The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-02-26
GREATER NEW YORK BILLS.
FIRST HEARING BEFORE THE COM
OF TIL LEGISLATURE.

-Ex-sfayor Giiroy Explains the Rinnp-
cfsi Standardization or the Great CITY.
ALBANY, Feb. 5.-Ths Greater New York
charter and accompanying bills were formally
read By the Clerk In tho Senate this morning
and referred TO the Cities Committee. Soma
tor Raines desired to have the separate bill
amending the general ele. tion law 20 TO the
Judiciary Committee, as that committee was
now considering proposed amendments to that
statute. Senator stranahan, the Chairman ,f
the Cities Committee. said there was some force
In Senator Rainos's suggestion. but thought all
bills prepared by the @ .eater New York Com
mission should 10 10 tho Cities Committee.
where the hearings on the measures were TO DO
held. Senator Rsiner agreed to this. on sena-
tor Stranahan's statement that when action
was to he taken on the proposed election law
amendments submitted by tho Greater Now
York Commission the Cities Committee could
confer with tho Judiciary Co mmittee upon the
question.
Tho Cities Committed Of the Senate and As
sembly gave = Joint herring on the Greater
New York bills this afternoon especially for
tho commissioners who hal prepar I'd the char
ter. But four Of these commissioner were
present, Gen. Tracy. Thomas +. Gilroy. Seth
Low, and George ". Pinney. Jr. The hearing
was 10 have opened At 8 o'clock. but II was
nearly 4 o'clock before the committees were
ready to proceed.
Senator S.ranahan first called upon Gen.
Tracv. the President OF the commission, who
made the principal address. He said the task
which had been imposed upon the Greater
New York Commission by the act Of the LeRis-
laturo "as probably tho greatest COVER. mont
question ever submitted TO any body Of men.
They had been commanded to frame q charter
for the consolidated city OF New York. With.
In Its territory were Included all forms Of gov
ernmen' heretofore known ir this State, en-
bracinI counties. cities. villages. towns. and
Jchcol districts. The task ret before them was
to cement all these into ono form OF city gov
nrnment THIS task. he said. had been accom-.
plished In the form in which II was now sub
mittod to the Legislature. But, he said. the
commission was not vain enough to believe
that this was perfect. IL declared that IL was
not within tho power Of the human Intellect TO
tiiLI t~Rether all tleso forms Of government
and set thom In motion Immediately under one
government without som friction. But they
believed that II was so far perfect that It might
be safely undertaken and trust TO time and
experience 10 p)in. out Its defects.
Ho then wen into n detailed es. lsna.ion %
The provisions OF tho charter. He said there
had been much discussion as to the necessity
for two houses Of the local legislature. II had
eNSH h'Ntooei1 W tho CVIlInlholOn
because the territory included embraced a
greater population than that OF the United
States n: the time Of the adoption OF the Con.
stitution, and the tax levy OF the territory was
more than double that OF any state in the
Union to-day. not excepting the rem Under of
levy OF $50. 900 900 u year. II had been Tie
primary aim OF the commission TO frame n gov
.rnu ont as would MAKE impossible any scheme
OF corruption. This. he believed. had been ac-
complished in the charter now submitted.
No debt could be created without the approval
OF tae Board OF Estimate and Apportlonment.
nor could any great scheme OF public improve.
ment DO Instituted without the consent OF this
board.
AL such schemes must first have passed the
two houses OF the legislative q Jvernment and
then TO approved by this board. consisting OF
heads OF all departments. U iless everybody
In the entire city. government we're corrupt
bic. which nobody would believe. and such
scheme OF corruption wa, bound TO DO checksd
AT some -tage OF ITS progress. absolute honesty
in public affair. wa. provided for. In regard
he said this .rovision VI tho government OF
tho greater city had been decided upon after
that within q few years one OF these branches
would be found unnecessary. but II ho were
Ss sSOi ho .1.a u 70 ws s@y T Ss Ino oas 81 ,h res nc, fOuI ID
saw. The scheme was to bring the z, vern-
ment as close ,s possible 70 the people. II
tionment were locked up In the City Hall not
one IN 10000 OF the citizens could reach them.
DuI ny uhNiHk TtDTcstnthtlNcp OF the ueODl0
scattered throughout tho entire territory
everybody would be able 10 reach the sour ,e OF
Rvvernuleni.
Gen. Tracy's arr umen was an exhaustive
review Of tho entire scheme OF government
proposed under the new charter. These wac
departments. Ex. Mayor Gilroy took up par.
icuIariy the financial administration OF tho
s sssi' il e'i had q SeSs tho ssT PURPOSES pToossed a .h Jar y: m ns
possible with the. various interests involved.
to mako as little departure as was possible
Tram this III wa ia III VhA Aa.t.
which the Commissioner had most often been
called upon to explain ~as the one which pro-
taxation in tho Year 1898. While New YORK
was to.bc taxed. He explained that the budget
for the 10y Of New York was levied in Do
In. the treasury from Jan. ] TO Sept. /, at
which time the collection Of taxes was begun.
900 each year for the collection OF taxes and
the Interest on money borrowed. WIEN Brook
greater city. they would be obliged to turn ali
81 ses a msnsy N.M sAs Her 1reS @Sii. i HsU The 9S1 iTe %sa1s
practically paid her tax In advance. After
President Low of Columbia College made
The most exhnustl, 0 revie Y OF the charter. TAX
ment provided for and explaining IN detail
how each OF the chapters OF the char ,er were
formed from all the information that could DO
Called from the experience OF all the cities OF
H., ,~ountry. lie ex planned not only the pro-
visions of the charter submitted for the con-
solidated city. but the provisions OF ~existine
law governing eAch.- 4 the municipalities affect
ed out OF which this charter had been formed.
Mr.. Low was listened to with close attention
by the mem be RS OF the and answered
In detail all questions submitted TO him.
The hearing was then closed. The oppo-
nents OF the charter and thosa who wish To sug-
gest a~mendm ents will be hoard at the next hear
Ing. which has been liked for y o'clock on
Wednesday evening.
Senator Guy submitted an amendment tn
tho charter, providing that each borough shall
elect u Commissioner OF street improvements,
TO serve Tor four years. ut IA salary OF S., 900
a year. and whose duties shall DO similar to
those. of n like Commissioner now In existence
In the Twenty thiri and Twenty. fourth wards
OF New York.
National sound Money League C~ommittoo.