New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-03
THE MAYOR AND THE CHARTER.

Though the Legislature gave no official heed
20 protests against the charter while that in
strument was in its possession 1t is not denied
that many Republican members who voted for
II did so under full conviction of the folly and
wrong 10 which they We're consentDg. If the
managers Of the machine which they serve had
Withdrawn the imperative order for its passage
and left them to act according TO their own in
clnations they would undoubtedly have de-
feated It by a large majority. That the process
Of disintegration which unmistakably began
eral weeks ago has proceeded far enough 10
warrant a hope that 1t will fail 10 pass a Sec
vnd time in case Mayor Strong shall send it
back with q veto. is not probable, though some
votes will certainly be added to the opposition.
But that is a speculation which the Mayor does
not need TO consider. His duty Is TO act in be-
half Of the people Of NewYork upon his in
structed judgment of what their welfare re-
qurcs. If the testimony against the charter
10 which he is daily listening produces its nat
ural effect upon his mind he will inevitably with
hold the approval Of the municipality.
II would be an extraordinary thing II Mayor
whose independence Is undisputed and Gov
ernor whose will has recently bafied the ma
chine should retain their good opinion Of the
charter In the face of such an opposition as has
now developed in this city. Consider what the
cause and quality Of that opposition are In
many cases, as when questions OF finance and
tariff are under discussion and political tradi-
tons are involved, II is reasonable TO make al
lowances for biassed judgment. and each party
20 the controversy can generally claim without
making itself wholly ridiculous that the weight
OF evidence is on its side. But this is not such
n case. The testimony is Overwhelmingly
discount for partisan or personal prejudice. The
witnesses who have appeared in print. at meet
ings Of various public bodies and before the
Mayor in opposition TO this act belong TO all
parties but speak for none The interests they
represent are the multifarious interests Of this
great city, which they believe to be IN extreme
peril The Chamber Of Commerce, the Real Es-
tate Exchange. the Ear Association and every
civic organization. we believe, which has taken
ection in this matter, together with the Tax De
parment. the most respected Of our former
Mayors and scores of individual citizens OF high
rcpute for practical sagaciiy, have united in
protesting against the charter. Nobody can i'm
asine. or does In fact pretend, that they are In
fucnced by any motive except solicitude for the
common welfare II they are mistaken. they
are mistaken as to a question which everybody
would have expected them In advance TO be pc
culiarly capable of deciding wisely. If they
really are Incapable OF so deciding IT, their inca
paciiy IS miraculous.
These witnesses declare with one accord not
only that the charter contains some conspicuous
features such as the dual assembly, which can
work well only by reversing all the experience Of
the past. Jul that as whole IT Is crude, cum
bersome. contradictory; that il will involve mu-
niclpal affairs IN ineXtrlcable confusion; that 1t
will enormously increase the financial burdens
OF this city; that IL win cause endless litigation,
and so far from giving the enlarged mctropo-
lis control Of its own affairs Will invite constant