New-York tribune., 1896-12-29
THE MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLY.

The Committee on Draft of the proposed char
ter for Greater New-York in reporting their
work 10 the Commission properly refraned from
stating how and TO what extent they were d.
vidcd in opinion as 10 the various parts OF IL.
though In one or two Instances they Indicated
that there was not complete agreement. 1t may
he therefore, that in the discussions of the Com
mission opposition to some provisions of the
charter as submitted will be made by one OF
more of those who alone thoroughly familiar
with the arguments OH both sides. We shall be
rather surprised If this does not occur IN the case
of the article relating to the proposed Municipal
Assembly 1t is certain that those members of
ic Committee Oh Draft who are convinced Of
tie merits of that article do not derive their
coliidence from the experience of New-fork.
The legislative department of the city govern
men has In general been conceded TO work so
badly as to require successive abridgment or
Its funtions, and most citizens, we think. have
regarded with much satisfaction in recent years
the extreuely narrow limits of Aldermanlc au-
th0rity. Nor can II be assumed that the commit
tee have prposed a conspicuous city legislature.
with large p~wers as concession TO the 'popu-
lar sovereignS' idea for at one point In their
report they TAX, pains to declare that all officers
Of the government spring equally from the peo-
pie by whom ther authority is bestowed and to
whom at short intervals 1t returns.
1t Is obvious. the,efore, that Municipal AS
sembly Of two branches and large membership
has been recommended in the belief that it will
prove highly effcien agency Of government.
IL would be agreeable tOaccept this view chiefly
for the reason that the fortunate operation Of
such scheme would be signal proof of popu-
lar intelligence and Of god faith and public
spirit among politicians. Bur with great respect
for the committee we must confess that they
seem to us to have devised a pece of machinery
which at the best would be cumbersome, and
which would be altogether likely TO promote in-
stead OF diminishing the evils to which great
cities are peculiarly exposed We should expect
II to increase enormously the interference of
politics for politics sake with the transaction of
municipal business. and to work most disadvan-
tageOusy when II was working most smoothly.
For one thing. the Municipal Assembly is TO be
remarkably large. containing 10l members in
the lower branch and 81 In the upper-as a whole
almost three-quarters the size of the State Legis
lature. II the general principle is sound-and
We do not deny that 1t may be-why should tae
instrument by which 1t is 10 be carried out be
constructed on Slch a scale? No reason Is given
for creating so numerous a body. and none Ii
apparent.
We do not wish 10 be understood as complain.
ing that the powers conferred on the Municipal
Assembly are too large to be consistent with the
committees general theory. On the contrary. 1t
seems to us upon a consideration OF the impor-
tance which Is attributed, rather than given. TO
1t that they are inconsstently small. AS to all
matters involving taxation and expenditure. for
example, Its authority, though Indispensable. is
In general very narrowly restricted, and cases
are readily conceivable In Which mischief might
result from the elaboration Of safeguards against
proAigacy Thus 1t Ia provided that PROPOSE.
ton to expend million dollars or more upon
any one of q large class Of objects shall after
various other specific conditions have been CON-
piled With, be submitted to popular vote at a
regular or special election. Under represent
alive government frequent resort t. the refer