New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-22
THE MAYOR AND MR.. LOW.

A greot deal Of knowledge and sound reason
,nc &c comnresscd into the letter in which Mayor
Strong and Mr.. Seth Low. as members "a 'ne
Greater New-York Commission, point out op'
iections TO the charter, while conserving W "e-
cept 1t In the belief that its merits outweigh us
defects They are in favor Of a Mnnicipai AS
semby with single Chamber. OF fonce boaru
of one and a separate Bureau or Electiohs' anu
of giving to the Mayor full power OF remoVai
during his whole term. instead or 1or the hls'
six months only. Presumably they would Ike
70 see the Legislature accept their VIEWS anu
therefore these points Of disagreement Win
their colleagues may be regarded as in a se'se
amendments proposed by them. The arguments
they offer are entitled to careful consderatlon'
and there Is now more probability OF their IT,
ceiving 1t than there was few weeks ago.
An overwhelming weight Of opinion Is uh-
doubtedly in favor of n single legislative chaih-
ber and while Mayor Strong and Mr. Low ihlik
that II should be a large one, most other 'h'ehi-
gent citizens, we believe, are convinced mat 1t
ought to be comparatively small. Inc legs
lative scheme which the charter as suDmi''eu
provides seems in the light of experience anu
from the point Of view of common-sense 10 Ut
peculiarly adapted to the purposes OF poiluc'ans'
and altogether likely TO promote DEALS COM"
sion and delay in the transaction OF mumcp'i
business. The question OF a single-heaueu VI
bpartisan Police Commission OF four members
is q more difficult one; but this certainly eau
be said that recent experience has done muci
to change the views Of many hteiiiSehI o"i-
zcns who formerly approved or the present
system. While harmful and discrediiaDie' the
angry controversies of the Police Board hla!
nrove TO be an instructive object-lesson just
at this time, while a new charter Is III process
of construction. AS to the suggestion OF II sepa-
rate Bureau of Elections it is fact that brooh-
lyn has got on comfortably under that arransc-
mont and there Is no weight in the argument
that a bipartisan Police Board is essentiai lroii'
a constitutional point of view
1t is informally announced that as many rs
six legislative hearings on the charter VIII pe
given, and this. all things considered seems ~
lis n pretty fair allowance. especially i'll view
of the fact that in case the charter is passed il
will have 10 be returned to the cities Tor nu-
ncipal approval. and can then be puDhcy ue
hated Every such indication of chahge Oh
nurpose on the part of leaders in the Legislature
,s welcome even though their increased deler-
enco 10 public opinion may spring from purely
nol;,icol motive This consolidation project mas
not been forced along by any pressure OF pop
Mar eagerness Doubtless union OF the coii-
munities surrounding New-York Bay is sure TO
come and y desirable, but up to this time 'nere
has been 10 great popular enthusiasm pehlhd
the present undertaking. end in our OPINION
there is rather less now than there was year
ago Nor is this unnatural. for the millions Oh
people concerned in the proposed arrangement
resent. as a matter Of course the assumption
that they have no right to demand an oppor-
unity of passing upon the work of their ser
wants, or capacity for estimating the merits OF
q charter.