New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-19
FOR BETTER CITY GOVERyUEyr

PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AVN
VIEWS SUBMITTED BY THE DELEGATES To
THE MUNICIPAL REFORM CONFERENCE
The conference Of municipal reformers called ~.
gether by the City Club to consider suggested nv-
ncipal reform amendments 10 the State Cons,I,u.
tlon met again yesterday at the City Club o.,
Schurz the president of the Civil Service Reforr.
Association. proposed two constitutional amend
nents In relation the civil service OF the Stat.
In presenting them Mr. Schurz made a brief sp4ec,
abiding to the evils surrounding the present official
system. The first proposed amendment provide.
that 1.-The selection Of all officers and employees ~
the State. OF any city OF the State shall be basea
upon merit and competency ascertained through
open competitive test: excepting however elec,lv.
officers judges. heads Of departments and OF publ,c
institutions. officers whose nomination requires thu
confirmation OF the Senate from whom bonds fo,
the safe-keepng OF public moneys required; ana
further excepting persons employed merely az
laborers or workmen." and that promotion from
the lower grades Of the public service 10 the hzhs,
shall be on basis OF merit and competition srnla,
TO that provided for entrance thereto and shall bs
the usual means OF filing vacancies occurring IN
such higher grades"
The second section Is follows
Terms OF Oiiice.-When the duration Of any OFF,.
IS not provided by this Constitution. Il may be de-
cared by law. and II not 50 declared. such ONCE
making the appointment Bu, every officer ~
whom a dismissal Of any subordinate officer or en-.
poye in the public service is made she'll specify IN
writing his reasons FOR such dismissal and al ~
about the time for such disnlissa shall file such
smch written reasons for such dismissal shall AZ ~
times be open 10 pubic inspection
George McAneny the secretary Of the Civil Ser.
vice Reform Association. introduced and had
passed a resolution proviing for the prohibition ~
the evying Of political assessments upon any publa
officer or employe OF the STATE or any political d.
vision thereof. or the solicitation from any such
officer ernpoye by any person OF any subscr,pua
or contribution for party purposes, and further pro-
hlbltlng the payment 10 any person by any officer Or
emp'Oye OF any assessment, contribution or sub
script!cn.
Seth Low also spoke for Civil-Servce reform
The Committee Of Five appointed 70 consider sew.
eral proposed amendments then reported. and all
the amendments In their modified form will go Toe
committee Of twenty-one.
After short recess at the conference Dis.
cussed at length the followins amendments
All privileges. licenses AMI franchises which may
be operated I'm. on. across any o. the public
streets or places IN any larger city should be the
property Of the city and should No, be sold They
may De leased to any individual private corpora
ton for limited period Say. thirty years. or the
city may itself operate the same.
No city should without tho consent OF It's yos.
ers incur any Indebtedness IN any year beyond
class o, cities to which such CITY belongs excep,
in anticipation Of the collection Of taxes and as
sessmenis for local improvements The present
provisions OF the Constitution limiting the amount
Of the indebtedness Of cities and counties 10 per-
c-ntSgr Of the assessed valuation OF real estate
-novld BE- pres. rv.i.
The Legislature should have power to compel
any city TO incur a debt or make an expenditure or
BY special act to compel any city. town. or village
10 pay a private claim.
With the discussion of these the work Of the con-
ference came 10 end.
X. W. q. yelling. who presided az the confer
cnce. will to-day appoint the committee OF twenty
one which will consider the views and suggestions
OF the delegates and get them into proper iorm
for "a petition 10 the Constitutional Convention
\ sub committee is uCw working Tor the loVlnss
ton OF Il State Municipal League, 70 De composer
Ok societies working fJr good city government