New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-01-31
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.

CONTROLLER KRLLY's OPINIONS CONCERNING THEM.
Controller Kelly has answered at great
length the letter OF Charles s. Smith and Others tine Com
mltee of the NewYork Municipal Society, asking IL
supports the constitutional amendments, what sections
he thinks Objectionable and what notifications presery.
ing the spirit OF the amendments, can be made. Mr.
Rey's moro important points touched upon in the
following outline:
Admitting the great evils Of wasteful expenditures
enormous public debt and burdensone taxation, the
Controller that he cannot admit the conclusion
that impctes them primarily single carse, the exer
else of the right suffrage b. all the people in the adj
ministraton OF municipal government. lie holds
that the plan of electing by limited suffrage OF tax
payers a Board OF Finance to act as an in
dependent and foreign body in city affairs cannot
and would not correct the evils complained Of Such
thing finds no support the established principles of POD
uar government. Class distinctions are utterly repug
naDt spirit Or American Institutions and i
trOduce property qualification would be. In his Judgment
perncious and dangerous innovation, and not insure
the election OF honest faithful officers certainly
than universal suffrage. The receptions and cOmbna.
tons OF greedy aspIrants for power can be made with
as great greater facility with limited suffrage.
To The views OF The commission TO the mischief Of
legislative control Of local affairs. Mr. Kelly heartily
assents but he objects 10 the properly qualification as
giving the taxpayer double vote and The poor man
but one and involving an expensive system 0f regis
traton He compares the proposed Board Of Finance 20
the Venetian Council Of Ten and the registry Of taxable
voters TO the Golden Book" OF the Republic OF Venice
The amendment 10 section 90 OF The present COnstt-
to deprive the Aldermen OF the power OF making con.
tracts, procuring supplies creatng auditing or allow
ing county charges these powers being conferred the
Board Finance. The powers OF contracting debt and
OF auditing bills generally divided. Here they
be united yet the discarded dual system OF govern
nent is 70 Oc revived and virtually the Old Board Of
Supervisors, with more dangerous powers Is to he
stated.
Controller Kelly also objects TO separate charter cleo
TONS claiming that experience has Shown that adj
vantage gained by them, and they additional
expense and diversion from business The theory Of d.
yOrclng state and national from municipal politics Is he
asserts, an inter fallacy and dclGsiOn. $50
He however, approves sections ), 3, 10 AID III forbid
ding any expenditures without previous appropriations,
forbilding LEGISLATION for local improvements without
the concurrence the city government, Limiting tue
borrowing powers OF cities AID preventing the Leglsa-
ure from authorizing the increase Of city debt except by
two-ihirts vote of both houses, ana preventing the
interference Of the Legislature III the government OF
cities ept upon the Application VI the CITY authorities
he quotes al length from Governor RoDnsons Message
relative 10 city governments, heartily approving his
views.
As to the third question ho refers the committee TO
the opinion OF Henry H. Anderson rs 10 the right -
amend the proposed amendments to the Constitution, Ia
when Mr. Anderson takes tEe ground tnat tue second
Legislature, before which Constitutional amendment
comes can only verbally amend reject any section OF
the amendment passed by the previous Legislature, and
cannot alter a section substance either ~ additions
OF str king out portions.