The daily morning journal and courier., 1894-11-27
POWERS OF THE MAYOR.
Further Confederation of tho Proposed Now
 Charter.


 Charter.
 The special committee of the court of common council held another session last evening to listen to arguments for and against the proposed new city char ter. All the members of the committee were present and there were also many prominent citizens in the hall. The sub Ject of consideration was the power and duties of the mayor and executive officers.
 Ex-Judge Sheldon was the first speaker of the evening. He strenuous ly opposed granting any more power to the mayor than he has under the present charter. He said: This Is a civilized country, a republic ruled over by the president, assisted by the sen- ate and house of representatives. This is not Russia. nor Is 1t England. nor the Sandwich Islands. We don't want any kings or despots, czars or canni- bals, to rule over us. What we do want Is law and officials that are elect ed by the people, for the people, and l wish to put myself on record as op- posing any charter giving to the may or any such unlimited power as is pro- posed by the present revised charter"
 Rev. F. s. Lines. rector of St. Pauls church, favored the new charter, giv- ing as his reason that 1t would do away with bossism and unclean poli- tics.
 Felix Chillingworth strongly opposed giving any more power to the mayor. He said: Tt is my belief, and I may say also of the majority of the unprej- udiced people of the city, shat the may or has as much power now as is good for the taxpayers. Were he granted more than he has at present, and was to be allowed the distributing of all the principal municipal offices, he could use 1t as personal as well as a polit- ical income"
 Reuben H. Brown favored giving the mayor more power on the ground that he should be the one to select the most competent persons to fill the principal offices of the city. He also said that 1t would do away with all the political machinery that is at present being used. He also advocated a two-thirds vote in the court of common council to overrule any veto of the mayor.
 James T. Moran favored having the mayor appoint the members of the board of education on the ground that it would do away with the present ex- pense of electing them. He also was in favor of the members of the board receiving a salary.
 Joel A. Sperry was in favor of grant ing more power to the mayor. Said he: "In my opinion the measure giving the mayor the power to appoint the of fice-holders is good one. do not think that any mayor we have had, or ever may have. would care to place himself on record as making bad ap- pointments or want to set himself, up as a king or anything of that sort. The mayor of the past has been noth- ing more or. less than mere figure head. Under such a system as sug- gested by the revised charter the gov ernment would be watched more care fully and with more attention, and could not fail to satisfy the people.
 William Gay-I think the measure giving to the mayor the power to ap- point is a good one, but warn you against the consequences that may happen in such an event. There are plenty of mayors who would perform their duties in an honest and impartial manner, but there are others who might not I would suggest the ap- pointment of some one who might act as a check on the mayor and might also have the power to remove him.
 Remarks were also made by ex-Mayor York, ex-Mayor Peck, Professor George D. Watrous James D. Dewell, ex-Judge Pickett, Colonel N. G. Osborn and An thony Carroll, after which the meeting adjourned until this evening, when the commissions and the court of common council will be the subject of considera- ton.