The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-22
THE COMING CHARTER.
Discussion Upon It in the Joint Committee on
Cities Of the Legislature To-Day-views
Of New York Members in Brief

Committee on Cities OF the two houses OF the
Legislature tomorrow. The document was pub
lished complete In the HERALD several days
ago, and has been in nOwise altered or
amended since it was referred to the Com
mite on Cities. 1t proposes to make more radt-
cal change in our system OF city government than
has been known since our city affairs became leg
isatve business, ana 1t is therefore subject that
our people should be thoroughly informed upon. In
advance OF
THE ARGUMENTS AND PROPOSITIONS
likely to be presented to-day in the JOINT commit
tee canvass of the New York members OF the two
houses upon the subject gives the following re-
suit
The Senators.
SENATOR wEISMANN
from the Sixth district republican introduced
the charter In the Senate, ana unqualifedly COM
mends all Its provisions. He Is willing. however.
to accept judicious amendments.
SENATOR TIEMANN
rom the Eighth district, Is democrat and has in
troduced charter OF his own. which proposes to
abolish commissions generally, and restore to the
city Its almost forgotten privilege Of self-g0vern-
ment. He is satisfied with some OF the minor pro-
visions Of the charter, but objects to its genera
principles.
SENATOR BENEDICT,
HoW tuc rHJH ulStTiCt, ID ICpuDiiCau anu HAS HOC
yet formed an opinion upon the subject. He wants
to hear the argument before he decides.
SENATOR O'BRIEN,
from the Seventh, Is an Apollo Hall democrat, and
says that II the charter means reform OF Tammany
misrue he will favor 1t.
The Assemblymen.
republican, from the Ninth district, thinks
many improvements might be made In the
new charter, and proposes himself to offer some
amendments when 1t comes up for discussion.
There ought to be two Boards OF Aldermen for in
stance, and ~ have one thing" said he, "that
must get In"
MIR. orpYKE,
republican, from the Twentieth district, thinks
that the charter Is an improvement on the present
system, and holds that 1t should be more reform
and less republican. In other words, there ought
not to be strictly partisan charter where munich
pal reform for citizens OF all politics is intended
AS the case stands at present he hopes the charter
Will be thoroughly discussed and amended.
from the Eighteenth district, is strict republican
of the order OF the Custom House and sees nothing
but o highly desirable party measure In the pro-
cratic citizens throughout New York must, by the
ruling OF the last election, be subordinate to the
wishes and needs Of the republican party, He is
anxious to have the charter discussed and
amended II the majority think 1t necessary, but on
party principles he favOrs 1t.
Mr. BLACKIE, FROM THE FIFTKENTH DISTRICT,
Is rather q republican than ref0rmer. He, too, is
daubed with the Custom House brush and looks
upon Custom House government in New YORK
city as the only safety OF the municipality.
MIR. CLARKE, FROM THE SEVENTH DISTRICT,
Is for the charter because 1t is republican and
means reform.
MR. PATTERSON, FROM THE TENTH DISTRICT,
is OF the same way OF reasoning.
MR. WOODS FROM THE SIXTEENTH DISTRICT
is democrat and rejects the charter entirely. He
believes IN Senator I1cmaun'S PROPOSITION.
Mr. BLUMENTHAL
reform democrat endorsed by the Committee OF
Seventy, from the Fifteenth district, states that
he Is not In favor OF the republican charter in its
present shape. he says he is not OPP
p tSss was prepared BY TepuS'icans spp1mh he
does not believe in the idea OF legislating
partially in charter, and II clean sweep is to be
made OF the present heads of departments he
thinks no person should be made an exception.
He says that he wants the Mayor to have the
power OF absolute appointment and removal, with.
out consent of the Board OF Aldermen or OF any
other board or authority whatever.
democrat, who halls nom the Second district, is
strongly opposed to the charter amendments. He
says that the Mayor should be given the exclusive
power st appointment and removal He wants all
the responsibility to be centred in one man. and
then he believes the people can tell who they can
blame or praise, as the case may be. He says that
during the palmy DAYS OF Tammany the great cry
OF the reiOrmers was Capitalization OF power and
now that they have the 'grip' to try the expert
ment by in New York ne is willing to give them all
Mr.. COOK, DEMOCRAT, FROM THE TWELFTH DIS
TRICT,
He says that 1t aims too much at the accomplish
ment of the schemes OF political clique. He be-
lieves that IL we are to do everything under the re-
form banner New York should not be dealt with
in a nlggardy way. He Is ready to go for charter
that looks to the welfare Of the people and the fact
that New York is democratic city. While rec0g-
nizng the force OF the argument that to the victor
belongs the spOs he contends that the minority
should have some representation. He is In favor,
also, OF giving the absolute power OF appointment
and removal to the Mayor.
MR.. BLESSING,
democrat, from the Seventeenth district believes
the charter to be too much Of good thing for the
republicans He Ii willing that the Mayor should
have full power to appoint and remove at will
or Tor good cause all the heads OF departments.
He decries the idea OF trying to make reform the
hobby for partisan triumph, and claims that the
charter, as it stands IN MS opinion, Is nothing
upon democratic city an army OF officials repug-
nant to their wishes and who have little, II any,
regard for their rights whenever they interfere
with their plans OF ACKNOWLEDGMENT.
MR.. HEALEY.
Mr.. Healey was elected last year from the First
district on the reform Ticket In opposition to the
regular Tammany candidate. At the last election
he was elected as the Tammany candidate Mr..
states as the 70
because the repa,0ucans cans. have got into into
New York city is look at the last election as you
will, overwhelmingly democratic. In case OF a
direct light between tne TWO parties On any Dill ne
saws he will be always the side of his own party
aud is dead against the charter ted, because
1t Is partisan.
MR.. HAYES,
democrat from the Third district, will he SAYS,
stand firm at all hazard to the party. He will vote
for any good charter that Will be brought up, but
as the Custom House charter attempts to override
democrats In every way and place the city under
the control Of the republicans no viii op.
pose 1t stoutly. He believes that the best
policy the majority should follow would be
to concIliate the democrats, not to foolisnly at
tempt to fix things as to crush them out o! every
department Of the government. Mr.. Hayes con-
tends that all he asks for Is that New York city
should have fair show, that her welfare In every
respect rather than the benet OF any one party or
faction Of party should be the first consideration.
In case the republicans act hOnOrably he believes
they will have trouble In the matter OF getting
good charter through but he says that he, like
every other good democrat, will fight the Custom
House charter in its present shape against all odds
and Inducements.
TIMOTHY CAMPBELL,
democrat, from the Sixth district, holds the same
views az Mr.. Hayes. He says he Is going In for
genuine reform this session. and wants none OF the
shilly shally stun called reform which he heard so
uuch abolt last wear. Az to the charter he Will