New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-08
THE CHARTER HEARINGS.
LIKELY TO BE ENDED THIS WEEK FROM
LACK OF INTEREST
THE LEGISLATURE rs WILLING TO LISTEN no
CRITICISM But THE TAXPAYERS ARE IN
Drccr-scrov or

CRITICISM. But THE TAXPAYERS ARE IN
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF con-
sTrTuTroNAL AMENDMENT.
rrpoa A STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRIBuNE.]
Albany. March Tt is possible that the hear
ings on the Greater New York charter may END
this week. not because Of any unwillingness on
the part of the Senate and Assembly commit
tees on cities to grant 4 hearing to any person
who desires to speak on the charter. but from
the fact that no ono seems to care to be heard
William F. Rogers ex-State Railroad Commits
sioner, last Wednesday night gave as an ex-
PLANTATION of the apathy Of the public that every
one in New-York believed the passage OF the
bill was nxed"-that IL. that the Republican
leaders had decided to pass 1t. no matter now
many good reasons were put forward against
It, and IL would be a waste Of time to come 10
Albany and express any opinion about the
measure Mr. Rogers said he had not believed
that the Republican leaders were imperVious
to reason and therefore. ne had come to Al
bany to utter his protest against scheme
which would increase the taxes OF New-forK
by S12.0000O0
Assistant Corporation Counsel Clarke. COM
menting on the Indifference shown by the rich
property y-owhers OF New-York at the prospect
Of having S120OO000 OF additional taxes mn
posed upon them, said on Friday: These
men will not show any interest until the Sl-'-
100000 Of additional taxes Is actually imposed
but then they will arise In great wrath ana
seek TO destroy the city administration which
did it," That there is danger OF some expression
of dissatisfaction with the charter or with the
methods used in passing 1t Is acknowledged
by some of the Republican Senator'S. one
prominent member of the Senate Repuohcah'
who sat talking with several others on triday
said: "In my Judgment the Republican party
is going to suffer loss OF thousands OF votes
within the Greater NewYork territory because
we have not submitted the charter TO vote or
the people of the three cities affected. Ihey
have a grievance. and they will express IL at
the polls" The Senator who spoke In TINS IN
direct manner expresses his personal Delie1 tnat
it is bad party policy to pass the charter TINS
year but there is no question that ne VIII opey
orders" and vote for the bill.
The constitutional amendments accompanying
the charter have thus far attracted little atten-
ton Some of the members of the Legislature
are pointing out that, while the charter IS 20
go into effect January l. 1898 the amend
ment to the Constitution drawn TO guard
against "the resuscitatOn in the counties or
New-York and Kings of separate and inde-
pendent Boards OF Supervisors" cannot even
come before the people of the State at the polls
until the fall of 1899. An amendment to the
Constitution cannot be made In a hurry IL
While the present Senate might approve such
an amendment to the Constitution. no further
progress could be made with II until the Sen
ate of 1899 met, and, then If passed. 1t would
not come before tfe people until the fall cleo
ton Of that year In the interval between the
charter going into effect and the adoption OF
the amendment to the Constitution. ask some or
the members of the Legislature, Is there. TO
quote the Greater New-York Commissions re-
port. any danger of "the paralleling OF the
city government throughout the territory of
the consolidated city with separate and In
dependent county government in the three coun-
ties Of Nsw-York. Kings and Rchmnnd?"
What will probably prove 10 be the final hear
ing on the charter will be held by the cities COM
mittees of the two houses on Tuesday evening
Among those who will appear will be Mrs. Lille
Devereux Blake and other women suffragists
who want the charter amended so as to permit
the appointment Of women on the various mu
nicipal boards provided for.
The charter has Just beer printed as bill and
will be placed upon the files OF the members Of
the Legislature tomorrow. 1t will have to be
reprinted, as several amendments which the
Commission has agreed to will be made. The
chapter in the charter referring TO elections in
the Greater NewYork Is made to take effect on
January next. l. Is expected that this Will be
amended so as to have ii go into effect by Sep
tember l. so that the election next fall for
Mayor Of the greater city may be held under Its