The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-19
NEW LAWS TO LIVE UNDER,
oHlNGE e. IN OUR ROUTINE EF-
FBOTED ON JAN. 4 BIT THE OHARTbR

PubIio Punotiona Hauded over 10 New Bursaus
sud pubito Business to no Trnnhhcted Mt
new Places ana In Eev W~ayS-ThinEs Every
Cit,sen or the new City Will Weed TO KNEW
There are many new things provided for In
tho new charter-now officials, new commits
sions, and new bureaus with functions which
have heretofore devolved on other officials.
commissions, or bureaus. Tho old order. 40
familiar to the majority of New Workers. under
tho Consolidation act, has been materially
changed in many regards. while In many
others IL 10 perpetuatod. In some cases
che present system bns been extended to
the three boroughs which were added to New
York county in tho consolidation. A notable
instance OF this IL found In tho New York city
Health Department, whose rules, regulations and
ordinances. which are unfamiliar 10 the citizens
Of Richmond. Kings. and Queens counties will be
made applicable to tbon in their daily life ON
and after next Now Years Day.
1t 10 not tho purpose here. however, to refer
particularly to the things In tho new charter
which arc now to the citizens Of Greater New
York who reside In the territory which has been
annexed to tho old city. The mere fact that they
are residents OF q CITY With the Mayor located In
the old Now York City Hall Is new to Thorn.
What It is proposed to do in this article 10 TO
point out the new things In tho charter az COM
pnrcd with the administration OF old New York
atty under tho Consolidation act. This will DO
done briefly with the idea Of furnishing in con-
venient form data for the guidance Of persons
who may have to deal with any particular
branch of the city Government and may not
know where to 60 or what official to communi-
cato with.
EXTENSIVE LEGIsLATIvE POWERS.
Tho newest thing In the new city law 10 the
provislon for q local legislature-the Municipal
Assombly-to consist Of two branches, and with
extensive Legislative authority. When author
fly IL sought TO build bridges or tunnels. to con-
struct parks or public buildings-in fact, to pro.
coed with any great public improvcment-it will
not DO necessary to 60 to Albany to ask for
legislative permission to issue bonds and 60 on
with the public work. Such authority may issue
from the Municipal Assembly. The proposed
legislation must also be approved by tho Board
Of Estimate and Apportionmont. The legisla-
live powers Of the Municipal Assembl! are 30
great that there will hardly be occasion FOR any
appeal to the Legislature at Albany. The Munic-
i II The A civ asli m IN th % SorouRS Of Mania tam.
The City Clerk is a now official. He 10 clerk OF
the Council. or higher branch Of the assembly
OF Aldermen. He 10 custodian OF tho city seal
Ali auctioneers' licenses will be issued BY him
instead Of by the Mayor.
A NOVEL ADMINISTRATIVE BODY.
Tho Board of. Public improvements. COM
R he ue Sn Of TIE Wste J. Supply S.y tho
Commissioner Of Highways. tho Commissioner
ing and Supplies; the Mayor, the Comptroller.
Presidents, who will vote only on matters AFFECT
ing their respective borouRhs, is the chief admin
H. esE. 81 sG SSs Of Of th The ne eitv %'H spasE anbI,e R Works.
It must meet at least once n week In a place to be
provided by re ~olution OF the Municipal Assem-:
Street Openings in the matter of opening. widen
ing. or extending streets and acquiring lands
o member of tho Commission for the Revision of
Assessments. All applications for local, i'm
pF TSe Presid nas' Of Of t the Board 1n Is Of sH'f Pubic Ufiits'1 I'm.
provements Is required to make street and
grade maps OF all the territory, within the city
Rineers. photographers. and such other aid as
may be necessars to complete tho work:
ume all the functions of the COMMISSIONS Of
PublicsWorks relative TO the water supply and
he will succeed to the functions at present exer.
cised by the Auueduct Commissioners
tho duties heretofore devoiSed on the superin.
Roads. the Water Puryeyor, tho Superintendent
the Department OF Public Works.
NEw supwAY COMMISSIONERS.
The Gommissioner Of Public Buildings, Light
Ing and Supplies 1l sh VIII succeed to the d duties now
and Supplies and tho Superintendent of Lamps
and Gas in the Public Works Department. dc
will also be invested with the functions OF the
Board of Electrical Control. which will go out Of
existence with the year.
CONVENIENT BRANCH oTFIcEs.
All Of the Commissioners represented in the
Board OF Public improvements win have Of
Noes in the borough Of Manhattan. to be estab-
lished by the Municipal, Assembly. There will
SorcuGhs Il the Municipal Assembly districts 50
ments entitled to have chief engineers are en-
powered to appoint heir own corps Of assist
Sfiocs. Similar aT" arr rang M @H,u viii iii be Be D %sSo an
borough offices of the respective departments
for the payment Of taxes and tho examination
BEE THESE OFFICIALS ABOUT LOCAL IMPROVE
Tho President of tho Borough is one Of the
lew charter officials. He IL tn have an office
IN the borough building in each borough, and to
him will be made applications for local improve
nents within the borough to BIZ paid for BY assess,
such rs the opening, closing. grading. paving,
1nd repairing Of streets. the construction OF
walks. laying Of crosswalks. erection Of street
lamps and street signs. He must also hear com.
the like within the borough. He is TO have a
secretary and other assistants.
The petitions and complaints received by tho
President OF the borough have to be referred to
Local Improvement Boards. Of which there is
conc ID ssiG Of s% sSs Pfes dIasarie If thu bSei So9 DSasfs s sse
three Aldermen resident in the Senate district.
and any member OF the Council who may reside
IN the district. They meet at the borough build
ing to pass on the petitions and complaints re-
ceived by tho President. II thoy favor an. I'm
prcyeinent asked for they so report to the Board
Of Public improvements, which takes action;
and the Municipal Assembly is then asked tc
adopt the necessary ordinance II the petition ID
approved. The Local Improvement Boards are
expected to cooperate with tho Police. Health
and other departments in the suppression Of
nuisancos complained of.
The Board OF Estimate is to make but one an
Aual budget hereafter. instead of one for cam
Daign purposes before election and the other fol
business after election is over.
Il POLICE FEATURES.
The new things about the Polico Department
che head of which for the whole territory will
be a bipartisan board at Police Headquarters
Manhattan, are tho fact that examinations o.
applicants will hereafter DO made by the Civil
Service Board; the Chief of Police may be 70
tired by unanimous vote OF the board or by
majority vote with the approval of the Mayor
theatrical and concert licenses formerly issnet
by the Mayor will bo issued at 900 Mulberr,
street, and so VIII licenses to keepers OF INN
giant boarding houses AMI runners for common
Carriers now issued by tho Mayors Marshal
Nothing is said In the charter about the Mayor
harahal III puin D. n nnntin,nd DJa