Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-08-31
THE CITIES AMENDMENT
1t Is Sent to Tn I'd Reading Aft
 CT Much Pruning.
HoTLY DEBATED IN CONVENTION.

HoTLY DEBATED IN CONVENTION. and It Is a Disputed Parliamentary oues-
 tion Whether They Can Ever He Revived
 or Not.
 ALBANY, Aug. 3I.-The cities commit teo majority report. as amended, has been sent to a third reading The home rule sections were stricken out, and 1t is a question whether or not they can be re- yived.
 This action ended ono of the hottest days debates during the session, tho dis cussion during tho morning hours being especially warm.
 When the ques ton rccurrcd to tho sub stitute for the minority report, Mir. Jenks of Brooklyn debated in favor of 1t. He said that the majority report was utterly deficient in providing the home rule that cities demanded Why" he said. Moses did not go to tho thirsty people of Israel with the siphon bottle of the dil- sttanti, but with the sturdy stroke of the workman on the rock that gushed.'
 Tho proposed bill gave the state the power to rule the cities and gave tho gov crnor absolute control of each city. The minority report objected to 1t. Speaking Of tho bitter statements against New York, he said, ''It i'll becomes men who arr residents, who owe all their greatness and power and knowledge and success to New York oity. to bclittle and besmirch it."
 NIT. Iauterbaeh Replies.
 Long and loud applause followed the address of Mir. Jenks, and then Mir. Lau- tcrbach arose
 He said he wns first an American. next a member of the state and next a child of Now York city. Hc believed that thcrc should be legislative control of all cities and did not think 1t wise to make the city | such despot, such an individual mon | archy, that the state could not interfere. He related incidents where tho legislature had had to interfere, but he believed fl the power was taken away the outragcs would Do many more than now. In all | these years the legislature had mover in I terfered for bad and had often intcrfcrcd tor good. He paid high tribute to Mayor | Gilroy, saying that he was the best execu- tive New York had ever had. | He believed that tho name of home rule would be abused fl the legislatures con | trol of the cities was taken away. All tho | cities of the state wero great, but great through the legislature. He was against | the minority report It was too much | Utopia, as was also tho majority report. | Ho believed only in the rule of n majority | In the legislature, not n thrcs fifths ar n | two-thirds majority. Ho had no fault to | find with the work of the cities commit tee. They had done great and conScien- tious work. For himself he was willing to leave things as they wcrc now. He did not believe in tho cities committees dcsirC to relieve the fire, parks and public works | departments from legislative control.
 He believed that thcrc should be n leg islature that could control or investigate frauds. Tho only section ho was in favor of was the first section of the article, which provided for the divorcing of municipal elections.
 | At tho opening of tho evening session Mir. Cochran arose to question of per sonal privilege. The minority. hc said had been attacked at the morning session and accused of obstruCting legislation by asking for many roll calls. A lnuk at tho journal showed that th"rc had bccn so fal just B roll calls. Of thcsc 3l had bcCr asked for by Republicans and only 1O by | Democrats The Democratic roll calls haC been upon suffrage, public officers. liquor death penalty, contested seats. jury sys tom and in two cases objections to ad journmrnt. IIo thought that tho rccorI was decidedly in favor of the DrInncrati, \ members.
 The Chair-Thc convention will b, | happy to know that Mir Cochran has win dicatcd himself
 Mir. Root-I move that Mir Cocktnn' plea of guilty bc nccIptctL Laughter,
 Tho Chnir-That Is not in order. Th,.