New-York tribune., 1873-03-04

| PROVISIONS.
| fBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBUsgi
| Are.NY March at was the expectation lass
Friday that the Charter would be pushed through
the Senate this week and be- In the hands Of the Gov
ernor by Saturday The prospect now is that no ae.
tion will be taken on it by the Senate this week and
il il even doubtful whether the Committee on Cite.
will he able TO report it. The committee appointed
by the mass meeting at Cooper Institute befors
| the Senate Committee on Cities this afternoon and
without much difficulty secured further hearing
for Wednesday afternoon. Prof. Dwight, Dounaa
B. Eaton, Gov. salomon, Howard Potter Henry
| NicoI Jackson s. Schultz, John Wheeler, aud Ere.
man J. Fithian appeared in behalf Of the Com
! mttee of Seventy. and Dexter A. Hawkins ia
| behalf of the Council Of Political Reform
All the members Of the Senate Committee were pres
| ent except Mr.. Woodn, the Chairman. In his sb
| sence 4. s. Commissioner Davenport occupied seat
with the Committee The Charter ss amended 10
! the Assembly was printed and distributed tO-day
but only eight spare copies were issued for distbs
tion by the Senate, and it was not without much
dificultv that Prof Dwight and Mr. Eaton could
get hold of one The representatives Of tho reform
| movement made the excellont points tha.
numerous and important changes had been
] made in the Charter that great alteration
had been made nithe method OF appointing heads Of
| Departments and that it was reasonable and proper
that they should have week in which to examine
the bill in its present shape Mr. Davenport, who
appeared to have taken charge Of the Committee
! Cities said that the plan of appointment how
bodied in the bill had been before the public nearly
| a week and that Pref. Dwight and Others had dis
cussed it at the mass meeting Mr.. Palmer moved
| to hear Prof. Dwight now, and to consider the 70
quest for further hearing afterward.
| Prof Dwight then mi1e an earnest argument
| % he.
objected specifically to the provision that man
might be nominated by writing signed by eigh,
! Aldermen without the other seven being consulted
at all This is part Of the new 25th sectionl Thn
was creating junta cabal, and was device
from which anything but good government was TO
| be expected. The Department of Public Works va
too vast machine TO be put under the control Of
| single man. What reason could they give fd
making a commission for the Police Fire, and Park
| Departments and giving this great power 10 one
individuals He saw abundant opportunities for sin
| ecure Offices under the Commissioners. The Con
troller should be given a general supervisory
power. 80 that he might not be forced to
pay men who did no work. He asked for spring
elections arguing that the American people would
rarely occupy themselves with two great issues at
once, and If the municipal elections were held IN the
Fall local issues would be swallowed up. Hs
|
party expediency, since members of the Assembly
had justified their support of it on party consdera
tions. Both Gov. Salomon and Prof Dwight were
very effective in expressing the criminal folly Of
prostituting the Reform movement to partisan pur.
poses" to quote an expression used by the former.
After Prof. Dwight had concluded, Mr.. Davenport
called attention to omission IN the printed bn OF
an amendment by which the salary of the Supern-
tendent of Police was limited to $4,000.
Ex-Gov Salomon began his remarks by insisting
on an opportunity to examine the Charter carefully
He clearly pointed out that Republicans the party
now in power had won no victory In New-iofk.
The Reform movement which had been sustaineaUy Uy
both Republicans and Democrats was essentially
non-partisan Had it not been for that movement OF
Republicans and Democrats abandoning party lines
there were gentlemen sitting on the COMMITTEES
who could never have been elected lreferrins
to Messrs. Benedict and Weismannl The Re-
formers had given their strength largely to
Republicans, because they believed the Re
publican party could be trusted TO deal honorably
with Them He showed that as politicians the
Republican Senator'S would commit grave mistake
if they persisted in their present purpose. The
Germans who had deserted the Democratic party IN
large numbers, and entered with zeal into the move
ment for purifying the City Government, would be
repeled and the confidence thus forfeited could not
Jackson S. Schultz argued against continuing 20
much power in the hands of the Commissioners OF
Public Works and in favor of Finance Depart
mept under the control Of three or five Commission
ers uniting the functions of the Controller and Tax
Commissioner.
Mr. Eaton began by remarkng that he thought
even verbal criticism of such bill this Of vast
Importance To this Mr.. Benedict who il the only
Senator OF the six present who is at heart in favor OF
the bill, eagerly assented, but he was somewhat
abashed when Mr.. Eaton Immediately alleged thus
as a reason why more time should be accorded ie
opponents for studying its provisions. Mr. Eaons
strongest point was made against the Board OF Ap
| portionment The power vested in the four Officials
who are to compose he regarded most dangerous
The legislative power, according TO all English pre-
cedent, should have some control over the
finances, should at all events debate tha
tax levy. Citizens also should have the
| privilege Of appearing before the Board oil
| Apportionment and making objections. provision
which was incorporated into the charter of the
Committee of Seventy, that any five citizens might
bring the delinquency of officials TO the attention. Of
| tigation, had been omitted He regarded IL ss
most important safeguard Mr.. Eaton was makias
other suggestions of practical character when the
adjournment took place. Mr.. Benedict was IN fayd
of closing the hearing finally on Wednesday, butwx
| voted down, every other member present concediS
| the right of the Reformers to be heard fully.
l. THE LEGISLATURE, >.r"
| LAST EVENINGS SESSION IN SENATE AND As-