No person {
class, can or will be harmed by it, and a fair tr
might prove it fraught with blessings of ncalc'
liable magnitude.


TALK ON CHANGE.


The rain interfered in some measure with QUITO
door movements, though the gatherings on Caro-
sdelet street between meridian and O'Clock p.
were numerous. The transactions were limite
The arrivals from sea numerous yesterda
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