New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-04-20
IN TNVJSE AMENDMENT.

There is now pending at Albany proposed
amendment to the Constitution OF this State
which ought not to pass in its present form 1t
is for the alleged purpose OF guaranteeing to
cities the right of municipal selfgovernment."
The amendment has already been approved
| by one Legislature, and If 1t should pass the
present body it would come up for final adop-
ton at the next election. There is danger that
the project might then succeed by the same
methods as were followed last year when a vote
was taken on the question Of abolishing CON
tract labor in the prisons In the rural districts
there would be little interest taken in the meas
ure. while in the cities the politicians in power
would use every means OF securing votes IN It's
favor. Ballots would be furnished for one side
only. There would probably be repetition of
such unfair methods as those adopted by the last
Board of Aldermen, which used $1,000 of pub
lie money In circulating tickets against convict
labor in prisons, but refused to furnish single
ticket to enable voters to express themselves on
the other side Of that question. Under such cir
cumstanccs the proposed amendment might be
adopted.
What would be the result The present in
efficient and corrupt city government would be
fastened upon us. The Legislature would sDe
prohibited by the Constitution. from providing
relief, except by the passage Of general laws
alike applicable to all incorporated cities. If
this amendment were in force now the Legisa-
ture could not pass the reform bills reported by
the Roosevelt Committee, nor other similar
measures. Changes in the municipal govern
ment would have to be made by general laws
applicable to all cities. The government Of
New-York cannot DO properly conducted
under the same laws as govern cities Of the size
of Rome or Hudson; and If the interests of
every city IN the State are to be affected every
sine a change is to be made in the government
Of New-York, we should be compelled to 20
without a change.
The purpose of the proposed amendment is TO
allow each city to frame its own laws. But
fancy the Board OF Aldermen legislatng for
New York And even if we could get before
the voters Of the city local actor instance,
TO apply Civil Service reform to the Police De-
northumberland chance would there be for its
adoption. with the combined "hallsp and the
politicians and local rulers In general, all In
league'against it7 The theory Of the proposed
amendment is a good one. But it should not
be adopted until New York Is provided with a
local government NtCiutuy ulltItIt LlOul NHc
existing one. If we had "a good municipal adj
ministration, conducted under properly framed
laws, it might then DO advisable to adopt this
proposed amendment, and prevent future
changes. But to adopt 1t at present would be
practically to perpetuato abuses. That would
be a good thing for the halls" but bad thing
for the taxpayers.
Ii is evident, however that there should be
some further restriction upon legislation at
Albany for this city. 1t ought to be made
impossible for the Legislature to pass law in
creasing the compensation of any subordinate IN
the city government, or to take money from
the city treasury, except by the consent of the
local authorities. That portion Of the proposed
amendment which aims TO carry out that purpose
ought to receive legislative approval. IL pro
yidcs that 4" no city shall increase its permanent
" debt, or raise the rate of taxation above that
" prevailing al the time OF the adoption OF this
amendment, OF undertake new public works,