New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-06-20
A CONDITION, NOT A THEORY
NEW YORK CANNOT BE FREED FROM
ALL LEGISLATIVE INTERFERENCE.
JOHN SABINE SMITH RrDICULEs THE IDEA OF
GIVING LEGISLATIVE POWER FOR
MUNICIPAL PURPOSES TO THE
COMMON COUNCIL.
fBy TELEGRAPH TO TIRE TRfBrSE.l

Constitutional Convention gave an interesting near
Ing this afternoon upon the following amendment
which has been suggested by the Guy felor"
clubs:
mo law hcreafte passed by the Legislature for
a municipal purpose. except a general law for the
organization thereof shall take effect In any city
heretofore organized. unless the same be accepted
and approved by its local legislature.
John Sabine Smith and James w. Halves. OF the
Republican Club Of New-York, appeared IN oppo-
sltion TO this suggested amendment, while Henry
r. Beokman. Horace f. Deming and Simon Sterne
appeared in favor Of IT, II was also MADE evident
from the questions and comments OF Andre" H.
Green, former Controller OF New-York ana a mem-
Der OF the convention. that he considered IL UNI
safe TO make the cities Of the State completely
independent OF the Legislature by the requirement
that no law passed by the Legislature shall become
operative unless confirmed by the city authorizes
MIR. Smiths argument was in part as f saEeys
maS et Of New sns by freeing from the
possibility OF Legislative interference rs peaI
Would f% IN no, 'n work w 1If in practice repeat
Mr. Cleveand's declaration: You have to iace ~, a
sovernment Of New YORK city, and that condition
Is abomlnabe do not believe II has oee IN sew
worked iii to the people OF New-York but that that. Is
relating to- to New-York The majority of them are
for the benefit Of the people OF a. tbn
last thirty forty years, or ever since Fernanuo
Woods day. / see 1t IL proposed suostantaI,y 10
transfer legislative power TO the common I0uI 10
eli Of WHY RsGnes t thst pe eTdy OF
experience with It. Dangerous as It was they pre-
ment to the Mayor 1t may seem strange thing
TO in the presence Of these representaavges
ment but I must In all honesty declare that de-
spite the mistakes occasionally made by the Leg
us rather than that we should leave our leglsla-
ton to the Board OF Aldermen OF York City
bdn Of you o n@yf in Sr city han
present prefer to have our LEGISLATION performed
s %hD "S ey u" laws .s that Would work We'll in other
each ca s"C other S or nfmatey the various branches
measures are carefully considered here In Albany:
wnrning OF legislative measures Of importance
affecting their city and The committees give Tna
result OF this Is that In general nearly all the leg
islation representing NewYork is well considered,
the people Of New-York have been heard upon
IT, the circumstances Of taxpayers have been
weighed and IS per cent OF the LAYS passed re-
they are far better laws than any Common Coun.
eli would give us II the Board OF Aldermen OF
fraud would make our laws. Think Of Richard
Croker making OF the Constitution a shield 70 pro-
tcct Tammany Hall. while 1t robs the city OF New
York what would be the use Of such committees se
as that Of Senator Le19w nGW ai the the
committee and Of the Legislature is remedial leg
suggested
stituiion we're now in existence. Richard Croker
would laugh at the Legislature. Nothing could be
The Police Department unless II should be con-
nrmed by the Tammany Hall Board OF Aldermen
ms TIr law law? do not think II would be-
James ". Halves said that. in his opinion while
by the medtLg Of the LEGISLATURE the great bulk
of legislation had been for It's good TINS amend
That Is in the line Of safety" said Henry r.
fr,a tr,fln i'm
Il think 1t Is in tho line Of danger" replied Mr.
Mr. Hickman argued a, great length that the
ciiics " New-York and Brooklyn should have com
c rule in order n6 TO Ss be 'ns to
spen: r. CIV r,rform Club he stated elieved tina,
elected on general city ticket and elected by minor
iy representation New-York city could be regener-
atei To this should be added the complete legfs-
latlve Independence Of tho city =,
legislative enactment and not change the Constitu-
ton" said Jesse Johnson the chairman OF the COM
yes. bu, the Legislature might upset II in few
years answered Mr.; Beckman. and therefore all
eminent OF The cay must be prevented"
most OF the New-York laws passed by the Legs-
lature introduced by New-York Senator'S and Assem-
blymen?' nu,
OF Aldermen free from Albany influence would legs-
late better Tor the city and the system Of minority
city legislation by city Common Council .,
Andrew II. Green said that according 10 MS recOl-
lection the BOARD 81 Aldermen once elected by
city government not reformed Indeed. the
minority system existed under the rule Of William
NJ Tweed about es bad a government as the city
eyer had lyon gentlemen move in circle" said
Mr.. Green. addressing Mr. Beekman. Formerly
you had the Aldermen confirm the Mayors appoint
ments Then you took away the power OF confirma-
ton. You have had spring elections and separate
elections In the fall. and finally you had them al
thinking. your term municipal purpose does not
clearly define the limitations OF the power of the
Leg stature and OF the city. The people or the rest
OF the State are greatly interested In the condition
lslatlve action upon them In order 10 line up 70 your
scheme of home rule for cIties2" Il would not"
answered Mr.. Beekman "and | believe that the
courts would hold that the words municipal pur-
pose would not exclude the state from legislatng
regarding the docks"
John NJ Francis. ~ Troy. a Republican delegate.
then made this inquiry: II this reform Of minority
representa- lion Is so good for NewYork and Brook
Ign. why do you not apply Il 70 the other cities OF
the state" because" answered Mr.. Beekman,
some other cities object"
what do you mean by home rule?' asked Mr..
Green. For II YOU mean entire elimination OF leg
islatlvc control Of the cities do not so interpret
the words nor believe In the doctrine"
Mr. B"rkman replied that the words municipal
purpose" in the proposed amendment would be
guide 10 the courts. Some acts would be- State acts
and others would be "munlcpal," and would require
the approval OF tho city authorities
Simon Sterne explained the system OF minority
representation rs Practised In Europe and In Illinois
elected at large nom the entire city instead OF
from Assembly districts, they would be OF far better
character and the government OF New-York would
be greatly impnNe6y The committee then ad-
journed.
BrENNLaL SESSIONS.
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