New-York tribune., 1878-12-21
CHARTER REFORM.

MEASURE THAT is PROPOSED BY MEMBER OF
THE LATE CONSTITUTIONAL CoMMIssION-AN Al
TEMPT TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF MUNICIPAL
GOVERNMENT.
[FRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUSE.I
ALBANY, Dec. 15.-The following amend
mend 10 the Constitution is suggested by member OF
the late Constitutional Commission who has given much
attention 10 subjects. AT your correspondents re-
quest he furnished copy for publication In THE TRIB
USs. 10 will be seen that the amendment leaves TO
the discretion of the Legislature the details Of
each city charter except as TO few leading principles
necessary good government 1t also secures TO the
people OF a exclusive control their local affairs
The leading safeguard is the power placed in the hands
OF the Mayor who the representative Of all the peo
pe to veto items OF taxation, expenditure debt This
Is power OF restraint upon the Common Council CORE
spending the restraining OF that body over
ccutive appointments. limit 10 tie amount OF taxa
tion for local purposes probably be found. which
will be neither too rigid nor too liberal.
The restraints upon the debtmaking power are four
in number. First-The aggregate debt OF city shall
never exceed 10 per cent OF the taxable property.
SeconG-The Legislature must specially authorize every
debt. Third-The local government only has power TO
create a dent FOurh-In the act Of local government
creating debt the Mayor has absolute veto. The
following is summary of the more important provl-
sions Of this amendment:
SECTION !. The local government Of every incor-
porated city shall be vested in Mayor and Common
Council. The Common Council may consist OF
board or two boards; II OF twO the members OF the
smaller board snail lie not more in number han
third OF the larger il of one board 1t shall consist
II Of two boards, the larger shall consist OF not less
than one representative 10 thirty thousand OF
population chosen by districts or wards. not more than
three nv each district
SIC. 3 The local government Of every city shall have
exclusive power OF levylng taxes aud regulating eI-
pendture for local purposes and OF fixing the Conpen
satiOn OF officers and employees OF the city.
SEC. g. The Mayor shall appoint, with the consent OF
the Common Council, and the smaller board thereof, II
there are twO the heads OF all administrative depart
ments, their commissions 10 expire With his He
may remove heads Of departments upon fling o state.
ment OF his with the Clerk OF the Common COun
Gill; and shall nil, with the consent OF the Common COun-
c all vacancies occurring among heads OF departments,
the commissions 10 expire with bis own.
SEC 4. The Mayor shall have the same veto power
the Governor possesses, bOtn with respect bills
and items OF appropriation bills and his power OF
upon items is extended also 10 taxation and debt bills
20 override the veto OF the Mayor but his upon
bills or itrms OF bills approprating money creating
debt or 1mposiDg taxes, Is made absolute.
SEC D. No city shall incur Indebtedness amounting in
the aggregate 10 more than 10 per aggre
gate assessed valuation OF the subject TO taxation
by it, No debt shall be created in the name of a city
except by its local governments shall the local
government indebtedness except by authority OF
the LEGISLATURE granted specially for each instance
creation Of debt Nothing herein shall restrict the
Issuing OF bonds by city in anticipation OF Its
for the year. aud payable out Of such revenue.
SEC 6. The local government OF every city shall levy
every year taxes sufficient pay the interest for the
gear It's indebtedness and such sum in addition as