The record-union., 1896-10-02
AMEND THE CITY CHARTER.
The Matter Discussed by the Trustees
Committee.
Another Meeting Next Week, When
a Line Of Action Will be
Taken.

AS long ago as last winter the "Rec-
ord Union reflected public opinion and
judicial expression that there is need
to so amend the city charter as to more
clearly define the duties and preroga-
tives of departments, and to remove
unhappy conflict and constant friction,
all which operates to the injury of the
city and to produce uneconomic condi-
tionS.
More recently this paper, in response
to generally expressed public sentiment,
renewed the suggestions and set out in
detail how and when the amendments
must be made, if they are to be framed
In time to be presented to the next
Legislature if accepted by the people.
Had the suggestions been then acted
upon there would have been ample time
in which to have submitted the amend
ments at the election in November. That
may not now be done, however.
More recently still Mayor Hubbard
sent to the Trustees a message suggest
ing that that body proceed to frame the
necessary amendments. Accordingly
the Trustees took up the matter and
appointed Messrs. Devine, ToZer and
Kent as a committee to consider the
matter and report the needed amend
mentS. Last Monday evening the Board
of Trustees authorized that committee
TO call into consultation with it a num-
Der OF citizens. Last evening the COM
mfttee met, Trustee Devine in the
chair There were present by the in
vitation referred to Messrs. H. Vein
stock, r. t. Devlin and c. L. White of
the original Board of Freeholders, and
Messrs. William Schaw, j. .. Coleman
and j. A. WOodSon
AS soon as the meeting opened the
debate began as to what is most needed
the leaders in the expression of Opin
ion being Freeholders Devlin and
White, to whom the others mainly ad
dressed themselves The debate pro-
ceeded upon the line that the friction
and clash of the last three years is
due to the fact that the powers and
duties of the executive and legislative
branches of the city government are
not clearly defined. and that the charter
expressions in that respect are con-
1licting or ambiguous. 1t was conceded
on all sides that the desire is to pro-
mote harmony and economy in the ad-
ministration of city affairs; that the
chief, in fact the only lines of division
upon which charter amendments are to
proceed, are these three, namely:
tirSt-Inv veStment of the office of
Mayor with full and absolute execu-
tive power, making that official sole ap-
pointer of non-elective heads of de-
partnents without interference by the
Board of Trustees, with also a super
Nising duty and power over all city en-
ployes, and all city work, and the or
der1ng of all supplies, the Mayor being
chosen by the vote of all the people of
Ehe city, and he being held responsible
directly to them, as under the city of
Brooklyn system.
Second-The imposition upon the
Board of Trustees Of all legislative and
executive duty. the ordering of all sup
plies and the direction of all public
plies and the direction and su-
pefVlSlon of all public works
the Mayor under that system
being the executive officer of the board
10 carry out its ORDERS much as would
the President Of a business corporation,
but having still the veto power over
ordinances Of the board.
Third-The abandonment of the office
Of Mayor, and making the President of
the Board Of Trustees it's executive
head and ex-officio Mayor, so far as
other functions are concerned
fourth line of thought met with lit-
tie favor and was dropped, namely, to
elect the Mayor as now, and require
him to preside as President of the Board
Of Trustees and be its executive, with
veto power as now, but with all direc-
tion as to subordinates, public works
and supplies, vested in the legislative
body
1t was finally agreed by the Trustees
Committee that it was not constituted
TO report to the full board its special
ideas, but to report one, two or more
plans Of amendment, that they may by
the board be submitted to the people
if approved, since the amendment to
the Constitution of the State in 1892
expressly provides that in the amend
ment of city charters one or more
propositions or forms of amendment
may be submitted to the people for
their selection of any one, without
prejudice to any other, and not that
the municipal Legislative body should
submit a proposition to be accepted or
rejected without alternative. when
there are others bearing on the same
subject which the people are consider
ing, and from among which they de-
sire to choose.
1t was agreed that outside of these