New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-08-06
THE REPORT ON CITY GOJTRNMENI.

"A
Constitutional Convention have submitted their
report which includes a proposed amendment
differing in some minor details and in one i'm
portant feature from the outline Informally
offered for consideration a few weeks ago.
Whatever action may be taken upon this SUD
Jet by the Convention or by the people at the
polls the committee deserves cordial comm"nda-
ton for It's earnest and disntercsted work. The
cities of this State contain more than GO per
cent of its entire population and no problem
with which the Convention has 10 deal Is more
vital or harder to solve than that of municipal
government The committee does not ask to be
credited with a complete and final solution Of
il. but believes that 1t has devised plan from
which certain definite benefits would AZ once
result and a steady advancement might begin.
We think that this modest claim is well founded.
As we recently said in commenting upon Tie
tentative proposals Of the committee, the Prih-
cinoI toncs which have engaged It's attention
are separate municipal elections. home rule. the
nrotection of the ballot and police adminiSra-
ton. That part of the amendment now sub
mitted TO the Convention which relates 10 the
last of these topics does not 20 nearly so far rs
the original suggestion. Instead of providing
for permanent police establishment secured
AGAINST political manipulation through the opera
>
ton Of State Commission representing boih
porties il leaves the present system unchanged
except in two particulars. namely: II forbidN
the LEGISLATURE TO confer the power 70 appoint
the head Of the police force Of any city on any
CITY officer except the Mayor or the Mayor with
the consent Of the city Council. and II gives The
Governor power to remove the head Of tn police
force in any city upon charges preferred ana
to anpoInt 4 successor for the rest 81 Tho term
Of the Mayor then in Office This is logical *
tension Of the Governors existing authority over
dsirict-attorneys. county clerks and SheriliN,
and SO far rs it goes Is advantageous and com
mcndable our only .'-rct * That those in''n
bcrs Of The committee who have desired t' ="
further have become convinced that a radical
reconstruction Of the police system s. al present
mpossiblr and We should be- very glad 10 hav"
the Convention take a longer step in the S1me
direction.
In providing SO far as It's power extended Tor
separate municipal elections the committee has
undoubtedly reflected a prevalent belief ihAl on
the whole the pure and efficient government ~
cities is more llkcly % be secured hy voters
having that single question before ihoin than -
the result OF a general election involving nuin'.
ous issues II cannot b. truly said that expert
cncc has conclusiycly confirmed This belief 10
the state of New York. twenty seven oi who's"
,hirtv-four cities now have scparai" local cleo.
lions: but neither has the contrary been proved
and the deliberate judgment Of he MAJORITY "l
tbc committee. with all the evidence before
Them. is entitled 10 great respect 'rriaihlF
there Is no reason to believe That th" c'i>r'
oucnccs Of the uniform scheme which they pro-
nose would be disastrous. and we should j." glad
10 have il tested. If 1t should result. however
slowly. in the development Of a stronger sens" 81
individual responsibility and a higher civic mo-
ralty. those who had been instrumental in bring
ing about So grca, reform would deserve +" De
held in lasting honor We hope that other com
mlttoes whose concurrent action is required VIII
take the same view and that the Convention
will ratify the scheme
That part Of the proposed amendment looking
"to absolute equality in the two larger parties
"in the registration Of every voter ana ID" count
.'of every vote is absolutely right in lis per
emptory decree that such equality shall exist,
and is wise in its permissivc clause Authorizing
the Legislature 10 choose state Election Com
missioners in equal number from both parucS
by whom City Election Commissioners may De
appointed to carry out the essential purpose Oh
the constitutional provision. The fundamental
condition OF free government is honest clccuoiS'
and such safeguard Of the franchise rs thls
amendment would furnish ought 10 be iinbedded
In the organic law. 1t would not be complete
guarantee but it would permanently i'll large
measure disable election swndlcrs. The statute
passed last winter temporarily provides thS
security but it ought not 10 remain dependent
upon the temper Of a Legislature. 1t belongs
In the Constitution, and it seems safe 10 assume
that this Convention and the people next No
vcmbcr will put IT there.
That section Of the amendment which is de-
signed to further the development Of municipal
councils with considerable legislative powers
and embOdyng the principle OF minority repre-
sentaton would probably not have important
immediate consequences Theoretically II Is al
tractvc; what its practical working would be
1t Is impossible 10 predict The great question
Of home rule, 10 which it Is related, is perhaps
the most perplcXing Of all the questions sub
United 10 the Convention ON this subject party
platforms and politicians have OFTEN been more
emphatic than discerning in recent years. IL
seems 10 us that there Is grave danger in the
proposal 10 engraft upon the Constitution pol
icy which has not vet been proved to be the
expression Of u deliberate. settled Judgment.
If the conditions which prevail In great cities
were radically different. the theory Of pure home
rule might be as sound it is plausible But
we are bound 10 take things rs they are ana ~
in the main, far as can be seen, they are
likely to continue The committee does not pro-
pose to confer upon the city of Ncw-iork for
example, any additional power excepting
power Of veto. But. rs experience has shown,
that may be an immensely dangerous power.
The amendment provides that the Legislature
shall not pass any law relating 10 numerous
vital local interests without the consent OF the
Mayor or the Mayor and Common Conn
Gil as the may be- or Of the I"o-
pie expressed at general or special cleo
ton. Ours Is government by repre-
scntntives and the principle of the referendum
Is not in harmony with ii. but aside from that