New-York tribune., 1896-07-28
MR.. WILLIS is PLEASED.
HE THINKS THAT THE IDEA OF CENTRA11ZINo
RESPONSIBILITY rs THE CORRECT ONE.

RESPONSIBILITY IS THE CORRECT ONE.
81 read the proposed charter l was coming
into town on the train to-day" said Mr.. Willis.
and I'm free TO stay that am favorably i'm
pressed with the general scope OF the work. The
principle OF cenralizing responsibility is believe
a correct on- in municipal government II TENDS
to make the people careful to whom they elevate
to the responsible office OF Mayor and 1t will tend
| think TO make the incumbent OF the Mayors
Office careful TO obey the letter and the spirit OF
the law on general principles. like the pro-
posed new charter.
JOSEPH r CLARK AFRAID OF TAMMANY
Joseph r. Clark. president OF the Board OF Alder
men. Is entirely suited with the proposed char
ter. on general principles he does not believe In
so wholesale a Capitalization OF power in the
Mayor as the charter provides.
I'm view Of the fact that Tammany Hall Is In
the ascendency" said Mr. Clark. II am free 10 say
that believe that the Capitalization or power In
the Mayors hands. the charter proposes. would
enable Tammany Hall to perpetuate itself in power
indefinitely. Again, | believe II would be wiser
for the members OF the City Council TO be elected
by the people rather than 10 be appointed by the
borough representatives find a great many
things in the proposed charter which remind
me OF the charter Of the city Of Brooklyn. under
which We are now living. The bond issuing power
being regulated by the referendum is an excellent
feature. and s in vogue in this city The pro-
vision requiring a four-hfths vote to override the
Mayors veto Is ] tnlnk 100 stringent tnlnk
two-thirds is about right. With much power
centralized in the Mayor think II would be COM
paratvely easy for corrupt body like Tammany
Hall which about two times out OF three will elect
the Mayor. to do Republican districts in the
Greater New-York injustice.
AS regards local improvements strong Repub-
ucan district might ask for something 10 which they
were justly entitled The Tammany Mayor. knowing
that he would ,ose nothing politically by vetoing
such a resolution would probably play politics and
decide that the community could get along without
the asked for Improvement. The Municipal Council
m h try TO override this Veto but they would prob
ably find # extremely difficult to get a four-ffths
vote Then the district which had been sighted.
seeing that II could obtain nothing through Repub-
lican representative would he strongly tempted 10
elect a Democratic representative in order 20 get
what It entitled to- This would tend TO make the
Greater New-York stil more thoroughly Democratic
For this and other kindred reasons believe that
two-thirds vote override would he better than a
four-ffths | would Ike to see clause put into the
new charter" continued Mr.. Clark which would
facilitate the making OF local improvements where
necessary There is a serious defect In our present
practice in Brooklyn in this respect An application
for an improvement. which may be entirely proper
and almost absolutely necessary can now be tied up
with so much red tape that it will be year or year
and half before the Improvement can be made.
I think he charter makers would confer a lasting
blessing upon the people by seeing 10 It that some
provision is made in the charter that will enable
the people to get needed improvements promptly
SIMS on THE CHARITIES SITUATION
Adoph S.mis, jr.. president OF the Board OF Char-
tiles and Corrections. maintains that the PROPOSE
ton OF the Greater New-YOrk Charter Committee
10 place the charities department in the hands OF
one commissioner is not feas bic. He said: Il am
much In favor OF the system TO be reported 10 the
Commission by the present committee. and that
said committee s entitled 10 great praise for the
labor1ousness Of its report thus far. l believe
in the system promulgated. except thai the Mayors
power OF removal Of any head Of a department
should be after hearing and subject 10 review
bv the courts Otherwise such officer would be
subject 10 tho caprice malice or other influence
on the part Of the Mayor
80 rar as the Department Of Charities and Cor
rect.on Is concsraed believe that there should be
a s,parate department Of charities ard a separate
departnent Of corrections II exists in the city
OF New-York today My experience OF mary years
In connection with the Department OF Charities In
clnes ne 20 the be..ef that II should be governed
bv more than Commit loner The work OF
that Department in the OF the paupers. the
sick and the infants which includes the.r feeding
ro,hing and housing and the dealing with the
domestic relation. particularly among the poor
shou1 he done by the Commissioners. and no. by |
dcputes as would necessarily De the case with a
-headed commission. would recommend
thai the territory east OF the East River and New
York Bay be governed by three Commissioners and
ina, there be- Ike number for the territory on |
the wes; This would not Increase the expense. as |
the system Is now conducted. and would be more |
conducive 70 the good government OF this partc- |
ular branch would make their term OF office |
The commitment Of children different insti |
,u,ions which IS OF such great Importance only
10 the children. but to the public. should not be |
confined 10 the action of one person. Likewise |
,be Tfscharge and binding out are all subjects
which require dellberatiye judgment am not so |
SUR. but good system would be the same as - |
adopted by all county governments outside OF our
larger cities As each town In a county mas us !
Overseer Of the Poor. also should each borough
have its charity commissioner he TO have power 10
rnnuit persons TO the different institutions over !
which that department has control. subject TO the
approval Of majority or all the commissioners
poses for which their joint action Is necessary |
Unless olher OF these systems Is adopted. persons
comneIled 10 70 to the main office OF the depart |
menf A commissioner for each borough being |
',lr, r,,r,., for Il proper investigation OF appli- |
cants Tor relief would be afforded
IAN the correctional institutions OK ne new cry
because Of the character OF the work connected
with them could be performed by one commission |
er his deputy and wardens -, -. ,,o,.s n, |
II am prepared 10 express az my views on
this subject in a talk Of this character OF "hich
had no previous notice
POLICE COMMISSIONER wELLEss CRlTI- |
CISM
Police Commissioner Weles said:
The charter IS in TOO crude a state for me TO dis
go 4, a, present After the details made pub
lie shall give my opinions upon 1t as whole
4, nat know yet what Is to bes,he scope OF me Pr
nosei police commission Of the greater ety.
or nor II IL 10 be simply an advlsory Doa. a' r .,o
reat p'"1 would be- hard for one man 20 DO me
work for the whole territory na naer roDsumes one
ts,ookvn and two days In New-York. so. not
taking into consideration the ou.ys ss hi. tIme "a
Pa 10 To have practical supervision over ,ne
territory would be TeaGTedf "a a sess woud be
area sa, p,ask assume that the plan Is 10 iodge ~