New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-08-15
WHAT IS HOME RULE!
o1rEEN SEES LITTLE OF 1T IN
ryr PROPOSED CITY ARTICLE.

CIV Aue. 1.-THE Constitutional Convention
Ap, TODAY It's consideration of the proposed
e'n'%s,, TO the Constitution regarding the cities
'D state This amendment frees certain de-
.snts Of the government of cities from all con-
psnn The LEGISLATURE. Several of the Democratic
~ ".. notably Michael ]. Muqueen and John VI.
Hss- onposed the amendment because, In their
Bs,, II did not confer sufficient power of "home
Fs,n cities; but De I-ancey Nicol supported 1t
rfsly. as containing some home rule pro-
NC and comforting benefits upon the cities in
.,sspects.
~ debate was opened with an attack upon the
,msnt by benjamin s. Dean. Republican. OF
sssioWn' .o,.,,,. ,,,, r, -, ,,,, o,,an,,ren.
- ~, o-oyldes for the election of members OF
'ron Council by a system OF minority repre-
,.,Ion In his judgment this proposition FOR
r,v representation was founded upon the false
I.,ole that majorities could no: be trusted.
", Nu,queen assaied the amendment es one
.A under pretence of comforting home rule
a,,ss actually deprived them Of II IN many re-
.. Minority representation was un-Amer.can
.,s, were classified there should be al least
-, cases The Governor ought not 10 have the
charity 10 appoint the police commissioners OF
- ,Iy: this authority should be lodged In the
IA. 81 the Mayor Of each city. The police force
-. c,y was city force and no; State boCy. and
k,sf,re ought not 10 be subject 10 State control
'. nroyded in the amendment Mr.. Mu.queen
~, sad he was opposed TO President Choate's plan
:, authorizing the Legislature 10 pass bills modify
=. ,,y charters by threehfths vote. despite the
,.,.,on OF the authorities Of city. II II was pro-
80 10 give cities home rule IL ought 20 be
,r.n them without restrictions.
Mr.. MULQUEENS AMENDMENT.
II, Muloeen offered the following amendment
% the article
s,ct,on !. No city shall hereafter be incorporated
ne special law The Legislature shall enact general
is,s for Incorporating new cities. Cities hereto
a.. Incorporated may become organized under such
general laws whenever the majority of the electors
Tsny such city voting thereon at any general or
-s.a election shall vote in favor thereof and such
rsrsral laws shall make provision whereby the
Wreneral law applicable thereto may from time
(. tine be submitted to the electors therein ou
~: chief executive, With such powers as may be
,ryded by law hs term Of office shall be two
E sSieP' the s vear 1921 the term Of Once shall
o1y be for one year. in order that oil terms might
terminate in the odd years as hereinafter proySaie c
.hal consist OF one o.. two bodies, and with such
municipal legislative powers as may be PROVIDED
Sec g. All elections Of city officers In all cities
and Of county officers in the counties OF New fork
the same those Of city. except 10 I'll vacancies,
thail be the Tuesday succeeding the rst Mo on
term o; every such officer shall expire a; the end
Of some odd,numbered year ,,sad e., this section
,,c'des ali officers elected for municipal purpose
in any part division OF ely al sqper 'a,oai
ofncers OF inferior jurisdiction. -.
The Legislature shall enac, laws regulating me
terms OF all such officers now elected or 70 pe
eiscted so that the said Of office of said CITY
officers will expire in an odd-numoered year
A CLASSIFICATION OF CITIES.
Sec l. All cities OF the State classified as fol-
lows: The first class shall consist OF cities OF 900"
population OF upwards. or cities that may hereafter
have that population according TO the last state
enumeration The second class shall consist OF cities
II from $1,000 to 10000 population, or cities that may
, The third class shall con-
az. Sae e n,bar cites Laws relating TO ali cities
y the same class general city laws. and no law
should be enacted concerning cities except general
Sec 5 The Legislature shall not pass any law re-
ating to cities as to any OF ths following subjects;
ppiy 70 Bridges or tunnels across the Hudson River
Wa d or 6oT e Rs or a. ns
a. or TO approach TO any such bridge % parks
aspns alien promotion or removal of police officers
Geve:y grade and rank; "a education; (o) charities
Buildings az to safety and security G) city apparatus
and force Tor preventing and extnguishing fires el
AMI employees Coz ward boundaries: 0D the levying
collecting. vacatng. reducing or postponing any TAX
or assess nent: 90 membership and constituent parts
Of the common council O3 powers and duties OF the
common council or any city officer as 10 the SUD
|scts hereinbefore enumeraied. But the Leesla'uIe
,urisdicon or power OF any city as 10 suGh SUD he
pets so far as 1t is 10 be exercised outside the
Boundaries Of such city.
COMMISSIONERS OF POLICE.
See 6. The sole power TO appoint or remove
Commissioner OF Police or other head Of the police
force Of any city shall be vested In the Mayor OF
such city. The Mayor of any city may remove the
commissioners superintendent or other head OF
me police force of such city fer cause upon
ssses made or preferred before him. the co ocia
sought TO be removed and an opportunity afforded
him 70 be heard in MS defence. Upon such removal
the officer or officers so removed to hold office until
the expiration Of the term Of office for when ,he
Sec. T. For the purpose Of securing fair elections;
equal majority and minority representations sinai
passed impairing such equality of representation
Sec. Nothing in this article contained shhii
soliaie contiguous cities or annex contiguous Ter
nory TO any City, or TO make or provide TOT onso
datton; bu, no such law shall be passed until a
majority OF the electors of each CITY or TERRITORY
. be affected thereby have decided in FAVOR OF
The legislature may make provision WHEREBY the
restion Of the consolidation Of contiguous cities
q the annexation OF contiguous territory 70 any
sy may from time to time be submitted 10 inc
After the charter Of any city. created by such
consolidation, shall have become ia% sue" s GH
Be- subject to all the provisions Of this article
, Except expressly limited. the power OF tre
men, and az n any district created by law. and
Containing city, or to provide for the removal
OF The Mayor Of any city. remains unimpaire9, ou.
such removal shall only be for cause ana alter
hearing
John NJ Francis defended the origina Amendment.
he declared tina, at present the, Legislature was
mercy Common Council! for cities 1t not ony
governed cities badly. but It's attention was 50 alb
sorbed in passing these local laws that general leg
station suffered
John " Bowers then discussed the Amendment
aging in part:
IN me report which has been sent In by ne C'Irs
,Ssvmmittee accompanying the amendment tney say
nat sorne form OF home RUE should be granted 10
S ss Unfortunately the amendment does not carry
c ri ne report Is anything whatever oittrcu ~
Ssss! Section SAYS that sewers ana waterwoIhS !
~, a. be exempt from legislative contro uneer Ger
r M conditions. There existing laws wniGn
NJ give this power 10 the Department OF IupIo
rsrn SO there are Jaws in regard to the FIRE Re
mn~.nt the Building Department, ana ny ~,
49, Of Assessment and Collection. when 'ou
read,T epose to exempt. These departments are a.