The evening world., 1894-08-14
ON SElF-RUlED CITIES
Another Lively Debate in the
Constitutional Convention.
MuIqueen Offers a Substitute for
the Committee Plan.
Mr.. Francis on the Legislature as a
"Higher Common Council"
(By Associated Press,)


! ALBANY, Aug. IA colored clergy
man offered prayer In the Constitutional
Convention this morning. and then there
were handed UP petitions for woman suf-
frage from the counties of New York, Es-
sex. Cayuga. Orleans, Erie Clinton, Mon
roe. Ulster, Washington and Seneca The
petitioners numbered l,2l5 women and 493
men. a total OF Los. This brings the
total number OF petitioners up 10 6cj, CIT.
The matter of the acknowledgements OF
women will be settled by the Convention
| tonight.
Upon motion of Mr.. Lewis, the cities
amendment was again taken up. and
the discussion resumed.
| Mr.. Dean read long argument, in
which he set forth that the article was
against the first principles of good gov
eminent. He did not believe at all in
the system projected by the Committee
Of compelling the representation Of the
minority. III. believed that one of the
leading characteristics of our govern
ment was the rule of the majority only.
Mr.. Mulqueen thought that the amend
ment should be labelled "a bill to pre-
vent home rule for cities" He did not
believe that there should be any incor-
poration Of cities by special law. He
| proposed to limit the tern; OF service of
the Mayor rather than extend 1t. The
present bill would extend the term of
the Mayor OF New York for one year.
he proposed that the Mayors of cities
be elected for one year until 1895, and
/ then they could be elected so that their
terms would expire in the odd years.
! In classification he would have three
classes of cities, one of 100000 inhab-
itants and upward one of $1,000 and up
ward. and the third class to take In all
others. He found one very serious de-
feet, and one that killed all home rule.
in the section that allowed the Legisla
ture to pass general laws for one class
of cities, and have those laws apply TO
one or more cities of another class.
That would ALLOW the passing of petty
law for the smaller class of cities, which
would also apply to New York.
| He advocated the removal of police
officers and commissioners by the Mayor
only, and on charges. He could not see
why the Governor should have to inter-
| fere.
| He thought much simpler bill, COW
| ering all the points In this. might be
evolved, but the distinguished members
of the Commute Mr.. Johnson. of Kings,
and Mr.. Becker, Of erie, had tried to
blind people by making long legal doc
ment He denied that the police Off
GERS and Commissioners of city were
ting of the power OF removal of Police
| Commissioners in the hands of the
| Governor meant very bad political
| move.
Anybody could make charges to the
Governor, and IL MS politics was differ
ent To the Mayors, he could appoint
commissioners who would pay into his
Rarty's hands and against the Mayors.
That was not home rule at all. He also
criticised minority representation. He
believed that the rule Of this country
the election and the endeavor to get a
fair count and honest results. he be-
lieved this matter could be left entirely
He was not in favor of Mr.. Choate's
amendment to allow the Legislature, by
a three-fifths vote, to decide questions
of the people. That was not home rule.
In closing he hoped that. contrary to
expectations. the convention would pass
some city amendment. He offered a
substitute In which he struck out the OBJ
jectionable matters referred to in his
speech.
that the Legislature shall not pass any
law relating, to cities as to any of the
following subjects:
|. Streets and highways. 2. Parks
and public places. 3. The appointment.
equipment, compensation. promotion
or removal of police officers OF every
grade and rank. 4. Education. 8. Char
and structure of buildings, as to safety
and security. 7. City apparatus and
force for preventing and extingnishing
q.
Salaries of cities officers and employ
ees. 10 Ward boundaries. IL. The levy
Ing, collecting. vacating, reducing or
postponing any tax assessments IL:
Membership and constituent parts of
the Common Council. IL. Powers and
duties OF the Common Council or any
city officer.
Mr.. Francis, of Troy, thought that the
criticism OF the proposed amendment
was, trivial because. instead of looking
at the whole amendment. members were
islature. In the last ten years, had be-
come a sort of higher Common Council
know the wants OF the city, and voted
for anything II 1t was Endorsed by the
local member, or by their party leaders.
This amendment took the right of
charter tinkering away from the Legis-
lature and gave home rule to cities. 1t
gave to cities self-protection, and alto
gether, In his opinion, was as good a
Constitution as could be framed
Mr.. Emmett was against all PROPOSE
tons except those providing for perfect
. elections, and the divorcing of the mu-
nicipal from state elections.
Mr.. Bowers, of New York, argued that
the proposed amendments gave to cities
nothing that they did not have at pres
ent. He offered amendments forbidding
any alterations OF "A city charter any
appropriation Of city funds. or any
granting of city franchise on streets
or otherwise, except by the assent of
the Mayor.
Mr., Holcomb disapproved OF the scheme
of minority representation. lie said that
IT was undoubtedly un-American in prin-
cip.e. This was government by the
majority, and that was the essential bot
tom 10 the government of the people.
The proposition to have state COVER
nor OF elections was not In his judg-
ment, a good one, lie thought 1t would
be an outrage on the honest voter TO
have his election officers selected for
h n. ApplauseO If the people of New
York were good enough to pay half of
the taxes o. the state, they were good
enough to select their own election ON
GERS, The referendum clause also, was
not to be considered, for 1t put a pre-
mimm ON pOlitiCAl schemes and reYolll.