New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-26
EXPLAINING THE CHARTER.
FOUR OF THE GREATER NETWORK COM
MISSIONERS HEARD.

THE MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLY MAY PROVE
UNNECESSARY. But HE CANNOT
TELL. wHrCTI-GIIRoY TELLS
ABOUT THE TAXES
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.1
Albany Feb 2J.-A committee from the
Greater New-York Commission came TO Albany
to-day to be present at the first joint hearing on
the charter which was given by the Cities Com
mittee to the Senate and Assembly this afternoon
The Commissioners who represented the Com
mission were General Bejamin +. Tracy Seth
Low. Thomas F. Gilroy and Secretary George NJ
Pnney. Senator Stranahan. chairman OF the
Sena5e Cities Committee. gave a luncheon to
them early in the afternoon. Senator Stranahan
said this afternoon that since meeting and talk
ing with the Commissioners he was more I'M
pressed than ever with the non political charac-
ter of the charter. and he felt that business
methods had been adopted. He thought the
hearings would take about two weeks.
At the hearing to-day General Tracy, president
Of the Commission. spoke first and made the
principal address. He said the task which mad
been imposed upon the Greater New-Iork Com
mission by the act Of the Legislature was prob
ably the greatest governmental question ever
submitted to any body Of men. They had been
commanded to form a charter for the consolidated
city of New-York. Within its territory were in
cluded all forms Of government heretofore known
in this State embracing counties. cities villages
towns and school districts. The task set before
them was to cement all these into one form Of city
government. This task had been accomplished
in the form in which 1t was now submitted TO the
LEGISLATURE But he said the Commission was
not vain enough to believe that this was perfect
II was not within the power Of the human In
..1 of
eminent and set them in motion Immediately
under one government without some friction
But the commissioners believed that the scheme
might be safely undertaken trusting TO time anu
experience to point out its defects.
He then went into detailed explanation OF
Tho provisions Of the charter. He said there
had been much discussion as to the necessity Tor
two houses of the local legislature. 1t had been
considered necessary by the Commission because
the territory included embraced greater popu-
lation than that of the United States at the
time Of the adoption OF the Constitution, and the
tax levy Of the territory more than double
that of any State in the Union to-day, not ex-
ceptIng the remainder of the great Empire
State OF New-Y ork-a tax levy Of S6o.0oVo~
year.
It had been the primary aim OF the Commis-
sion TO frame government which would make
impossible any scheme of corruption ms
he believed had been accomplished in the char-
ter now submitted. No debt could be cred'eu
without the approval Of the Board or EStiHa'e
and Apportionment nor could any great puono
improven ent lie instituted without the consent
Of this Board All such plans must hrst nave
passed the two houses of the legislative gov
eminent snd been approved by this Board COLI
sisting of eleven officers comprising the Mayor
and the heads of all departments. Unless every
body I'm the entire city government was COT
ruptible which nobody would believe. any such
scheme Of corruption was bound to be checked
at some stage of its progress.
In regard 20 the two houses Of the Municipal
Assembly, he said THIS provision of the govern
ment of the greater city had been decided upon
after the most careful consideration. III might
he mat within few years one of these branches
would be found unnecessary, but if he were
asked today to say which one OF ines CouIu
be- abolished 1t would be- Impossible io' MN u
say The idea was tn bring the s1Nerh"s ,, a."
closa as possible to the people. If the Mayor
and the Board of Estimate ami Appor'lohHct'
wer. locked up in tn" CITY liaI not olie ~, -.
10 900 of the citizens could reach them pul py
having representatives Of the people scattered
throughout the entire territory everyDouy Wou''
he able to reach the source of government
Fx-Navor Gilroy spoke particularly or tne
financial administration OF the city uUp h ,"e
nosa to make as little departure az posslple
from, the existing laws. The provision Wnicn
the Commissioners had most often peeh ca',eu
upon to explain was the one when proNIucu
that Rrooklvn was To be exempted from taxa
ton in the year lS3S while NeW-io rk was ~
be taxed He explained that the budget Tor 'h,
city of NewYorh was levied IN DtTen'n -. ,t W.
each year and there was not dollar IN the
treasury from January ! to September l. AT
which time the collection of taxes was nesun
II cost New-YOrk city from H--''o" 10 H-''''p"
e,Ila Df
irteres, on money borrowed. When Brooklyn
and the Other municipalities come INTO the
greater city they would he obliged to turn an
the money in their treasures into the treasury
- Greater New York. while New-York would
have no money until the next tax levy was col
lected Brooklyn therefore, would practically
have paid her tax In advance. After tha' year
all would he taxed uniformly.
Scth Low made the most exhaustive review or
the charter taking up each board ana depart
mcnt of government provided Tor ana eXplalnlhs
IN detail how each of the chapters of the charter
,,as formed from all the Information that could
be CAMEL from the experience Of other cities
Secretary Pinney closed the argument Tor the
Commission. answering questions asked by mem
hars of the committee on points already covered
by others 49,, IT,,
The opponents Of the charter and those VINO
wish 10 suggest amendments Will be heard al trie
next hearing which has been fixed FOR CLOCK
reXt Wednesday evening. -,
Senator CIV submitted an amendment to the
charter providing that each borough shail elrcn d
Commissioner OF Street Improvements 10 serve
for four years at a salary of 5000 year whose
duties shall be similar to those Of a like Com,
missioner now in existence in the Twenty -thito
and Twenty fourth wards OF New-York.
Tho Greater New-York Commission VIII nave
it's final meeting at 1890 a. m. tomorrow IN the
City Hall
FLOODS NAY INTERFERE WITH VOTING.
Cr-RIors SITUATION ~ CINCiNNATl-hl"h