New-York tribune., 1873-03-06
THE ARGUMENTS.
KINS MAKES SOME REVELATIONS TX
MAYOR OPDYKE ON THE DEFENSIVE.

VIEWS OF DORMAN b. EATON-DEXTER A. HAw-
KINS MAKES SOME REVELATIONS TX
MAYOR OPDYKE ON THE DEFENSIVE.
GENERAL PRESS DIsPATCHI
ALBANY March 5.-The Senate Committee on
Cities held session to-day the New-York Charter.
James ErnOtt of the Committee OF Seventy first ad-
dressed the Committee He objected TO the restricted
given TO the Mayor saying he made but little
better than an ornamental dummy. The Board Of Al
dermen would to be created merely TO make the
heads Of the departments, and effect execu-
tive instead Of legislative body He thought the Board
clothed with the power which should properly
reside In conclusion, he cautioned the Republican
party not TO make partisan Charter, but one that
would commend itself to the whole Of the people.
Dorman b. Eaton, also OF the Committee OF Seventy,
followed He said he almost prepared TO say he
would have Charter enacted the one lpro
posed, unless the materially amended. He
then proceeded 10 examine the Charter section by
ton pointing out Inconsistencies as well as i'm
practicable provisions, showing that the Charter could
not be made 70 answer the purpose aimed at. Among
other things he thought there should be examination
all clerks in the departments TO their habits and
qualifications. He thought this very essential Another
point made that the Charter did not require that
the examination Of charges against policemen should be
public. This he regarded q great oversight. He
IN favor Of having all these examinations made In pub
lie The Charter also provides all the persons in
public departments shall be paid greater salaries
than are now paid. He said he would venture TO say
that three-fourths OF the officials paid more
than they are entitled to- or attempting TO force
the Controller TO pay them excessive amounts.
He would amend this clause by making 1t read mot
than they now legally paid" He also claimed
that all pay-ros should be open 10 public inspection at
al tunes. These pay-ros very important, and If
his party which the Republican party, ever just
before election, increased the payrolls-a thing
which had been done by party he did not like well
as the Republican party-then he hoped that party
defeated so
watermeter provision aud wanted whatever was done
IN the matter 10 be subject 10 the approval OF the Board
VI Apporuonment He suggested an amendment BRO
hoiting assessment upon officials clerks for po-
htiea purposes. The Committee took recess till 73O
D. M. before Mr. Eaton concluded.
The Committee reassembed at "a p. m, and Mr. Eaton
resumed his address He continued TO point out further
deficiencies In the bin, showing where II was loosely
drawn and insufficient. Among other changes he wanted
20 strike out the privilege given The Oiy Record to
insert other than official advertisements He also uro
posed an amendment concerning the estimates OF the
Board OF AppOrtonment requiring that before such es
Inmates shall become final they shall be published in
The Cdy Record and otherwise have full publicity given
them, thus giving the citizens al opportunity 10 be
beard upon them
ne sad these estimates would aggregate t20OOOOOO or
s"" and yet this bill allows this Board 70 meet by
tnenseNes IN private and dispose OF this vast sum OF
money according to their views and ideas He also
wsneo 10 associate the Chief Justice of the Court of
common fieas W'th The officer OF the Law Department
an matters requiring the employment of counsel He
did not want this ocer Of the Law Department 10 have
the temptation before hn OF giving fat sops" to mem.
bers OF his profession through favortsm or for o,he
He proposed 70 strike ont the provision for
submitting the Charter to a vote Of the people He re-
sarded this proposition as unwise
The Charter altogether too complicated 10 submit
d 10 q popular VOTE besides 1t pernicious prin
etple. You might well submit 10 the people for
approval ali laws passed by the Legislature. He urged
ths organization OF board Of finance and spoke Of
importance OF this Department 80, also, he was op
posed 70 placing the Department Of Public Works In the
hands OF one He proposed this TO have non
partisan boards and have each party represented in
ssem He spoke at some length Of the vast power put