The sun., 1896-07-28
GREATER CITY CHARTER.
DRAFT CRITICISED HERE As
RATHER BRooKLYSIsH

Some Objection Raised TO the Boroush
System and the Mayors Large Powers
Defence OF Those Provisions-More
Chapters VIII Bo Made Pubiic Very soon.
Very few persons we're willing to express
opinions yesterday regarding the plan of munio-
ipal government for tho Greater New York
as outlined In tho draft Of the nrst Ave chap
ters There was some talk In opposition to the
borough system proposed. Police Commits
sioner Parker, who was counsel TO the old Com
/ mission, said OF IL:
II understand that that plan was repudiated
| by the whole Commission at Its first m eetinR
1t has many bad features. 1t is essentially q
Brooklyn plan. the idea being to preserve the
autonomy Of Brooklyn in some form. believe
| hat the Legislature will have to extend tho
time Of the Commission. ns 1t will be hardly
| possible for it to prepare q completed charter
! within the time limited. The subject is too
| vast"
Snvera! Tammany leaders expressed their op-
position to the proposed borough system. and
John C. Sheehan said that tie supreme power
proposed to be lodged in the Mayor seemed 10
be undemocratic.
II see that the Mayor would be permitted to
appoint and remove heads OF departments at
will. Why should such officials be called Com
mssoners1 They would be only Mayors
clerks"
What most people are waiting for before they
express themselves in the matter of the charter
are the chapters on taxation and assessments.
The problem presented BY these questions Is tho
most difficult which tho Commission has TO
solve.
Secretary George NJ. Pinney OF the Commits
sion has received from Chairman De Witt Of
the subcommittee another installmcnt Of tho
proposed charter which will be given out for
publication In few days.
1uSH REACH |. I .IrIy William ~ M
Witt, Chairman Of the Committee on Draft OF
the Greater New York Commission, wns almost
too busy to-day to heed the many messages of
conEratuation and encouragement that came |
to him from other membe of the Commission |
and the friends of Greater New York every |
where as the result OF the publication ycs;c-- |
day of the first five chapters of the proposed |
charter. Few members ui the Commission. ont
side Of the special committee that has the mat
ing made. Messrs. De Wit; and Dean. however,
although satisfied with what they have accom-
plished. are keenly alive to The fact that there
IS large task still ahead of them. and they are
putting 10 ten hours u day at the work OF char
Mr.. be Witt says that as fast as the provi-
sions OF the charter are comp eted ard given to
me public the committee vii! turn its attention
TO fresh chapters. and will not spend any time
In defending the new instrument rom attack
or criticism: Apparently there viii be little oc-
sag"s sent to Mr.. De Witt and the comments
heard about the hotel here are to be taken as
The provision which gives the Mayor power
to appoint and remove nearly all heads OF de-
charter. in the shaping OF which Mr.. De Witt
had the chief part, a former mem Der of the
brooh!yn city Government said today in rc!a-
That section OF the proposed charter which
move the heads OF departments i. t. my mind.
one OF It's most comlnendahle provisions. 10 be
sure, " is likely to mean clean sweep OF tho
1tlce' every two years. but the great danger in
municipal overnment is from corruption. and |
! Is essential that the people should be able 10
X The res ponsihility when anything goes wrong.
nder the proposed charter this responsibility
VIII rest on the Mayor, and he. or at least the
'arty he represents, is accountable to the peo- .
lie al the end 81 hts two years term. our com
,Rratively brief experience with this plan in
3rooklyn has been very satisfactory. believe
tinoicates that the people will be quick to dis ,
over rasca!!ty and as qntck to turn the rascals
Mr.. De Witt is considerably surprised at the
nisapprehension caused uy his use OF the term
;2,, here ems 10 be general impress
rom the governing instrument OF the city of !
rS reporter the two have So;ltsHr in common nn
ut the name. The word borough ) used as =
ir. lie Witt explains. because i j., the only '
resses the idea intended 70 be conveyed. The =
ramers OF the charter say that the greater city =
to-day. :.
some form Of subdivision was absolutely nee u
wing at | Fulton street might BE- in aav Of i
1r%e res eetionr Of the new, city. Under these 4
own-town borough OF New York as - Fulton ~
rect. bowling Green. New. York" There are :,
any local matters. most OF them named in tho -
narteT, which the Commissioners believe can =
best looked after hv email local body fol- =
wing the maxim that the best citizen is the ~ ~
he who looks after his own household, and ~
TER that, his own block. "
The next installnen, OF the, new charter will :
made public some time this week and will | .
'ntain tho chapters on the department OF law =. ~
I'd the department of finance. The Commits v,
oners are drawing UP plan of finance which q, ~
II! involve a radical departure from the pres '
II " n