New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-04-01
OPPOSING THE sTRAHAN CHARTER.
STRONGLY AGAINST IT.
rBY TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBI;NF.l

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| rBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBINF.1
ALBANY, March 31.-Thc Assembly Commit
tee OH Cities listened arguments this afternoon Mr.
Strahan's NewYork Charter. The chief addresses
| made by Professor Theodore W. Dwight ana George
Bliss, who appeared in opposition TO the bill The com
mittee listened with deep interest to the criticisms
the bill. Professor Dwight spoke as follows:
Professor Dwight first deprecated constant changes IN
the charter He then observed that place alpointng
mower IN the Vice.President Of the Board OF Alder
easy TO raise The question In the courts for the OH
Gers hold until their appointed If the ac,
fact appoIntcd Tne ease, People agt. Albutson. IS
n. i: so, shows thar the courts will tolerate evasion
! OF this crnStltutl0nal principle ny the Legislature
through change IN the name OF the office any
He condemned any attempt to crcumvent the will Of
the majority reinarkng that such formed the mpcnc
term of some OF the officers now In ofirc,
c Gaose Of rGsrs rrovna %pde t Hs r
s'ltntion, This is plainly unconstitutional and
decided n the cOyl Of Ap'mas in PEBBLE act Nc,
part Of M Legislature to exercise the power Of rppon
ment to office Instead of leaving to the people the
1nc amendments violate ryruhlican prlnIplrS. They
they to be devised for the purpose OF thwnrlinc
the VIII Of ne peo.e Inry gmnscua;e executive
Professor Dwight then proceeded 10 examine tho bill
as rceards the slPointing po%sr Up - january l.
president Of the Board Of Aicrlen, and the Conrorr.
Il so happens that TIE Mayor rcprescna fraction Of
president OF the Board OF Aldrimen the Re
Ss not TIE 10 he rGnG Y and 1Td "cn. ar
vide the import ant offices between the party ANA The
THIS cannot lie done owcvcr. On any principle but "ny
By Kind Of shame I'll compromise IN Which The csrnfll
elements Of administration are necessarily dcstroyed
They nay slaughter the Mayor, IN doing - ihry
have brought republican methods to the altar OF sHcri-
flee.
Instead OF the power OF appointment being vested ia
1t should be in Sngc person there are three municipal
created bv popular vii one generated NV accident.
outcome Of political tnnking IN the year $50 on such
u system there can b" hut one result There bc
case Of 4" division and silence"
Professor Dwight further said al would like to Ak.
under this system. OF having y Mayori What are his
functions liz will have. believe, power IN certain
can transact her rIhng busin, aud receive
calls on New Years Day. Bnt the situation will have
city, ana welded bencGcenuy, power which even
high magistrates envicd."
Professor Dwight then argued that the opponents Of
this bill were not hound to submit measure. He
spoke strongly In favor OF vrstng full executive
authority IN the Mayor, aud concluded as follows:
Ginning TO be Republican from the beginning. never
swTyinS from ny nSsrr Even ra,ns an r.
tory IL crowned with tho m st PATRIOTIC assOriatlO:s
recognizing in good faith tho popular viii Tor the pnr
pose OF accomplishing 'clnorary political success
city, icOparzc lis exHicnco tro ghout the state
George Bliss. speech lasting two hours fairly tore
the bin pieces 60 obvious the that hn
pointed out that Mr. Varnum was continually repeating.
We will amend IT. We will amend IT," Mr. Bliss spoke
in effect follows:
He said he was the author Of the present charter OF
NowYOrk. This charter came to Albanyn ls7]appr
which then cOmposed Of men Of principle and not
Ing party spois He had become convinced
Of the folly Of purely Iartlsn I se, :,
lean party hal resulted IN putting tnca men ny Ahram
Dlsb1ckcr Charles I. MacLran and Andrew IT, Green
IN Office Mr. liss men staied ina, LIE lih'N nad
the committee its editorial acclc to-day Oh the charter
He sad that the bill WAS merely meant to provide 100
as political measure 1t was mrOc. He criticised |
severely the proposal to have Two CominisSIonrrs |
can was confident Of an appointment ms one |
Di these Commissioners that he was going nh0n New |
Ijns made careful analysis OF the reductions ~ salaries
made by the bill, showing that most OF them wee not |
years. In total apparent reduction VI Over s1Ooooo
he showed there would only b. f9O,OOO Of
immediate reduction nn1 or a,62% .o o'" n
net Increase Of three officials Mr. BsH presented al
the bil which, lac Tad, II It became law
would at reduce The expenses OF government IN
Sew-Yors &150OO00. THIS amendment, lie SAID,
he oii not exrect the Leg ilturc to adopt. as, In
he ASSURED possession Of power u was nl'scEaIdhg
public opinion ia "A way uncxamplcd sncc Twcels day.
Mr. Bliss polluted out omissions 10 rcduco salaries ana
htse omissons, he declared were not nee den
al. lie noted the reduction % the salary OF he
Recorder TO $4,000. whIic mo salaries OF W" 'lty
Judge and the Judge OF tc Court OF nrmrra
ne Recorder has many extra duties Ike that
II Commissioner Of Tie Sinking Funds 10 perform ihe
act tnat OF the Park Commissioners arc TO receive
alaries while only one has salary was likewise
iocd In conclusion Mr. Bliss argued at great length
hat II would he unconstitutional 10 make the vlcces-
dent O The Board " Aldermen IN appointing power.
III the senate to-day. Mr.. Forster presented remon
4 the City OF NswYork, signed by Smith Ely IT,, and
200 others. Referred.