New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-04-10
HONE RULE IN THEORY md PRACTICE

| HOME RULE IN THEORY md PRACTICE
One of TIE most impressive passages of Gov
ernor Flowers annual message of last year was
devoted to urging upon the Legislature the
propricty of standing up for the home rule
principle. "YOu can refrain" the Governor
wrotc, " from unnecessary interference with the
affairs of municipalities. The willingness Of
the Legislature in times past to assume the au-
thorty of b ads of Aldermen and Mayors and
boards of Supervisors has done more harm than
good and no greater benefit can the Legislature
give our cities than to leave them TO manage
their own affairs in their own way" This
sound piece OF advice was given by Demo-
cratic Executive to a Democratic Senate and a
Democratic Assembly. How strangely it reads
in view of the treatment which home rule has
since received from the Democratic majority
at Albany Nearly every prominent city in the
State has been made the victim Of partisan
raid. in papabc defiance Of that great funda-
mental principle Of our government Munici-
palites have made indignant protests only to
have the Democratic bosses laugh at them as
they swindlod them out of their rights.
TIE TRIBUNE has repeatedly directed public
attention 10 these shameless Outiages. 1t re-
turns to the subject because the Democratic
majority continues to peIpctra'c them by and
with the advice and consent of such Democratic
leaders as Richard Croker, Lieutenant Governor
Shcehan and United States Senator Murphy
In Ulster County the Republicans, by the will
of the majority As expressed at tho ballot
box control the Beard of Supervisors. What
fol he no .,
through legislation to capture the board BY
electing three more neutrality-suspicious.
at-Largefor the city of Kingston. Kingston
is accustomed to go Democratic, so the signif-
canoe of the scheme is apparent. 1t is a plain
conspiracy aganst home rule. A similar con-
spiracy threatens Buffalo. 1.-THE Buffalo Com
mesciaP' thus exposes it:
Mr.. Clahan without word o, warning or dis.
crsson--wlthout suggestion from any reputable
quarter that there Is the slightest excuse for any
change In the management Of the grade crossing
afalrs-lnroducc1 bill yesterday aboshlng the
whole Board OF Commissioners headed b. Mr. Robert
p. Adam. and radically altering the provisions Of
the Buffalo Grade Crossing act. For example. the
people through their chosen commissioners having
provided for the closing Of certain streets as O
necessary part Of the Improvements. Mr.. Clahan's
ready made bill forbiis the closing discontinu
thing about the parentsgc OF the Clahan BILL but any
thing from his hands IS Sheehan bill, and Shechan
bill ls Il rule designed TO benefit clique OF
Spectators knot Of politicians, and always his
factiOnal machine. in violation Of home rule princ-
pies and ut the expense Of good government. II is
the boss's intention to the SUCCESSORS OF the
present commissioners himself through the Governor
"The COMMERCIAL well charactcrizes this
measure as an insolent usurpaton of the right |
Of the people of Buffalo to manage this grade
crossing business in their own way" and Gan
neXcusable insult to every member Il com
mission that has executed it's trust - the salts |
faction Of the public" But then "The Com |
mercial' must remember that Shechan is not |
Dent upon satisfying the public. lie is bent |
simply upon satisfying his own selfish, I'M |
'crupulous SELF Yonkers can sympathize with |
Buffalo. A pending measure provides for the |
app Jintmcnt Of Commission OF Public Works |
II YOnkers by the Mayor, the president of the |
Police Board, the Water Board and the Board |
If Education. or by majority of them-a pre-
,osteIous appointing power, as any candid per-
on must admit. The Mayor and the Common
council Of Yonkers were opposed to the bill
but that fact had no weight with the anti
lome rule bosses. In the debate upon the bill |
Mr. Malby inquired if the Assembly proposed
O pass measures that met with the mani-
nous and unconditional opposition of the Mayor
md Commonalty of city which they affected"
such remonstrances are lost upon such a body
IS the Legislature of 1898. 1t is anti-home
ule throughout.
1t remains to be seen what the people are
,ong to do about it. They have an adequate
emedy in their own hands. Will they apply
t? In November an entire new Legislature is
o be elected. A decent respect for home rule.
ot to speak of other considerations, demands
hat it shall be Republican.