更多立法修补。

更多立法修补。

法案是在奥尔巴尼大会之前修改纽约市的宪章。几乎是时候我们有了新的宪章了 - 我们已经三到四年没有一本宪章了，而我们已经变得非常磨损了。毫无疑问，在城市事务管理方面有很多改革的机会，但是应通过经验来提出这种改革，并通过情报成熟。这些特征在我们城市宪章的所有拟议更改中都找不到。关于消防部门，显然提出的变化不是关于消防事务经验的人的建议，它的实质性不协调和详细缺陷。它规定，消防部门应由四名专员组成，他们应选举总统担任该部门负责人。董事会应为无党派，每一方从每一方获取两党，薪水为4000美元，每个人担任五年。现任专员的任期应在其办公室到期时终止。消防局附属了建筑和建筑局，由专员任命为4000美元的律师。以下工资是固定的：该部长，3500美元； Assistant Chief, $2000; Chiefs of Battalions, each, $1500; Inspector of Combustibles, $1500; Surveyor, $1200; Oil Surveyor, $1200; Chief Clerks of the Bureau of Combustibles, each, Si 500; Clerks, each, $i200; Oil Collectors, each, $8oo; Janitor, $200 ; Fire Marshal, $2000; First Assistant, $1400; Second Assistants, each, $800; Clerks, each, $1000; Foreman, SHOO; Assistant Foreman. $1000; Engineers, each, $1200; Assistants, $1000; Firemen, $800.

The proposition for a non-partisan Board of Commissioners is excellent, only it is impracticable. Instead of selecting non-partisans for Commissioners, the rule has been, in other Departments, to select two violent Republicans and two “ red-hot ” Democrats, all of the most partisan nature. In the Police Board, this has led to interminable quarrels, the demoralization of the force, the disgrace of the city, and of the Commissioners individually. So long as mere politicians are appointed to office, a non-partisan Board is an impossibility. The representatives of the opposing parties get together, and, without abating anything of their political hostility, agree to divide the spoils of office as nearly even as possible, and then each watches for an opportunity to get the best of the bargain. If there is to be any change in the Board, we hope men may be selected who have some knowledge of the requirements of the service, and whose political affiliations have not been of a character to bring them into prominence. If, however, partisans are to be selected, the addition of one Republican to those now in office will give the city as efficient a Board of Fire Commissioners as it is ever likely to have. The present incumbents have all been Firemen, are familiar with their duties and with the Department, and, if they were not all active politicians, could scarcely be improved upon.