New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-15
ulations of The Tribune and find in 1t stead
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WHAT CHAR7ER-AMENDNG PROVES.


The Committee on Draft and other members
of the Charter Commission are listening to the
criticisms of their work which they invited not
merely with patient attention, but with open
minds and an obviously earnest purpose to make
the discussion profitable TO the city. Many
changes in the original draft. some Of them OF
n radical nature and others Of comparatively
slight importance. have already been made.
either in accordance with suggestions from out
slders or upon discovery by the commissioners
themselves of defective or doubtful provisions
This attitude is becoming and should be heartily
commended. but nevertheless it suggests seri
Gus and. indeed. startling reflection.
Scarcely n single of these alterations
whether great or small has resulted from a
studOus examination and thorough discussion
Of the subject There has been no time for sucn
deliberate work. In almost every case the
change has followed the submission of memo
randum or short oral statement or has been
abruptly announced by the Committee on Draft,
being due 10 no public expostulaton. but to FUR
ther. though brief consideration by the charter
makers. That is to say. the modhcatlons nave
been in large measure accidental Somebody
has happened TO detect what seemed TO him
bunder and has pointed it out. We say nap
pened. because it is utterly impossible fhat any
citizen not n member OF the Commission should
have obtained more than slight, superhcai
knowledge OF this enormous subject. and the
Commissioners themselves are evidently making
fresh discoveries from day to day. or at least
obtaining new views Here W clause, says
some one, (which moments reflection leads me
to condemn" "You are right say the Com
mssoners. I'VE had not thought Of 1t before. but
the point is a good one" Substantially In this
manner a great many changes have already been
adopted with respect to provisions which have
CHANGED TO catch the notice and fix the thoughts
of individuals But those details which have
passed under review are Il mere fraction OF the
whole There is vast deposit which remains
practically unexplored. Having every wish not
to indulge in exaggeration, we consider 1t not
improbable that there are hundreds If not thou
sands, of points at which the Commission would
be glad to Introduce notifications in their work
if they had any means of finding them.
And this IS the scheme Of government for
city Of 100000 inhabitants which in little
more than two weeks must he presented to the
Legislature in a presumptvely complete and
satisfactory form. and all ready for the applica-
ton of the tanning through" process. The
strongest Indictment Of this enterprise IS that
which Is now being drawn in public with the dis
interested assistance Of the Charter Commission.
They have explicitly confessed to many serious
errors in the course Of a short and utterly made
auate examination of their work. and by impli-
cation they acknowledge the probability Of in
Vulnerable faults. To force such conditions of
municipal existence upon these unconsulted
communities would be an outrageous abuse of
power Against such an act Of tyranny not only
the common sense Of the majority but the ex-
perience Of the Charter Commission most siren
uOusly protests.