New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-10
HIS DISAPPROvAL OF THE CHARTER
SENT TO THE LEGISLATURE.

charter amended. II. declared himself In favor
Of single Police Commissioner. with a separate
Board OF Elections, and the right Of the Mayor
to remove heads Of departments at will during
his whole term OF office. With his message he
sent amendments which had been drawn up to
meet his views. and he declared that II those
amendments were adop. ID he would sign tho
amended bill.
Many New-Yorkers went to see the Mayor yes
terday and express their praise for his action.
He seemed to be we'll pleased by such express
sions but he said that his views had been set
forth fully in his message. and he had nothing
further to say on the subject
THE MESSAGE.
His message was as follows
New-York April :. 1897.
To the Assembly OF the State OF New-York Al
bany n. Y.
Gentlemen: Pursuant 10 the duty imposed upon
me By Section Of Article II OF the Constitution
return 10 the Assembly without certificate Of its
acceptance by the city Assembly bill. introductory
No go entitled AN act to unite into one munich
pal.y, under the corporate name Of the City OF
NewYork. the various communities lying in and
about NewYork Harbor including the city and
county Of NewYork, the city Of Brooklyn. the coun-
" OF Kings. the county OF Richmond and part Of
the county OF Queens and TO provide for the gov
ernment thereof"
In accordance with the requirements OF the Con-
stitution, | gave notice of a public hearing upon
said bill and devoted four days hearing all those
persons who desired TO be heard either for
against the acceptance OF the measure. Very many
objections made to the bill Of which
were directed against the general scheme OF conso
dation. and others Of which were directed against
what claimed 70 be errors. omissions and de-
ficencies in the act itself.
As the objections to the general scheme Of con-
solidation. I do not feel called upon TO consider
them while far the objections were based
upon alleged defects in the bill itself considered
that most of the defects thus pointed out could be
easily and readily remedied by appropriate legsla-
ton.
There are however in the bill submitted 10 me
certain defects so serious and fundamental that
cannot feel 1t be consistent with my duty as
Mayor of the city of NewYork to accept the bill In
its present form in behalf of the city.
1t will doubtless be recalled that in the report TO
the Legislature by the Charter Commission, which
was signed by we'll as by the other members
Of the Commission the following language was
used:
In dealing with interests so comprehensive and
important as those that affected by the propo-
stion to consoaate m are 70 become part
Of Greater New-York It Is not SURPRISING taat SP'
ay bss ses sdea upon % sS points a
Commission are at ore in recommending 10 the Leg.
isiature the adoption of the charter as submitted
been able to anticipate every contingency nor, with
all IT'S care, that it has been able aliogethsr Ter 70 -
| does believe after everything has been said. that
the charter contains system OF gEvebn'ne m @ no 11o
| operation with the assurance that 1t VIII quickly
| adjust Itself TO the citys needs.
WHY HE SIGNED THE REPORT.
! IT was well known to my associates on the Char
! ter Commission that 1t was with considerable re-
uctance that appended my signature TO the re-
mort TO the Legislature from which have quoted.
| and that did so only upon the understanding and
agreement that Notwithstanding the expression OF
unanimity therein contained. should be at liberty
publicly TO state the especial features Of the char
| ter to which most strongly objected.
| Accordingly In conjunction with one other mem-
ber Of the Commission | addressed TO the secretary
! Of the Commission a communication stating ihe
| particular provisions 20 which most strongly OBJ
Iected and some Of the reasons why so objected
In that communication (and the other member
of the Commission TO whom have referred) wrote
as follows
As the undersigned have voted for the Greater
New-York charter whole and nave Joined joined IN IN
| the report TO the Legislature TO De submitted IA
matter of record that in the framing of the char
| ter and for the reasons stated DelOW tney HdNe
| both spoken and voted % for Municipal ASSEM-
bIv with single chamber ~ for single Police
| Commissioners and an independent board oil hec-
remove without charges, in the public interest
throughout the whole OF MS term instead ., limit
ing this power as the enar'er uoes' 10 'ne fS' Blk
Thev propose TO support the charter as a whole.
hsta nding that in these important particu-
lars II differs what they think IL ought TO be.
because they believe that as whole us merits merits
| that under 1t consolidation can safely be brought
about. ,, -u.,-. 49,. T., . oL ,,L.
that of preparing charter for Greater New-York
the views of the majority OF those 10 whom me
duty of framing a charter Is committed must pre-
| vail strongly as they believe that in the points
theess prepared support 1t, for the reasons al
ready given; but in doing SO they wish Il 10 %
| known that they think the charter is constructed
| q
| II will be observed that, at the time the words
| that I nave quoted were written, | more than
| doubtful as TO the wisdom OF the provision which
had been made by the charter upon the three points
above indica ted. but at that time felt that the
| general advantages of consolidation and the many
merits OF the charter as piece OF legislation would.
| upon the whole outweigh the defects suggested.
| and that 10 achieve the public benefits which I
believed would flow from consolidation upon the
general plan provided for by the charter II would
be possible 10 bear with the difficulties and dangers
which foresaw might arise from the provisions to
which I took exception. and particularly from the
nrovIsion for the four-headed Police Commission
| and a limitation upon the Mayors power OF re-
| moval.
| SUCCESSFUL ADMINISTRATION IMPOSSIBLE
Since that time however. circumstances have %
developed themselves in the city Of New-York a.
10 impress me more strongly than was i'm
dressed al tho time signed the document from
| which have quoted with the utter impossibity
OF successfully administering the AFFAIRS OF so great
n city as the Greater NewYork will be II the pres-
| .pt form of Police Commission and the present
Iimita lions upon the Mayors power OF removal are
TO be continued
Even in the present city OF New-York the Police
| Denartment has been brought TO condition OF de-
moralza,ion which Is appalling and disgracefu.
and which s TO be traced directly 10 the manner In
| which the law requires the present Commission to
be constituted and the inability OF the Mayor to
| iSsiO ht he Y
,ha, the public interests require such reconstruo.
ton.
| I should be lacking in what deem TO be my
| duty 10 the public II consented 10 accept in tho
| name OF the City OF New-York measure which
| p-oposes to extend 20 the Greater NewYork the
~ ln,. .rli ha,.a tha mia