New-York tribune., 1896-02-01
FOR SECOND-CLASS CITIES.
NEW PLAN OF GOVERNMENT PROPOSED BY
A COMMISSION.

NEW PLAN OF GOVERNMENT PROPOSED ~
A COMMISSION.
A,hanv Jan 3l-The commission appointed to
prepare a plan for the government OF second-ciass
cities has submitted Its report to the Legislature
The members of the commission are ex-Judge Rob
or, Earl James c. Cutler. Michael T. Drsrol, Ar
,hur / Andrews and David NJ Greene. They agree
as 10 everything except police system. and on
this question ex-Judge Ear. submits minority re-
port Their communication to thr L's stature IS IN
part as follows.
We have thought that one of the most important
things 10 he accomplished in any general ieg4SId-
lion for r., government OF cities was - secure
to them ioca: autonomy the lnhanlan,S o' ,, ,,g
cities should BE- taught that tney WHs' lrE upon
themselves for good muni 'ira f'Vrfu"-h,. - u,S @
cannot govern thcmselves well, no oN,i p1', . r,',
II has been Gne Of our prnr al aims ID preparing
the proposed legislation 70 de'.se scheme Wh,
would leave no necessity or even, ..r ,,. =, -
to the Legsla turc for any prfposf "n, "nat,y't en- h
purely a legislative body. and that J. -ha!l hay
nothing 70 do with appointm nis 10 Once VITA II,
execution OF conlrao,S w of ~" ,,rral or viii
the expenditure Of money for any puip's" "ha'
ever and IN exnend 'ng9 a money Witch it ap9rora
will, he very little inducement 70 eXUaNdSaht or
One Of The great evils of municipal government is
the creation OF funded debts. frequently. not gen
In Section % Of the law drafted hy the Commss'
Of two-thirds Of al t. msmhers oi me oi
mon Council Is required for ne pasSlge oi y ai,y
ordinance appropriating money FOR any purpose ,ii
/ then ordinance must SPECIFY Inc items pi 'i'
appropration and the department ana sp"'!hc NI
pose for which It is made. We further felIF' IN
Section q that an ordinance authorizing lWiI"l
debt shall have the approval Of the state 'oni'"i'i r.
unless 1t unanimously passed 10y the common
Council. -
facility with which valuable franchises bc.onEl ny
10 cities have been given away or sold for made
ouate returns Franchises have thus been disposed
OF which under proper regulations could hnNe be"i
cold for enough pay a large snare OF ~" tptaI
municipal Indebtedness Of the large cities Oi our
country The system propose requires IN soc.
ton 90 that these franchises shall be sold oI ea'ei
at public auction TO the highest bidder, ana that
such a sale or lease cannot then he "n"cNN" uNli
approved by the Board OF Estimate and ArporuOn-
ment composed OF the five principal officers or me
city. , - go A.,
great lie ia the executive hrad oi Inc
CITY government. , H appoints and, under certain
conditions may remove nearly all the city ohrets'
and thus he can hold them all 20 responsibility for
The manner in which they discharge their duties.
He himself after a hearing and trial Of charges pre-
ferred agains, him, be removed from his Office
| by the Governor.
Ex-Judge Earrs report criticises the proposed b!-
| partisan Police Commissions, and adds:
! The plan which formulate is 20 nave at the hcad
OF the Police Department Superintendent OF Police,
| anpointed by the Mayor and removable by him Ike
| other city officers. | would vest In him the pow
era given by my associates 10 the four tOmmss on
ers except that ! would have board for the trial
OF delinquent members OF the police force composed
| Of the Mayor. Corporation Counsel and one o' the
| CITY Judges.