New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-02-10
AT THE STATE CAPITAL.
OPPOSITION TO THE EDISON CHARTER.

|
TALKS WITH THE NEw-YoRK CITY sENAToRs-wHY
THEY OBJECT TO THE CHARTER-sLIGHr PROS
PECT OF THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL
TFRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE !
ALBANY, Feb. 9.-MayOr Edson's new char
ter for NewYork is opposed by all the Senators from
that city, 1t would seem, therefore. that the bill has
slight prospect OF passing in it's present shape From the
conversation OF the Senators about the charter 1t
is evident that they all dstrust Mayor Edison and are
unwilling trust him with the power OF appointing all
the heads OF the York departments The leaders OF
Tammany Hall, Irving Hall and the County Democracy
have not yet secured that command over Mr.. Edison
which, when once obtained will enable them TO appear
to trust him unreservedy. They know that II he OBJ
tans from the Legislature the right to appoint all the
heads Of the departments he will become practically In
dependent Of politicians and If he chooses wreck
their organizations by declining TO give them any OF INC
! patronage.
! This is a rsk that John Kelly, Hubert o.
Thompson Edward Cooper, Edward Kearney. Sidney p
Nichols and other leading Democratic poclansOf New
York yet unwilling to take-iudging from the TAX
Of the Senators who their instruments here IL Is
obvious also that Mayor Edison personally responsible
for the charter that 1t s merely the expression OF
his views reforming the government OF New-forK;
that mas been made yet between Mayor
Edison, the leading Democratic politicians OF New
York, the Democratic members or the Legislature anu
the Democratic Governor that the charter shall be made
q party measure It's adoption rs q party measure,
with secret agreements for division OF the patronage
I'm Ncw-York City, done in Tweed's tme Is yet
TO he made Politicians here now inquiring II
the plan OF Tweeds day again he followed; II Mayor
Edison. Joan Kel y. Hubert o. Thompson and the Gov
Of the State to upon The men TO head Tho
single headed commissions proposed in Mayor Edsons
! charter
Various are the excuses made by the Senators for not
supporting Mayor Edson's charter. Senator Grady the
ipuIe off fho al
opposed to the charter would Orit, because
do think would be good public policy TO give the
Mayor Of Now unchecked power Of appointing the
heads OF the departments Think the Board Of Aldermen
should have the power Of confirming the Mayors ap-
poiutmcnts. 80 far the sin ye-headed commission
feature ia concerned, in favor Of IT, Unierstand
that my hostility 20 the charter does not arise from any
hostility to Mayor EIson. think ne Is making good
Mayor But Mayor, in my opinion, should be given
such powers would be given to him under the
! proposed charer"
senator Weaver, another Tammany Hall Senator
sad 81" think il would be very un Democratic to give
Mayor Edson the right to appoint heads to all the
! Departments without tho confirmation OF his
acts b' the Board OF Aldermen being necessary.
think Mayor Edison IA fine man | would trust him !
then the principle bal and dangerous one. Why
the next Mayor III ght be unprnciped one, aud the
people New-York would be dcfeuceleSs against his
appointments. This mucn-riicued Board OF Aldermen
in an excellent institution. in opinion. and ought 10
have right OF confirming the Mayors appointments
am decidedly In favor Of single healed commissions"
senator Boyd, lately chairman Of the Tamnany
| Han General Committee, said: "It would es-
tallish an autocracy to give Mr. Edison the
unrestricted power OF appointing the chiefs Of de-
par'ments No am opposed To this and other features
Of the charter think the heads Of all the Departments
ought 70 be elected. | wouli make them snge-headed
commissions thus reducing the number OF commission
| ers TO b. voted for q each election"
/ Ettf fr rnf ain
headed commissions. but far as giving Mayor Edison
| the right OF appointing department chiefs without
| confirmation by the Board Of Aldermen, Of
that rm doubt At present should vote against the
that section Included IN II not out OF hostli-
| II, T. Mayor Edson, however VINO IS an excellent
senator Daly said: without meaning to reflect on
MAYOR Edsons character. would say tnat perhaps we
had better gIe hs pow,r OF appointing tne heSiS OF
ci peope know in advance ~ they did IN the case
OF Mayor Low BrOoklvn what power they are going
| 20 grant to "a candidat" for Mayor"
! fenator KOcn saiu " not favor OF so radical
mcasuic. doubt whether it would be well to r,duce all
| the depart cIiH to single heaos
senator Fug .rAld tne sp,cta representative Of the
Count, Democracy, said hnkit would b. OF doubt
fu cxp,de all the heads OF departments
wod be better to have the successors Of the present
COM rIoncH "hO are 10 nave terms o. only tree ears
succeed them as their terms cXre am also doubtful
about the wisdom Of taking away the Board OF Alder
mems power oi continuation mere Is great ISu 10
be said both sides Of that question Mayor Edison ie
capitI Mayor. but he might oc succeeded by man OF
| hut q ability and Ot poor character"
| Michael G. Murphy, the leader OF the NewYork City
Democrats ia tine Asscmb y, sad; =" don't know What
to think about the new caTtcf wl Dc OeItcr ablc 10
| tell nftor | nave visited New York"
| Mayor Edson's proposed new charter has not
created 80 much interest IN political circles might be
supposed. The general Impression yesterday was that
tc Leg stature would treat simply recOmmeuda-
ton ON the part Of the Mayor, and that II anything
done II would he in the nature Of amendments TO the
charter widely different from those proposed by the
Mayor No fear felt by Republicans that they
would be- legislaed out Of Office summary March l.
| President Relcy, of the Board Of Aldermen said
The Board Of Aldermen opposed to the charter. We
ARE the direct representatives. of the people Every As
senbly district IA represented the Board OF Alder
| men, In one sense We are directly the represent
auyes of the people than l. the Mayor himself As the
repre-en of tie people, II Is only night that
lnuuld ave II In tlc appointment OF the heads OF
| Departmental ask any uuptcJ tcJudiced man to compare
the appointments made by the Mayors 10 III vacancies,
beginning with DIsDc'her MS Police commissioner by
| MAYOR Havcmeycr, with the nominees VINO have been
| confirmed hy The various Boards OF Aldermen. ADso-
lutte pONcr iS sometimes an ADVANTAGE wien welded by
| good man. but II Is very dangerous thng when
| placed In the hands Oi bad man. Fancy William NJ.
| Tweed Mayor OF New-lork tb, possessing tue power
| asked for by Mayor Edison lon would never him
| out Of office. do not tnnk that the charter amend
eus asked for by MAJ Edison viii pass because the
majority OF legislators. Democratic and Republican,
| averse to placing much power IN the hands OF
II is contrary to the sp rt of republican lnstitu
| tiOns."
Hubert o. Thompson, Commissioner of Public Works,
when asked wnat he though OF the charter am, nd
| mrnts replied 81 have not had time To read them
through caicnIy. On the geuc'al principle OF single
headel commissions aad dircct responsibility to the
head Of the city government Am IN accord with the
Time Tor have not had any opportunity to give the
proposed amendments the attention they deserve"
NEW APPOR lIONMENT BILL.
fFRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT THE rRIBUNE.l
ALBANY, Feb. 9.-The Democrats are dis