Year: 1873

The new Charter for this city mas Deeh re-
| ported by the Assembly Committee on Cities
| in much the same form as heretofore agreed
| upon by the CustOm-house Republicans and
the Sub Committee of the Seventy. 1t Will
| be remembered that this Subcommittee was
self-appointed, and only Custom-house Repub-
| lcans composed it; hence it was not difficult
to make it appear at the first that the Re
formers and the Custom-house were agreed
upon the measure. But it was soon
discovered that the Seventy were mis-
represented; that they did not indorse the
partisan schemes which were only half con-
ceaed in the roundabout phrases by which
the new Charter was made to read differently
from the Ring Charter on which it was mod
eled, while providing, substantially, for the
same sort of rule. The subsequent opposition
of the Committee of Seventy and the repudia-
ton of its Subcommittee have had no effect.
The Charter goes to the Legislature un-
changed except in certain clauses neces-
sary to the transfer of all municipal
power to the Custom-house, 1t is Mr..
Tweed's Charter STILL save that the real
Boss" with greater sagacity than ever
| Tweed possessed, sits behind the throne and
moves his plant puppets in the foreground.
| The old Charter has served well enough since
| Tweed's deposal, in honest hands we see no
good reason why the new Charter may not
provide practical and economical machinery
of government, if honestly administered
but in the hands of n Ring suspected
of being as INSCRIPTIONS as the o.d
one, it may become an instrument OF
greater oppression, the excuse for greater
outrages, and the means for committing more
monstrous robberies. We have before warned
the people of this city of the formation and
growthlof this Ring the passage of this. Char
ter establishes it absolutely; there is little
protection left us against it, for the men put
in power by the real reformers will be dis
missed or rendered helpless and there is no
security remaining but eternal vigilance and the
closest scrutiny of the character and accounts of
every Offce-hOlder to be appointed under it.


The legislating out of existence of the Board
of Assistant Aldermen is a fair measure for
bad purpose. If it were not done solely
to deprive the Mayor of his power it
might be commendable for the class of
men elected to this Office are generally igno-
rant and almost invariably corrupt Ward
politicians of the least experience and the
meanest regulations, they represent con-
stituencies of the worst class; for it gene
rally happens that in these minor elections
of small districts the most popular bar-roOm
characters carry the day and secure elections.
The Board of Assistant Aldermen of this city
has not been for many years the slightest pro-
lection to the city's interest it has been always
a severe tax on the public funds and a stand
ing scandal on the city's fair fame. We con-
fess we are not sorry to see it abolished on
any terms.


We have never had such a provision as the
election of the Aldermen in sets of five as
now proposed, thus giving us annually fresh
representation of one-third of the whole body;
and it cannot be foreseen how it will work.
But in view of the frequent changes in mu-
nicpal politics and purposes it is measure
which ought to result benefcially. Every
change in political opinion, as well as every
alteration in municipal plans, will thus find
expression each year, and thus the whole
Board will be annually instructed as to public
opinion by the election of one-third of
its members. Apparently this is con-
cession of the Custom-house to the
Reformers, but it looks a fairer prom
Use than we fear it will really prove.
Since the first election under this system is
not to take place forlnearly two years, there is
time left to consolidate the new Ring in power
before the people can have another hearing;
and as the present Board is largely III the
Custom house interest, the relief which comes
two years hence will avail little. The Testric-
tions of the powers of Aldermen to act as
magistrates, impose taxes, pledge the public
credit, hold secret sessions, etc., are well
enough, and we are glad to have them; but
they are alluring, not substantial, bait thrown
TO the Reformers in the hope of satisfying
them.


One of the worst features of the Chatter is
the failure to give us Spring elections The
municipal elections are to take place in No
yember. when the State officers are voted for,
and thus municipal interests are to be
seriously affected by State politics. 1t is bad
enough that the municipality is governed in
the Legislature by the rural districts, whose
representatives neither comprehend nor care
lot for the peculiar interests of the metropolis.
But when in addition the officers of the city
are selected with view to the exigencies of
political party of the whole State, inefiicency
and intrigue, if not indeed corruption, are in
separable results.


of course, as we have pointed out before,
the great fault of the Charter is its robbery
of the Mayors legitimate power This is a
shameless breach of faith with the Reformers.
Last Fall the Custom-hOuse leaders postponed
and DELAYED their nomination of Mayor. and