The Mayor's Appointing In most cities the people elect a few heads of the city departments; in other cities some officers are appointed by the council; and in isolated cases important city officials may be appointed by the State executive or by the higher State courts. But in the majority of cities the mayor appoints the departmental heads, subject to the approval of the council or board of aldermen; sometimes, as in New York city, Denver and San Fran cisco, these appointments need not be confirmed by any municipal or State authority, but in a few cases, as in Boston, such appointments, to be effective, must be approved by a State civil service commission. Recently the system of council confirmation has been viewed with dis favor and the latest city charters omit the con firmation feature. See APPOINTMENTS, FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL.
Miscellaneous Functions.—As regards mu nicipal finance, the mayor's powers have been largely increased; the preparation of the city budget, which formerly was under the super vision of the council, has been transferred to the city executive owing, in a large measure, to the inordinate amount of logrolling in which the councilmen indulge. In some cities, like
New York, the preparation of the budget and the determining of the tax rate are supervised by the board of estimate and apportionment and in other cities, like Boston, the mayor has direct charge. of the work, but in all cases the city executive is deprived of the power of making appropriations, this being vested in the council, which, under certain restrictions, may also in crease or reduce the various items. (See Bun Ger Strsram, AMERICAN). Some charters em power the mayor to obtain reports from city officials at stated intervals, to inspect accounts and to conduct investigations; and some re quire the mayor's approval to validate contracts. In a few cities, when necessary, the militia may be called out by the mayor and in some cities persons convicted and fined in municipal courts may be pardoned by the mayor and he may also remit their fines. See Caws, AMERICAN, Gov