The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-12-25

NEW YORK. Dec a4--Ths draft of the
proposed charter OF Greater New York, as
submitted 70 The commission, viii De pub
lshed tomorrow. The legislative power IS
10 be vested IN a municipal assembly 70
consist or two houses. 8 lower aoase OF
lea members elected from senatorial and
an upper house OF s. members elected
, from council districts. AL the members
OF both houses are to be elected for the
term of TWO years and al are 10 retire at
once.
As to everything concerning the rights.
privileges and liberties Of the citizen re-
spectSng municipal rule, the Legislative de-
pantment is TO be subject 10 no restraint.
But IN respect to pubic improvements the
action of the municipal assembly Is TO be
further subjected 20 the concurrence OF
the board of estimate and apportlonmsnt.
The mayor is TO have power to appoint
all the administrative and executive OH
GERS Of the city except the comptroller.
who is rendered elective by the people
every four years, so that the treasury and
finances viii constantly be in the hands or
an independent department.
The MAYOR is 10 have supervisory con-
troll over the various departments, and an
enlarged veto power upon the acts OF the
municipal assembly. His patronage and
his power are so great that he viii in
these particulars be dignitary second
only IN Importance to the governor or
the state The mayor is 10 be given abso-
lutte power 10 remove at will every admin
istTa tive officer. irrespective of the pre-
scribed term of office during the nrst six
months of his administration. After that
he can remove only on charges, with the
approval OF the governor.
Where the powers of the administrative
departments are largely discretionary, II
Is proposed TO have the departments pre-
sided over by board OF two or moro
commissioners. Where they are execu-
tive merely, but one commissioner has
been provided for.
By far the largest and most important
board is TO be the board of public inn
prcvements. consisting of the heads OF six
newly created departments-phe depart
ment OF water supply, or highways, OF
sewers, of street cleaning, OF public build
ings, lighting and supplies, and the de-
partment OF bridges. This is the st. Louis
system.
The police department will have four
commissioners, as now, and will include
the bureau Of elections. The charities de-
partment and the park department will
be presided over by three commissioners
each. The law department, the fire de-
partment and the department OF correc-
ton viii have single heads. The building
department may have four
Greater New York Is 10 be divided into
five boroughs: Manhattan. the Bronx,
the Brooklyn. the Queens and Richmond.
and a certain degree of homo rule is TO
be granted to the boroughs. There are to
beN five commissioners OF taxes and as
sessments. instead of three, as at present,
and a system for the equalization of the
varying conditions in the consolidated
territory has been devised
In the matter OF education, the commit
tee adopted a plan which centralzes I'm
board of education. representing the
whole city, the physical conduct of the
schools, and which deyolves upon school
boards appointed by the mayor In every
borough the educational conduct OF the
schools.
The commission concluded not to deal
with municipal ownership, but says:
From an original and ideal standpoint
IL is easy 10 see that the city would be-
come the recipient or vast revenues by
the ownership and operation of all fran
chises. for lighting by gas or electricity
and for tramwsys and other purposes
necessary TO the life and business OF a
metropolitan community. and exercised so
largely by use of the streets and ave-
nues belonging TO the people. Nor could
any one well deny the right and power OF
the people 10 EN- bark In such enterprises.
In Greater New York however. private
capital, upon the faith Of the state Is en-
barked largely in such franchises. IL
would take a sum too vast To be hastily
computed 10 acquire the properties thus
vested IN private persons. by fair COM
pensation."