New-York tribune., 1896-07-28
GREATER kEW-IORK.

The members of the Greater New-IOrk Com
mission will need all the intelligent and public
spirited discussion which can be called out as
TO the details Of plans for the charter OF the
Greater New-York OF course they will wish
to know what the most sagacious and influ-
entail Of their fellOwcltizens think Of PROPOSE
tions which, If carried out will make funda-
mental changes in the government OF the region
which it Is intended TO combine into one mu-
nicipality. The draft of five chapters of
charter which William G. De Witt has prepared
and made public is only preliminary This
draft when completed must be passed upon by
the full Commission. which Is not likely TO
reach an agreement as to charter without
much deliberate examination Of every division
of the whole mOmentOuS subject. 1t Is to be
regretted that the charter for the Greater New
York is not to be prepared and discussed and
settled by a body equal in dignity, in influence.
in distinction and in authority to the COnsttu-
tional Convention which gave to the people of
the Empire State the amended Constitution
which Is now in force The task of preparing
suitable charter for a city which will include
the counties of New-YOIk and Kings and
Queens and Richmond is one of almost equal
importance and gravity with the work which
the Constitutional Convention accomplished.
II the members Of the Greater NewYork Com
mission do as we'll as the members OF the
convention did, they will earn the thanks of the
citizens who are to live under the new charter.
1t is by no means certain as yet that there
will be a Greater New-York for many years to
come, or that if there is. it will be governed un-
der a charter embodying the substance of Mr..
De Wits suggestions. But this draft which
has lust been set before the people will afford
a basis for discussion. Under this proposed
charter the Mayor of the Greater New-iOrk
would have power and authority which
few heads of royal families can claim
Mr.. De Witt proposes that the Mayor shall
be empowered to appoint and to remove
at will the heads Of all the administrative
departments except the Controller When it
is considered what will be the size Of the Po-
lice Department, the Health Department, the
Fire Department and other great departments
of the new city, ii Is obvious that n Mayor
who can appoint and remove the beads OF such
departments at will must have prOdigious Op-
portunities to benefit or to injure the inter
ests of vast number Of people. 1t Is true
that in some cities this experiment has
been tried. But no city approaching the pop
| ulatiOn the wealth and the resources which
will be found in the Greater NewYork has ever
in republican country granted to Mayor
SO far-reaching and imposing authority as
! this draft Of q charter aims to confer. The
| three millions Of people who will make up the
! metropolis of the New World will be fortunate
! if they can secure the services in the Mayoralty
of a citizen worthy to take upon his shoulders
SO tremendous responsibilities and to exer-
| else so extensive powers. Mr. De Wits draft
goes far In the concentration Of authority. 1t
provides that most of the great municipal de-
partnents shall have single heads This sug-
geston is fraught with such possibilities that
| it will stir mp plenty of debate The sugges-
ton as to bOroughs is highly ingenious, and 1t
will serve to some extent, at least. to mitigate
irritations which local pride might suffer from
IL the name Of Brooklyn were to disappear al
together and forever The division into bor-
oughs is not likely to do harm so far as can he
discerned at present. and It may be advan-
tagecus in many ways AS to the scheme or
two legislative bodies in the proposed city gov
ernment, an upper house and a lower one, New
Workers who recall the history OF the Board
of Assistant Aldermen in Tweed's time may
| feel some dstrust.
The leading citizens Of New-YOrk and Brook
lyn should apply themselves with diligence to
the study OF Mr.. De Wits draft, and take
Drompt measures to call out early and thorough
discussion Of all the suggestions which have
been put forth.