New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-20

lating to the different localities to be CONSOLE
dated and were crude and imperative. In the
case Of the Police Department. every one could
imagine what the Police Commissioners were eX
peoted 20 do but he defed any one. the
members of the Greater Ncw-York Commission.
to tell from reading the police provision what
power is given TO those Police Commissioners.
Joseph Larocque declared that the charter
would rob the present city of New-York OF all
its property, practically speaking. by creating
a new city; ina smuch as it would be divided un-
der consolidation, among the various counties
to be annexed. This usucpatOn of property. he
Contended. without due process of law was clear
ly unconstitutional. He quoted at length from
n any decisions of the courts In substartation OF
his argument and contended that ex-Judge Dill
Ion. one of the members Of the Commission which
drew the charter. in one Of his legal works sus-
tanned his argument.
W. Bayard Cutting spoke briefly and said that
he wanted to protest a citizen against the
adoption Of the charter. and he was OF the opin-
ion that no great harm could come II the adoption
of the charter should he delayed at least year,
that the people of the territory to be CONSOLE
dated could make necessary suggestions for the
perfection of the charter
Colonel Rogers argued at length against the
method of equalized taxation provided for. and
presented figures TO show that the present city
of New York would be compelled to pay an undue
share Of the expense of the great city 10 ne
created
George G. Williams Of the Chemical Bank, and
John p. Townsend. OF the Bowery Savings Bank
argued that bank depositors would be hurt by
the increased taxation which would be thrust
upon the present city Of New-York In that the
securities OF the city would he deprecated IN
value
Mr. Marlng president Of the Real Estate Ex-
change of New-York. argued principally against
the methods of taxation provided for
A A. Levy said that he had asked Judge or
the Court of Appeals what would be the result II
the charter as now construed was put In opeIa-
ton. end the Judge replied: "jitgatlon Inc
other speakers against the charter were Edward
Mitchell. lie Grand h. Cannon. g. waldo Smlth
end A. \. Low. of Brooklyn.
General Tracy was the first to rerly. lie sald
consolidation was effected by the same law whlch
created the Commission, and under that law
consolidation would take effect on January ].
1888. If this charter was not adopted chaouc
condition of affairs would result
IF all the criticism that has been made agans.
the charter" he said. lis the only criticism that
can be made. why feel more h. nored than ever
before at being member OF the commission
that drafted the charter.
He styled the resolutions adopted by the Bar
Association condemning the charter as an uh-
worthy act TO come from such prominent as
ISOLATION. He contended that the argument OF
Mr.. Larocque to the effect that the charter ere
ated an entirely new corporation ana thereloie'
robbed the present city of New-1ork or It's pr
vate property was ridiculous, because the IAN
guage creating the greater city specifically said
that the territory taken in was annexed TO
the city Of New-York
He contended that If the suggestions Of the
charter critics TO giving the Mayor absolute
power of removal and providing for single
headed Police Commission were Incorporated IN
the charter an autocracy would be created and
the Mayor would have more power than any
other person in the world. except the car OF
Russia. 49,
General Tracy's argument was received win
applause. and when he concluded eX-Mayor Gll-
roy read letter from Seth Low, In Whlch MI
Low said that he was sorry that he could not De
present to uphold in measure. the work OF the
Commission.
EX-Judge Dillon followed Mr.. Gilroy in long
defence. of the work Of the Commission. lie de-
clared that the Commission had been loyal to
the act creating it, and laughed at the ldea that
r-afi ion
William c. De Witt said that the criticism or
the Bar Association was the smallest piece OF
work ever done by any body of prominent men
A letter was read from Andrew H. Green. in
which he strongly urged Executive approval OF
the charter and said that the amendments pro-
a,,;dontiv assigned mainly to increase the power
of his own office. coo
The hearing adjourned at G:3O O'Clock.
The Governor would not state the course he in
tends TO pursue in the matter, but il is believed
that he will sign the charter