New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-23

THE CHARTER SUBMITTED.
REPORT OF THE COMMISSION.
REVIEW OF THE GENERAL PLAN OF
ORGANIZATION FOR THE GREATER
NETWORK.

SUPPLEMENTARY LEGISLATION AND coSsrTru.
rIoNAL AMENDMENTS DEEMED NECESSARY
TO THE SUCCESS OF CONSOLIDATION
PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION
FAvoRED-rHE THEORY OF THE
MUNICIPAL AssEMBLY-sAFE-
GUARDS AS TO FRAN
cHrsEs AND PUB
Lie WORKS.
Charter Commission submitted the following
report to the Legislature tonight:
The Commission appointed pursuant to the
provision of Chapter 4Ss Of the laws Of 1898, to
prepare charter FOR Greater New-York and to
submit. in connection Herewith. such supple
mentary bills might appear 10 be necessary
to carry into effect the legislative intent as de-
clarei by the law under which they were ap-
pointed. respectfully submits herewith
First-A charter OF Greater New-York.
Second--An act to provide for Boards OF Super
visors in counties wholly within the limits OF
city. but not comprising the whole OF such city,
and defining the powers and duties thereof.
Third-An act relating the election OF city
officers Of the city Of NewYork. as constituted
by the Greater New-York charter, at the general
election to be held in November in the year 1897.
and for the canvass and return OF the votes
thereof and the determination Of persons elected
thercat
Fonrth-Certan amendments to Chapter 900
Of the laws of 1896. known as the Election law.
which appear to be necessary in connection with
In nd aaft yft
in the territory to be consolidated into Greater
NewSork
Fifth--An act to provide for the election Of
Supervisors in the several wards OF the borough
Of Queens in the city Of New-York 70 be MEM
bers Of the Board OF Supervisors Of the county
Of Queens.
Sxth-An act in relation TO the City Court OF
the city OF New-York, and for the accommoda-
ton thereof and authorizing the fitting up and
equipplng of certain parts Of the City Hall. In
the city Of New-York.
Seventh-A proposed constitutional amend
ment to authorize the Municipal Assembly or
other legislative body Of city to discharge for
counties wholly included within the limits OF
such city the duties at present devoved by the
Constitution upon Boards OF Supervisors
throughout the State.
Eighth-A proposed constitutional amendment
forbidding counties wholly included within the
limits Of city TO become indebted
Ninth-A proposed Constitutional Amendment
authorizing laws be passed providing In mu-
ncipal elections for minority or proportionats
representation.
ABOLTsHING COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
Before speaking Of the charter itself. II appear
TO be proper to explain the necessity for the sup
Elementary legislation suggested. and 10 state
the reasons that have prompted the Commission
TO submit the proposed constitutional amend
ments The Legislature will recall that His FIX
ceency Governor Morton. in approving the bill
under which the Commission has been serving,
called especial attention to the possibility. as an
incidental result OF consolidation, OF the resusci-
tation in the counties OF New-York and Kings Of
separate and independent Boards OF Supervisors
and of the possible continuance in Richmond
Comfy Of a Board OF Supervisors. notwithstand-
ing the inclusion OF that county within the limits
Of the enlarged city. This question. thus prom
;nentlv brought TO their attention. naturally has
received from the Commission the most carefui
consideration The members Of the Commission
are OF one mind in believing that the creation OK
Greater New-York would be an almost unmixeo
misfortune If It were to result In paralleiihe the
city government throughout the territory OK inc
consolidated CITY with separate and independ-
ont county government in the three counties OK
New-York. Kings and Richmond. the state
Constitution deals effectually with such stua-
tion when city and a county are literally co'er-
minous: and probably no one VIII dispute 'i"'
the spirit OF the Constitution. as expressed IN the
nrovision dealing with that case equally demands
that the functions of the Board of Supervisors In
tho various counties included within the console
dated city of NewYork should be discharged ~
tho legislative body Of the city, precisely as such
eo,,ors are now discharged for New-fork
Couptv bv the Board Of Aldermen OF the city OF
Nouyorlx and for Kings County by the common
Council Of Brooklyn. On the other hand IL -
no, clear that the letter Of the Constitution. ny
reason of its failure to provide In terms lot inc
nreclse case OF city that should nclude wi'h'n
its boundaries the whole of more than one couh-
~ might not lead TO serious emparrass"eh@
Accordingly. the Commission urges as materia'
-, :, tho nlan for the creation OF Greater New
vorL a massage of the act defining the powers
and duties of Boards of Supervisors IN couhties
wholly within the limits OF city. but not conn
nr,sing the whole of such city. The ac' provinces
r,,s, Tina, in such counties the Boards OF Su.
1..;sors shall consist OF the members or tne
p,nricinal Assembly to be elected as such ana
- 20 S,peryisors. by the people o, the couny.
'' S.,ann1Crhat such Boards of Supervisors may
-. 40 county canvassers, and shall nave ths
49, s'o,,sr conferred by the Constitution upon su-
ne,visors of sub-divlding the coun'ies N''' AZ
sembly districts -. cox,.,sors shall
Third-That such Boards OF supervisors sha"
80 M other powers of local legislation or al
,ninistration and shall have no power u ''e"'s
debt. ,, -, crrarvisors with.
4. swch counties are abolished from and after
January |, 1898.
The mowers OF local legislation and ADMINS
,ration heretofore generally possessed by boards
Of Supervisors can. IN the opinion OF the COM
mission be vested by the Legislature OF 'hs
State in the Municipal Assembly ana admhs'ra-
tive departments OF Greater New-fork. ana the
charter so provides.
This act 1t is believed. keeps strictly within
the provisions Of the Constitution ana shouid
IL become a law. will obviate the apprehendeo
embarrassments of the situation 80 far as an
orac,uent that il dependent upon the leGiS-