Year: 1871

lho aDsorpius quoetion W the people OF this
city just now is the proposed creation of .
new municipal government The Legislature
of the State is on the eve of meeting. and
every one expects that body will abolish the
existing city government and frame a new
one. That is foregone conclusion. Hence,
a new charter is the principal theme of dis
cussion in the press. Our citizens generally
are deeply interested also. The self-consti-
tuted Committee Of Seventy, too, are moving
in the matter, and have gone 80 far as to an
ticipate the work Of the Legislature by sub
mitting charter ready for adoption. This
agitation and these movements are all very
well, for they bring the subject prominently
before the public; but there is danger of run
ming into confusion, complications and delay
through this multitude Of counsellors. AS the
old saying goes, ''too many cooks spoil the
BROTH" However, this question is of great
Importance and should be fully discussed.


The Committee of Seventy, as we'll az
some others who have proposed plan OF
municipal government, lose sight of that first
and fundamental principle Of all good and
effective governments simplicity. Their
scheme is too complex, unwieldy, lacks tho
proper central authority and creates too many
officials. The proposed revival of numerous
commissions, with far too many commissioners
in each, looks like q renewal of the old and
expensive system of providing snug places
for place-hunters. If the patriotism, wealth
and high standing Of the members
of the Committee Of Seventy did not
preclude the thought that they want to
create Offices for themselves or their friends,
we should think that they had an axe to
grind in proposing so many commissions and
or two or three at most, over department.
would be enough, and would prove more eff
cient than the five or more which this commit
tee has provided for in the charter it has con-
cocted. We have had enough of placemen jobs.
Let us cut them all of, and thus simplify the
machinery of government and prevent an un.
necessary expenditure of money.


A charter for this great metropolis should
unite all the suburbs with the city proper
under one general government. Brooklyn,
Williamsburg and the other adjoining places
are really part of the metropolis. portion
of the population have their business on Man
haitian Island, and all are interested in ono
way or another in the city. II is one cOmmu-
nifty, jnst as much as the people of the city OF
London, Westminster, Southwark, Finsbury
and other divisions of the British metropolis
are comprised in what is generally known as
I 1~c;I nd
the course Of few years there will be the
Brooklyn Bridge and other bridges, with rail
roads across them, to make the connection
closer. Lot the Legislature, then. make
charter with grand conception Of the wants,
interests and future Of our great metropolis.
Let it not make patchwork charter-one for
temporary expediency or for political ends
but one that will stand and meet the growth
and future necessities Of the whole metropoli-
tan area.


Above all, let the people govern themselves in
all things through their elected officers without
any interference of State authority. That is in
accordance with republican government and il
the bulwark of freedom. Nothing short OF
that will satisfy the people, prevent corruption.
or can last. The million and half of people
embraced in the metropolitan area are a State
within themselves as to population. And in
wealth, intelligence, power and commercial
Importance, what State can be compared to
this metropolis? To govern this city in part.
indirectly or in any way by the rural districts,
would be an outrage and monstrous anomaly
under our republican institutions. That out
rageous system has been tried, and deservedly
failed. Complete local self-government is
only possible, and we hope the Legislature will
understand this fact.


The Mayor Of the city should be the supreme
authority, aud all the departments should be
subject to him. The complicated plan OF
checks and balances proposed by the Com
mittee Of Seventy would tend to create con-
fusion, make the government weak and open
the door to conflicts and corruption. Proper
checks are necessary, no doubt, but they can
be framed without impairing the efficiency
of the Chief Executive. Divided re-
sponsibity must lead, as it has led in the
present city government, to great evils. BY
giving the Mayor power over all the depart
ments the citizens aud Courts will know
who Is accountable and where the RESPONSE
bility lies. The Mayor could be placed under .
heavy bonds for the proper performance Of
his duty and be subject to impeachment.
There would be no difficulty in holding him
to strict accountability, at the same time
that he might be invested with ample power
over the different departments of the city gov
With such provisions in the charter
there would be no necessity to elect Mayor
every year. A term Of Office for three or four
years would be better than for one year. The
incumbent would become more familiar with
his duties, would perform them more efficiently,
and would be more likely TO study the in