The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1894-08-07
HOME RULE IN CITIES.
Constitutional Convention Takes
Up the Subject To-Day.
Mr.. Johnson Supports at Length the
Committees Report.
wouldn't Deprive the Legislature Of
Its Sovereign Rights.
(By Associated Press.)

(By AssOclhteu fresbD
ALBANY, Aug. 7.-when the Constitu-
tional Convention met this morning
Messrs. Nostrand and Kinkel. newly
seated delegates from the Second Dis
trIct. took the oath Of office.
Mr.. Steele, of the Twentieth Senatorial
district, announced the death of his
colleague Walter l.. Van Den Berg, Of
Amsterdam, and moved that a commit
tee of three be appointed to draft suit
able resolutions. and the Chair APP
pointed Messrs. Steele, Francis and Hol-
Lis to draft such resolutions.
The Convention went into Committee
of the Whole on the report Of the Com
mittee on Cities. on the proposed article
for home rule in cities. Mr.. johnson
presented several amendments of a
technical nature. which he said were
designed to relieve possible ambiguity.
The whole amendment as heretofore
published by the Associated Press was
read by the clerk, 1t being decided to
consider 1t as whole instead of by
sections.
were adopted. and then he launched
into a ljhg description Of the methods
by which the majority report Of the Com
mittee on Cities had been arrived at.
proposed section was far in ad-
vance, of the present section, even
in the. opinion of the minority
That se Wss done to WAS make time the
charters of cities more universal, for in
the citieg 60 per cent of the entire pop
ulation of the State reside, and 1t must
not be forgotten that in theory, at least.
this Convention was legislating for
twenty years to come. and the steady
and enormous growth of the cities de
and t-tt1a 10 MN
stitution that should prevent the Jug
Cling with city charters by political
Home rule meant a constitutional
right for cities to govern themselves.
He believed that legislative home rule
WAS in the Constitution now. but 1t lay
rue se proe only here
was to give to municipalities a right in
some respects to govern themselves and
yet not dismember the, State by taking
from the Legislature all right to govern.
The proposition by one member Of
the Committee to forbid any legislative
interference in local matters was, Mr..
ereign rights. 1t was proper. however.
to restrict the Legislature. because that
body would be governed by. the large
ones. In relation to the setting Of al!
elections for the. Fall. when general
elections are held. SO, as to, avoid ex-
s sured by cSairmen Of legislative and
State officers committees that they
would fix the elections on odd and even
years. SO as to conform to this amend
ment.
Speaking Of the alleged politics in
connection with the article, he said that
there were questions Of political division
State. and not in city government. In
city government. the policy OF parties
Therefore. the Committee had thought
IL wise to divorce municipal elections
from National elections, so that ques-
the questions Of men in municipal con-
troll.
Speaking of the power given in the
PS t comm is sioners or superintendents:
on sustained charges. Mr.. Johnson said
that 1t would prove a protection to the
sope to know thas y r MAYER Wh9 h rsi
fused to remove MIN. the Governor could
be appealed to. He thought that the
Sheriff was really a police ofhter' ana II
him, he should have the right to remove
other police officers.
He referred to the removal OF the
State to protect its citizens. and that
was demonstrated when Gov. Flower
appointed a. special Dist-ict-Attorney to
Prosecute the Troy election murderer.
fit vas the duty of the State to pro-
tect. 1t was the duty of the State to re-
move inefficient officers.
sion, had brought about the prosecution
of. the election frauds at Gravesend and
sent the criminals to jail. when the po-
ss he sa miles ws ns
similar state Of AFFAIRS existed. Thug.
and thieves" he said, were brought
.sd the New po aSss %hsed fh at dr
places
referring t. the election clause and the
bipartisan scheme for election officers
|. only solution Of the vexed question was
to provide for number OF commissioners
To- be appointed each by his own party
committed in elections It was because the
selection of election officials OF both .po'
litical faiths was left with one appoint
,en p0wer, and they sold out This seS
would give a fair count. thing which
every Republican and every Democra!
must must ,erte t, He believed this ,, Mop 'l
fus. confidence among the people thai
was now lacking.
p President re- dent choate. from the floor floor
iutsy " nsedad 'net the ref Sommits ee hat
;Hch abuse S's p ,aa a,ssf with the Eess
iaMiIre' instead Of making II mandatory
Minority and majority shall hay,
equal representation" and that thu
missive
MT Johnson said that the proposition
lot nome rule In the amendment haC
oeen sent to the Mayor Of each city
Mo ms views asked as to- objections
no objection had been received by him
! ware resident Choatef asked how, the cltie
were were to get any relief during the inter
w. between the forbidding of the Leg
stature to enact laws and the time tn
NJ leg ,latures were given power b.
va e legislature, an interval of about on
Mr. Johnson did not think there coul
W, any Srievous result from the inter
iss,sa Mayor OF city could ask tn
sh!ature for relief ana obtain II.
MT Alvord moved that the Commit
ieevaa' rise and report progress, and as
soe TO sit again. Adopted Mr.. John
hour hon had spoken for two and a hal
ne Convention adjourned In memor
Q, Mr. Van Den Berg, deceased, of An