The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-02-23
REPORT ON THE CHARTER.
coMMIssIoN,s UNANIMOUS STATE.
NEWT TO THE LEGISLkTURE.

nj Gnvftuuttutt hakN Nsy U.tNty - v ~ s.h'
Operations. with the Assurance That II will
Quickly Adjust itself to the City's Needs.
Tn. report Of the Greater New York Commits
don. with tho charter and annexed bills and pro-
rosed constitutional amendments. was pro-
,,n,ed to the Legislature last night. Tho report
Contains nearly TO- words, and Is signed by
ali the members OF the commission except
Andrew II. Green. who was too Ill TO have any
mart In the work Of preparing the charter. Tho
ei.t ofthe bills and amendments has been printed
IN THE SrS. The following from tho report on
the subject OF minority representation is inter
esting:
"The purpose OF the second proposed consti-
~,utional amendment Is to invest the Legislature
with authority to permit minority or proper
,ionate representation in municipal elections.
II 1. A source Of sincere regret to the majority
Of the commission that under the Constitution
Of the State. as II now stands, 1t has appeared
TO be impossible to provide for minority or pro-
nortionate representation in the charter Of
Greater New York, without making a vital part
OF the charter depend upon a provision OF I'M
cer,,in constitutionality. Such representation
IA equally desirable whether the basis OF divis-
ion IN municipal elections be political or non
poltica,. SO far, both In the history OF Great
Britain and OF this country. the complete exclu-
sion OF politics from municipal elections has been
found impossible. Many hope that in the future
Il may not be 80. But II such expectations be
realized some basis Of division on local issues
will still exist representing differences Of opin-
ion. and Il is important, whatever such differ
ences may he, that the minority shall be repre-
sented. The commission would have provided
for the election OF some members OF the NUM-
cipal Assembly at large and for q gradual retire
ment OF tho members OF ono or both
houses. II II could have dono so with the
assurance that In every year the minor.
ity, whatever that might be, would have
secured under all circumstances just repre-
%,entation. But. in Greater New York. where
the political division OF the citizens Is so one
sided. elections wholly at large for the Munich.
pal Assembly would be likely to mean, in most
years. the absolute extinction Of the minority.
Partial elections at large In ordinary years
could only tend TO decrease the minority's just
and propoTtionatc weight. A method OF cleo
ton that should make II impossible ever to
change the membership OF the Assembly at one
time, would be apt to give the control OF tho
Municipal Assembly Of the city to the ma.
jority. happen what would. In the meanwhile
II has seemed TO the commission OF the ut
most consequence 10 the public welfare that
resented in the Municipal Assembly at all times,
even II II cannot hope often TO secure control.
The commission has therefore arranged in both
Of Representation b. districts that will secure al
vaysa certain representation for the minority.
5ss G Of iRe eiig SRs Rli2se eIy, IN h ;hs iS ID 8 inc Pe Of
the majority OF the commission. often
ought Of right to be: and the com
mission therefore urges as strongly as possible
that the amendment TO the State Constitution
lion in municipal elections be placed promptly
In the way Of adoption. II does this, also, The
from the special conditions prevailing in Greater
New York. that minority or proportionatc rep
resentation,i is in the interest OF good city govern.
the fact that, in thu. administration OF a city, the
common interests OF the citizenship OF the place
are more fundamental than party divisions:
while, in the meanwhile. Il tends to preserve the
interest OF the minority In the effort TO secure
good city government by encouraging them TO
feel that their Efforts are not useless"
THE PROPOSED CHARTER
In approaching the discussion OF the charter
herewith submitted. IL IL proper for the commits
sion TO remind the Legislature that the task i'm.
posed upon them, at once delicate and onerous
as any task could be, has also been very definite
and precise in It's nature, The commission has
city charter at large; but. on the contrary, with
The duty OF preparing "a charter that should
Ing, to "a considerable extent, under local laws and
each with different charters; and that should also
Sesiies, Of territory stili remaining undsr town s5sa;
and yillage government. The different com
nunities thus TO be consolidated into one are
located upon three different islands and upon
graphically into natural subdivisions almost as
distinct rs the historic sntecedents that have
marked their life. Nevertheless, they are. in
substance and in fact, a single community, in
that they are all alike the outgrowth OF The com.
New York.
To have adopted for such a city WIN, may he
described AS a skeleton charter. would have been
10 have lett to the local legislature the framing
o. ordinances that should be the fundamental
law Tor all the vast interests thus 10 be consoli-
dated into a single Government. In connection
WIN me BnllGtnR Department, the commission
has, has done this partly because 4 was clearly impos-
:sarins such widely different s''s "enaiti6pn as,
unwilling TO venture upon original lesis,
mtion as to a subject at once SO intricate.
70 sn Ie clinical: and yet so important. Moreover,
PIRATE teid for local, regulation. The charter,
therefore,, provides that the existing building
territory until superseded by a municipal build.
ing code, and the Municipal Assembly OF the city
perls IN the ST pre y E1ySn az a,p. .nch to- to employ OK
COMMENCEMENT 20 be wise. in declining the pow.
avail as far as possible and wheneveri IL was appii.
Saoie, OF he legislation already upon the statute
eo3S IN relation 70 one or the other Of the cities
70 be consolidated into Greater New York. This
Heci-!9h has made the charter more bulky than
4 Otherwise would have been; but the
assured That for the most part, the pow.
ss and duties deyolved upon the various
departments OF Greater New York are those
nnith nave heretofore been devolvcd upon such
soHSriments IN one or the other OF the cities con-
sonGalei by the charter. The commission has
,ehtnred upon very little original legislation
v0Gfnins The powers OF any. department, unless
rith lhe general approval OF those most compe-
"nt 'orpeak In relation thereto. In case ~ doubt
20 !" any POINT, tho commission generally has
aSs"h.eu lhdt the existing law was the result OF
SSSsI experience and ought to be maintained,
"ncFe me local laws have differed, in mat
~, fSs hhancial and relating 10 property,
s nv 'tW OF New York has generally been
sbe the preference in matters Indifferent,
~" Ost law, IN the opinion oil the commits.
b%' on'alhinS in any OF the three cities
% O'eii maintained and where immediate uni
ion'ts n '"en impracticable without great
h. aI irritation. II absence OF uniformity could
~ az otIttlei without disloyalty tc consolidation,
n ~ uns Ease Of the Department OF Education,
has y has done the best Il could, and
mS,, ,ot hes!tated 10 leave to time the adjust
h n y ~ points of detail as to which there mas
nr Sn iuispute, No other course seemed TO be
ranis ia ~ under "a mandate to unite living or
fIe"ms' IKE cities, into a new and common
ihh MUNICIPAL INSTALLATIONS RULE.
Hir, ~ a~ckEowledged that there was much con-
lion y, opinion IN tho commission over the crea-
.H " n leglAlattya dana - 90. =