The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1894-08-07
home RULE IN CITIES.
Constitutional Convention Takes
Up the Subject To-Day.
NJ. Johnson Supports at Length the
Committees Report.
wouldn't Deprive the Legislature of
Its Sovereign Rights.

rpANY, Aug. 7.-When the Constitu-
,,onsI Convention met this morning
Wossrs. Nostrand and Kinkel. newly
.s,ted delegates from the Second Dis
,,,ct took the oath of office.
AR Steele. of the Twentieth Senatorial
n.trct announced the death of his
ooIleague Walter l.. Van Den Berg. of
amsterdam, and moved that a commit
,.s Of three be appointed TO draft suit
ohe resolutions, and the Chair APP
nonted Messrs. Steele. Francis and Hol-
Is 10 draft such resolutions.
The Convention went into Committee
az the Whole on the report of the Com
mlttee on Cities. on the proposed article
for home rule in cities. Mr. johnson
presented several amendments OF
technical nature, which he said were
designed to relieve possible ambiguity.
The whole amendment as heretofore
published by the Associated Press was
read by the clerk, 1t being decided to
/ consider it as a whole instead of by
| sections.
Mr. Johnson's technical amendments
we're adopted, and then he launched
into long description of the methods
by which the majority report of the Com
| mllleN Du Sltlt5 lldu Dte1l dTTlNeu DIT.
He said that it was believed that the
proposed section was far, in ad-
vance, Of the, present section, even
in the opinion of the minority
that something was done to make the
charters Of cities more universal. for in
| the citieH 60 per cent. of the entire pop
ulation of the State reside, and 1t must
this Convention was iegislating for
twenty years to come, and the steady
and enormous growth OF the cities de-
mand home rule section In the con-
Cling with city charters by political
sharpers.
Home rule meant constitutional
right for cities to govern themselves
was in the Constitution now. but 1t lay,
with the Legislature only to grant home
rule; but the problem here presented
was to give to municipalities a right in
yet not dismember the State by taking
from the Legislature all right to govern
The proposition by one member of
the Committee to forbid any legislative
Interference in local matters was. Mr..
Johnson thought, transgression of SOW
ereign rights. 1t was proper, however.
to restrict the Legislature, because, that
body body, would be governed by the large
/ ones In relation to the setting of all
elections for the Fall. when general
elections are held, SO as to avoid ex-
sured by chairmen Of lesislat tive and
State officers committees that they
would fix the elections on odd and even
years, SO as to conform to this amend
ment.
Speaking Of the alleged politics in
there were questions Of political division
on policy, alone. only in nation and
city government. the policy Of parties
was the same. and 1t was only a ques
ton of the administration of men:
Therefore. the Committee had thought
IT wise to divorce muir pal elections
from National elec.ions. so that ques-
lions of policy would not interfere with
the questions of men in municipal con-
trol.
Speaking OF the power given in the
amendment to the Governor, to remove
Police Commissioners or Superintendents:
bn sustained charges. Mr.. johnson said
TG %nav Sx %sS6r who TO h ,ad
appointed Police Superintendent re;
fused to remove MIN, the Governor could
BE- appealed to. He thought that the
rea bsd tB Police rrS 9f te sma
(1im, he should have the right to remove
o;her police officers.
He referred to the removal of the
sheriff Of Erie as a righteous outcome M
Iof that old law. II was the duty OF the
State to protect its citizens. and that
was demonstrated when Gov. Flower
appointed a special District-Attorney to
= II it vas the duty of the State to pro-
tect, IT was the duty of the State to re-
move inefficient officers.
/ state interference, without party divi-
sion, had brought about the prosecution
Of the election frauds at Gravesend and
sent the criminals to jail, when the po-
Ice became allies of the ballot-boX stuff
erS, The same was true in Troy, when
similar state of affairs existed. Thugs
and thieves" he said. were brought
from New York to do this dirty work.
snl the police winked at it in both
Referring to the election clause and the
bi-partlsan scheme for election officers
and inspectors, Mr.. johnson said that the
only solution of the veXed question was
10 provide for number of commissioners
Whenever, any great fraud had beer
committed In elections II was because the
selection Of election officials Of both ,po'
ltlcal faiths was left with one appoint
ton would obviate such a thing. and
would give fair count, a thing which
must mus, asre t., He believed this would
Ilse confidence among the people thai
was now lackns.
President Choate. from the floor
asked ask why, II these reforms were abso
merely left the matter OF regulating
sunh abuse permissive with the Legis
azure, instead of making 1t mandatory
Mr. Johnson held that 1t was made
.mE1tnaatory by the first line. which read
Mirority and majority shall have
squai representation" and that thu
,"rm OF securing 1t only was left per
Ir; Johnson said that the proposition
r nome rule in the amendment haC
zen seI sent to the Mayor of each city
SS,u ms views asked as to objections
M objection had been received by him
resident Choate asked how the elite
vol 'I 10 get any relief during the inter
H. between the forbidding of the Leg
ct alure To enact laws and the time tn
ny legislatures were given power b.
year g d" 'h'er'ai VI apou' VI"
NJ mr. Johnson did not think there coul,
ysi any grevous result from the inter
ie.i.,A Mayor of city could ask tn
Tfsature for relief ana obtain II.
tss ". Alvord moved that the Commit
ltsvase and report progress, and asl
Son 10 sit again. Adopted. Mr.. John
hours 'poNeh tor TWO ana nal
ofMes Convention adjourned in memor
or, van Den Rer,S daSaaaaHH Of A N,