Year: 1871

Of Municipal Reform.


One Of the most important duties that the
incoming State Legislature will be called upon
to perform Will be the creation of new mu-
nicipal charter for the city of New York. Va
rious political interests are at the present
moment at work framing the details OF this
law with view to their own particular OBJ
Jects, and 1t is evident that partisan schemes
will be the great danger against which our
representatives, il honestly disposed in the
matter, will have to provide. Already the
jealousies and conflicting aims of adverse fac
tions begin to make themselves apparent in
the snarlings and chickering's of the political
press, and enough Is foreshadowed to indicate
q severe struggle at Albany over the spoils of
the city government. A movement Is on foot
on the part of the administration republicans
| to fassen series of State commissions on the
city with view to making Collector MUIR
ply the President of the Board Of Metro
politan Police, with supreme power over that
important arm of the city government; while
the German democrats, who took prominent
share in the recent political revolution, are
promptly declaring against such policy and
denouncing its partisan character. The re-
form democracy are quietly playing their own
game aud seeking to make such combinations
as will be likely to secure to them the control
Of the municipal government whenever char
ter election may take place, while portion of
the old Tammany leaders, not yet abandoning
hope, are making an effort to regain some
share Of power by secret alliances with those
to whose action they mainly owe their late de-
feat.


The people of New York have little share
or interest in these squabblings, plotsings and
bargainings Of political factions. They care
nothing whether this disappointed republican
led of in the crusade against official corrup-
ton, or whether that dissatisfied democrat
joined the reform movement in the first or the
eleventh hour. The German democratic
organ may accuse the republican Custom
| House organ Of partisan and selfish objects
in its forcible raid upon the public peculators,
and the assailed party may retort by question
ing the honesty Of the reform professions of
Messrs. Ottendorfer, Tilden and others of
a like political complexion. But the people
know that their own determination to effect a
| change in the city administration, and their
own efficient action at the ballot box, secured
the result that was reached on the day of
election, Independent OF the politicians of
either side; and they do not intend that the
revolution they then made shall be suffered to
60 backwards. They are contented to entrust
those who have been called to power with
the duty of reforming and recognizing the
government of the city Of New York, and they
are Indifferent as to the exact shape the rcfor-
nation may for the moment take. With such
a man as John Cochrane at the head of the
Board of Aldermen they would be willing
that the active duties of the Chief Magistrate
of the city should be confded to that officer
for the next year. Should it be thought
expedient to appoint q Mayor until 1873,
instead Of holding q charter election
in the coming spring, there will be
no objection to entrusting Comptroller Green,
Park Commissioner Stcbbins and Register
Sigel with the selection, under the provision
Of article ten, section two, OF the State coasti-
tuition, which provides that ''all city, town
and village officers whose election or appoint
1
shall be elected by the electors Of such cities,
towns and villages, or of some division thereof,
or appointed by such authorities thereof as
the Legislature shall designate for such pur-
pose" This temporary bridging over Of the
difficulties in which the city has become in
volved will excite little opposition or comment
except from interested parties but the work
of framing charter under which the people
of New York are to live for years to come and
on the wise provisions of which they are to
depend for their protection against such ras-
calities as have been hitherto practised upon
them must be undertaken by the Legislature
in good faith, and be perfected Independent of
the influence Of political cliques and with
view singly to the interests of the city.


Some wise and honest citizens are at the
present moment engaged in the preparation of
the details Of new charter, aud the result Of
their labors will no doubt be very different from
those arrived at by the politicians. A sub
division OF the Committee OF Seventy is invit-
ing the advice and cooperation Of all the lead
ing reformers, whose familiarity with city
affairs entities their judgment to consideration,
to submit 10 it their views and suggestions
on this important subject, and the Legi stature
can scarcely avoid adopting the main features
of such law as this body may prepare. 1t
is scarcely probable that the republican ma
jority will use its power to return to the rot
ten system Of State-created commissions, by
the corrupting influence of which all onr re-
cent official frauds and peculations were fos-
tered The people would rise against such an
| abuse of the reform movement and overthrow
the partisan work at the earliest opportunity.
Outside of this the citizens of New York will
he indifferent to the details of The charter Dro-