New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-08-08
DISCUSSING "HOME Rrrc,
MR.. JOHNSON PRESENTS THE p,,
OF THE COMMITTEE ON CITIES
PRESIDENT cHoArE SEES DANGER IN THE =.
LAY ATTENDANT UPON THE ORGANIC.
TON OF MUNICIPAL LEaIs.
LATIvE BODIES.


SpoM TIP REGULAR CORRESPONDENT M IN, -
Albany Aug. THE proposed amendm.,, -
Constitution giving cities a certain amour, 4, ~
/ rule" free from all control OF the Legislatu,.
debated for the first time by the Consttu,or.,n w
vention to-day Jesse johnson. the chairman 49,
Committee on Cities in a speech Of much s,~
explained In detail the various sections OF the IN!
ment.
President Choate took part in the discus.,o, .
terruptng Mr.. johnson to speak as follows.
Mr. Chairman-We all want to understand A.
views OF the Committee on Cities upon this ~
tons do; for feel great sympathy with the s s
Jet. l wish to ask whether the committee bss
the scheme it prohibits the Legislature frea
time OF the passage OF the constitutional 49,
ment from interfering with what may be called Y.
internal municipal affairs of each city without -
consent Of the city. and IL proposes to confer ~
whole branch Of legislation upon a municipal ,. soa
lature. But the municipal Legislature canaosS
created and invested with large powers uniH -
assent Of that city has been received Now -
instance. take the city o. Ne w. which n Il
and the people OF the State have concurred In tS.s
that It was dangerous. impossible to trust the ~.
vet as Mr. Johnson has said they require con.,. 1
annual legislation. Now. what IL to be done In ~
me t ev c 2 Sss
70 the erection Of municipal legislature with tksss
enlarged powers to legslate upon these internal 1N
jects and the hands OF the Legislature In the mss
time are tied and prevented from interfering ~
them? Have the committee considered how In ~ H.
interval of time. which may be year and may 3
forever how those matters requiring constant lc,r
lation are 10 be taken care or?
Mr. Johnson in reply, said that IL the CITY Au
not create a legislative body this feature OF "A.
Constitution did not go into effect, but Mr. ChoaS.
criticism made a decided impression. and many a
the delegates will critically examine this part =
the city article In consequence.
Mr.. johnson. in support OF the amendment. al
In part
OF the business before this convention The Den
ocratlc minority have not submitted any amend.
ment which they favor. and thus the only ques,ba
before us is as to whether this proposed city srjss
Is better than the one now in the Constitution rae
COMMITTEES on cities has presented a report on ~
subject We ask tina: it be read by the other men
bers Of this convention. The great fact which In
pressed Ms was the enormous growth o. the cte
in cities. We also perceived that New-Yors "a
Brooklyn, with other urban territory might b
o on Of the eH State , We must not orge; that ~
making a Constitution for twenty years. and thu
the cities will 20 on growing maryellously wAa
s,ltu.ional '.home rule home rule" guaran,sa
by the Constitution. Legislative home rule is within
the present Constltuton-;hat Is. within the posr
OF the Legislature but Il has not been granted b.
the Legislature. II we guarantee home rule "
guarantee ~ - s ss,s ISL va
Remembering the State. We must not go too fu
and yet not halt until something has been done .sr
state for government. because they dominate
the State and the Legislature. New-Yot ri
power. and Greater New-York will have one-haK
Ex-senator Mcmillan tells me that the terms Of h
State officers will be 50 arranged nat A. Their sss
Legislative officers WI also be SO arranged as n1
u the cyev year. The seT TN hTs w se; u s
!ty agree 10 this principe Of the separation Of San
and municipal elections. People differ on ne irs
on a foreign policy. on State policy but when yu
approach the afralrs OF cities you approach qss
ton OF administration, There Is no Question q
policy between parties in cities II Is Question
men and not measures in cities You should sn
II TO the cities 10 elect their officer. at time VIA
there shall be no emoarrassing National o. san
the Committee Cities Is unanimous. Tnn n
provide for a Board OF Elections which VII ~
giving each one Of the great par;les an equal 10
Der OF election inspectors
John 7. McDonough here interrupted the spsH
with the question: "Do you have any proys@N
in regard to the length OF terms OF these sxs
NO" replied MT johnson, because We iea~z
zig is question with me said Mr. o MSpon s;
II you could ever get these election 0m'e's 0"'
why asked Mr. Choate. do you make p
mssve upon the LEGISLATURE 10 PISS law: p,ov -
ton Commissioners? Why do you no, maze !
mandatory upon The Legislature
Mr.. Johnson replied that IL was made permsaM
in order give liberty o, action 70 the Lesisi!an
The first sentence In the article I'D make n.s
Sno,y that msor and S caSd sn' Il. Ls
lature was authorized 10 pass Jaw glyins -
authority to EJECT majority and minority sat. 90 ~
ton commissioners with authority 20 appo.n' ay
election commissioners and 10 confer upoa 80
officers power TO appoint noa-par'isaA ee'"'
boards. .... an
contained provision which would render !.
possible FOR Legislature 70 pass sucn "a ,ssS
the demand Of Lieutenant-GovernorS heeaan. ~
bling the Mayor Of Buna.o 81 his aui s., s,,r
aso authorized the Governor to remove the fSaS
Commissioners OF city whenever 'ne' '
President ehoate then said to Mr. Johnson w wv
do you say that the Governor shaI. appo,n IN
Commissioner until the end OF me ,eTN ,y al
Mayor who appointed him; ns ,5ea, o. u""'
we do So" replied Mr.. Johnson: oee s,r,u.s,
think It best TO have the Governgrs a ,Is i-IsS
police investigation. for instance suppose u.
ice Commissioners are remover ne, yer sheA
appointed them. Could you ,ook for any i"p''''
ment under those circumstances -. s.c,ycs
Mr. johnson then argued IN favor :. .ys ,,r Of NJ
OF Boards OF city Council men 10y s!s''"
nority representation .,.n., ma
4; VIZ bring into the Boards s Of Al Ad' rnss ~
voices against acts OF corruption 49,, ,,,oaty
President Choate said he fs.; In fu.. %, ,ss
with the aims OF the committee. but ne inmmt,N
some questions to satisfy himself hat the oo"
had carried out these aims. . ,r,.rr,p,s
Further debate OF the amendment was In ncrs r.
at this point by the Introduction ~ reso.uf IN
spec,ing the death OF Mr.. Van DenOe,ei % uiu
Delegates The debate On the city ars''n n,s.ei y
continued tomorrow. Resolutions were pv.- Dr.
DAY out OF respect 10 the mem lry ~ VII. ,,r 70
berg. and then IN" convention a1Jour"e'
morrow at 10 A. ,.,-,c,s T.
The Committee on Corpora tons this nnrp,s,,s
cldei upon and adopted the fo.owinsa p.r,sss
amendment TO the Constitution d nrsssy:
trusts. which was drawn up by Mr.. Dex Ssyyc,,,sa
TRUSTS or combinations 70 preVen. w." ~ sceA
limit production or regulate ths pre-, ard tnr.
wares and merchandise or 81 light hes, Az ans ysa
portation are contrary to pubic pohe! saresr,,.
The Legs. azure sha,, pass laws Tor the r.nat<
or this section by adequate means ana I'd -
which. In the OF domestic corporasy, nsir csr.
sociations, may include forfeiture o. .ysss,en q
ter AMI OF foreign corporations. ~ ,.is safe
their license 10 transact business wl'h'h u"