The record-union., 1896-11-13
THE SEVERAL CHARTER PROPO-
SITIONS.

The committees of the Board of Trus-
tees and of the citizens on charter re-
vision have now been at work nearly
two months and have so far progressed
that they have issued a brief address
to the people with view to eliciting
criticism.
This is a most conlrnendable step and
speaks we'll for the conscience and sin
cerity of the committees. It is to be
hoped that the request for criticism
Will be complied with in a broad and
generous and not narrow and carplng
spirit.
This matter Of charter revision is so
important and the time within which it
must be completed is now so brief, that
a resume of causes leading to it and
the progress thus far made, becomes Of
public interest
In brief, three years experience has
developed conflicts between the legisla-
tive and executive departments that are
practically irreconcilable under the
charter as it is. There is such COM
termingling of legislative and execu-
tive powers that even the courts have
declared they cannot draw the lines be-
tween. The result IS that there is fric-
ton that delays progress and initiates
against economic government. The leg
islative branch insists that the charter
makes it quite supreme and vests in it
executive powers that are claimed by
the Executive to attach to that office
alone. Thus each charges the other
with failure to do what should be done.
To remove this conflict and make
some minor changes was the purpose
of the revision committees. 1t is not,
we understand, the intention TO rip up
the charter and reconstruct it at heavy
cost for announcing the amendments,
but by general and brief addenda in the
form of one or two sections, and by
three or four amended sections modify
and interpret the charter. It is within
the province of the creator of a statute,
by subsequent enactment, to declare
how it shall be interpreted, though the
Interpretation may be Numerically
opposed TO the plain expression Of the
instrument.
Two of the propositions will be sub
mitted in all probability that the people
may choose between them or reject both
and leave things as they are.
It is the belief that now. in the early
stages of the life of the new charter. is
the very best time of all to make
changes that are desirable. On this
basis the committees have issued an ad
dress to the people which appeared in
our columns yesterday
The first of the propositions declares
that the charter shall be SO interpreted
as to make sharp distinction between
the executive and legislative branches
The Mayor is to exercise all executive
powers, purchase supplies. employ men,
supervise subordinate officers receive
reports from all departments and
transmit them to the Trustees. He is to
be free from any interference by the
Trustees with his executive functions,
but the power OF confirmation of ap-
polntnents Is reserved TO the iegisla-
tive body, which shall provide the
methods and systems and conditions
for purchases and performance Of work.
1t is objected by many students of mu-
njcipal economics that 1t leaves con-
frmation power as 1t is, whereas all
advancing cities are breaking away
from such systems. New York, Brook
lyn and other cities now make the May
or's appointing power absolute and find
that 1t works far better than where the
legislative body interferes. The forego-
ing proposition of the committees gives
the Mayor more to do, dignifies his Of
flee, puts responsibility for execution Of
the laws directly upon him, requires
him to take on responsibility for the
conduct of the departments and con-
serves exactness and economy in all the
departments, which will have but one
master from which to receive orders.