New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-08
MAYoR'spOwEROF REMOVAL
HEARING ON THAT PHASE OF THE
CHARTER.
pcRMAN n. EATON WANTS THE ArfHo'~NO
COUNCIL FOR THE REMOVAL OF HEAD

OF A DEPARTMENT..
The third public hearing by the Greater ~. civ
Commission on the proposed chAr'ei' :.
usu Yesterday was not a long one. anu "A
tended by a sparse audience Generai ray "a 60,
srd Nsvers strong. wurster and Gleason anu I'm
.-,..,orcrs f;lroy. Low, De Witt. butcher moore
.ra pmney were present. The chapter cons'de,eu
rea,ea 70 the Mayors power Of removal the ""'''
nal Civil Service and the Statistical bu'es.
g., scnurx salem H. Wales. Aldermen Schoo ana
Goodman Mrs w. II. Schlenehn' p'esiue". A..
woman,s Auxiliary Of the Civil Service heiorm ~
', "a Ms Russell Lowell were among the
spectators. . .rnont nj,
The charter gives the Mayor power 10 appo'"' a''
Tho administrative and executive omcers VI '',e ~
except the Controller who Is mace elective " VI
people every four years. so that the "eaSu' a."
Nnances will constantly be in the hands OF an '"ue-
s. a.n.r,,,en, The Mayor Is also to have ao-
so,u,e mower TO remove at will every aomihisfa"'e
ofacer irrespective OF the prescribed term OF MS "
Ace during the first six months or MS au','
zion After that he remove only OH o"a's eS'
with the Governors approval =.
When General Tracy asked Tor the sie"~e'' " ~
gin Carl Scrurz said
~ am not here TO speak. unless somebody oners
objections to the charter which IL very SATISFACTORY
to the Civil Service Reform League.
Ex-Judge James ". Halves. OF the hepuoiod"
Club said tha, his organization was OF opinion 'na'
the power Of the Mayor should be plenary during MS
first six months of his office.
Do-man r. Eaton. who spoke on the chapter uis-
cussed on Monday. again addressed the Commission
lie said ne unable 10 approve any part OF 'ne
charter dealing with The Mayors power OF removal
81 propose 10 substitute for the words. the Mayor
may remove a. pleasure. the words. the mayor
NAV remove whenever in his judgment the public in
,erest shall so require No public officer should be
removable at pleasure think that Mayor VINO
would remove a public official at pleasure wouio DC
unworthy 10 he Mayer OF the Greater New-forK'
Mr. Eaton said the whole theory of treating the
heads OF city government in the same manner a'
the heads Of the National Government was raise
ana misleading There is TO analogy whatever
he declared between a city government ana 'he
National Government The Mayor mad no rish' u
appoin; for personal reasons: he shouin appo'' any
remove 10 promote the general welfare OF 'ne e'''
and nothing else. When you give the Mayor aoso'
lutte power during his first six months OF ONCE ~"
create a fendal Mayor despot n th;s city
The speaker then contended that a. the emu % So
months Tho Mayor was placed al the mercy OF .'e
Governor and the dominant party OF the o'a.e ~
the terms of the charter. ''This char.ei 'e
sald bears on its very face the impress OF Mayor
aIty mover. and is framed on the theory that me
Havor of Inc city will be vrtuous despot IL was
drawn ND by men VINO have been Mayors out never
Comwssioner Low asked the speaker If he would
favor inserting in the cnaraei f fme reasons TO be
submitted in writing remove Officers but
s'rhat would be decldeu iilpi NJ
r,,,,,h .So have the reasons fled" replied MT
Eaton . ,,u ,h. Mavor the
what would you say TO giving the Maso ~ ths
mower Of removal subject TO the approval OF 'he
Council?' asked General Tracy. ,.u a..
'If the people should elect eood oouie Ma .xo
uo,,'d he an Improvement. | think also the Nay
should send his appointment TO the councm ,t,
DAYS before the appointment is made ms =, ~V n,
give the press an opportunity 10 rarsack ..e M,
tory Of the man the Mayor was gong 10 "pPo'"''
replied Mr.. Eaton. 1T, ,,,<a 20 have a
nroyision Inserted in the charter provlahs INA
,he Navor should make no appointments y, ~
,aovaIs nv reason OF political or religious opinions;
would prefer that aftsT SIX s,,hisct to IN.
ann-ovel o. The Council or the Governor inquired
Chairman Tracy. , =, ,ho Council
ia NJ Going 10 Albany. and stand always io'
home rule replied Mr. Eaton enphau nnyHodv else
- ,.,shad ~ sneak and as there was no response
he hearing was adjourned until to-day