Year: 1871

THO Coming Legislature aad the New


York Csty Charter.


The recent election has so completely revo-
lutionized the political character of the State,
and has given the republicans such a decided
majority in both branches of the Legislature,
TINT some apprehension has been felt lest the
party in power should pervert the judgment
rendered by the people of the city of New
York, and study partisan interests rather than
substantial reform in the construction Of the
new municipal charter. Our citizsns are well
satisfied with the result reached at the
polls last week, and would, no doubt,
make their verdict even more emphatic
had they the work to do over again. They
are willing to trust those to whom they have
assigned the duty of carrying into effect the
reformation of our city government, and they
will give their confdenc, to such officers as
may be placed in power under the new regime.
But they will nevertheless insist that the new
administration shall be one to recommend
itself to all sincere reformers, and not q mere
change from one set Of professional politicians
to another. Tie republican State organ at
Albany throws out some sensible suggestions
in this direction in an article which
will be found in the HERALD to-day.
1t insists that the new charter must be strictly
non-partsan in its character, and must leave
to the people Of New York the choice Of their
own rulers. This is no doubt intended to check
the efforts already being made by some repub-
lican ofice-seekers to induce the Legislature
to retarn to the old and corrupt system of
independent metropolitan commissions-an
experiment that has been one of the main
ernment. Any such attempt at this time
would arouse storm of indignation and
react injuriously upon the party making
it. The Albany organ proposes just
such q charter as the HERALD has
advocated for the past ten or twelve years;
simple in form, with concentrated power
direct responsibility Of the Chief Executive to
the people for the good conduct Of every
department. and frequent elections, so as TO
give the citizens the opportunity to change
the Mayor whenever the necessity arises, and
through him to reach the whole machinery of
the government: i suggests that there
should be as few independent wheels as
possible in the government; that the expend-
ture of money should be strictly guarded
that the heavily feed Offices, such as
Sheriff. County Clerk and Register, should
be cut down to fair salaries, as we have time
and again urged and that the tax levy should
be left to local adjustment and not taken to
Albany session after session. This latter re-
form is already secured in the existing
charter. 1t is encouraging, however, to see
an Albany paper, whose original proprietor
was the father OF legislative debau cherry, and
which has been one Of the most useful allies
of the NV York ''Ring" in it's repeated
bribery of the Legislature, advocating the re-
moval of this prolific source of corruption and
plunder beyond the reach Of it's friends.


Whatever may be- done at the State
capital this winter in regard to our city gov
ernment should meet the approval Of those
democrats who have been prominent in the
cause Of reform-Charles O'Conor, Samuel J.
Tilden, Andrew H. Green, Henry G. Stebbins
and others. By this means the people will be
assured that the new charter is not of par
tisan character and is such as the honest re-
formers Of the city contemplated when they
made their voices heard through the ballot
box. The work should be done deliberately
and thoroughly. There will be no occasion to
hurry oyer law that should be made to stand
for years. An immediate change in the gov
ernment is no doubt the wish Of our citizens,
and this can be accomplished by amendments
to the present charter, which may take effect
Immediately, without the trouble and excite
ment of spring election. The new Board Of
Aldermen will, beyond question, assume
power at once, either through the action of
the courts or by authority Of the Legislature,
and, it is to be hoped, with John Coch-
rane for President of the Board. The
terms of all the present city officials can
then be closed by simple amendment, and
the city government be left until next year in
the hands of the acting Mayor. The people
will be satisfied to entrust the administration
of their affairs to John Cochrane, whose hon.
esty and capacity are we'll established, and
the important work of framing new charter
and new election law can then be proceeded
with deliberately and perfected before the
close OF the legislative session.





THE SOUTH .'HEApINa Goals OF FIRE
UpoN THE HEADS OF It's ENEMIES. Tho
Brandon (Miss.) Republican regards tho late
conflagrations in Chicago and the Western