New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-24
PRICE THREE CENTS.
CHARTER JAMMED THROUGH
PASSED WITHOUT AMENDMENT BY TIM
ASSEMBLY YESTERDAY.
TWO CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS WENT WITH
IT But THE ONE PROVIDING FOR Nj
NoRITY REPRESENTATION rs
STRANDED AND LIKELY a
TO STAY so.
icy TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE. J

TO STAY SO
ley TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBuSEl
Albany. March 23-The Assembly passed the
Greater New-York charter to-day by vote
Of 1ls to 90 and also gave its consent 70 two Of
the proposed amendments TO the Constitution
which accompany the charter. One Of the pro-
posed amendments TO the Constitution. that pro-
viding for minority representation was not con-
sidered. and IL is somewhat doubtful II IT will be
adopted. Politicians passing the charter and
the amendments to the Constitution for their
own objects. and. inasmuch as the representation
Of mnorties might interfere with the successful
carrying out Of some deal" between the leaders
Of the two great parties. it is probable that the
amendment will be rejected
Since the organization Of the Legislature Of the
State Of New-York It is doubtful II A measure Of
equal Importance with the Greater New-York
charter has been considered by that body. and
one might have expected debate Of unusual In
terest on the passage Of the bill But nothing
Of note was said. The ablest the Repub-
lican side many Of whom privately are opposed
to the charter refrained from expressing their
opinions because they believed that its passage
had been fixed" by political boss. Indeed.
Speaker O'Gradys statement from the chair
early in the day that the charter must be passed
to-day" was a plain ntimation that no amend
ments, howsoever good would be permitted. and
that it would be damned through" AS for the
minority, It's chiefs could think Of little more 10
say in opposition to the passage Of the charter
than that it had not been read by sections This
absurd attack on the bill Of course had no effect
The only argument Of any respectability offered
by any Democrat in opposition to the bill was
that made by Mr.. Green in support Of an amend
ment doing away with bipartisan Police Board
Mr. Sanger (Rep.) offered an amendment provid-
ing for a single headed Police Commission, but
IT rejected.
When. after five hours consideration Of the
bill chiefly devoted to the offering of amend
ments the Assembly came to a vote. there were
six Observation-Disclosures Murray Rein
hard. Robbins. Sanger and Steiner-and twenty
two Democrats who voted against the charter.
and thirteen Democrats and l05 Republicans who
voted for it,
The Assembly then passed by a vote Of 81 TO q
the constitutional amendment providing for the
representation in the municipal Assembly OF that
part OF Queens County taken into the Greater
New-York territory. There was also passed by
a vote of 81 TO 23, the constitutional amendment
abolishirg Boards of Supervisors In the Greater
New-York territory.
DETAILS OF THE DEBATE.
The call OF the House at 10 o'clock brought out
almost the entire membership Of the body. hardly
half dozen seats being vacant The first Greater
New-York measure the charter bill proper Mt.
McKeown desired to have it read through In IT'S en-
trety. Because Of the great volume OF the meas
ure the Speaker hoped the gentleman would not
ins on his request. Mr.. Finn. the Democratic
leader. moved that 1t be read by sections Tnere
see-sawing over this and finally MI
Roche secorded Mr.. McKeowns request. stating
that his reason for doing was 10 stop the dis
mute between the Democratic leader from New-iork
(NIr Finn and the Democratic leader from Kings
(Mr Mcneown). Mr.. Roche and Mr. Mckeown
finally withdrew their requests. but Mr. Trainor
took up the fight and demanded that the measure
be read in full
The Clerk then began a formal reading OF the
bill When Section 70 reached Mr. Leonard
rose 10 offer an amendment making the salary OF
the president Of the Municipal Council Of the Greater
New-York $500 year.
The Chair would recognize Mr.. Leonard. on
the ground that agreeable to arrangement be-
tween the majority and the minority yesterday the
bill was TO be considered a whole before amend
ments were offered. The Chair continued that, al
though tho minority had broken its agreement. the
majority would not Nj. Leonards amendment was
then put 10 a vote and lost The Clerk then pro-
coeded with the reading OF the bill
Mr. McKeown offered 5 amendment that the
sa.ary of a Councilman should be $500 year
This was defeated Another amendment was
offered by Mr.. McKeown. providing that the MEM
bers Of the Board Of Aldermen should receive
5000 year instead Of $1,000 This also was de-
feated. by a vote of % 10 y.
To Section 2s Mr.. Green, OF NewYork. offered
an amendment that the Council may or may not
appoint clerk, instead Of compelling 1t TO DO so.
as the section reads The amendment lost by
a Of - 10 q.
Mr. Roche d ,sired 20 offer another amendment TO
the same ses Ion but tho Clerk omitted reading
any further than the second line. Mr. Roche be-
came intensely excited this action and de-
ruanded tha, he he recognized with his amendment.
The Chair ruled that he would be recognized az the
aff tho Mr. eha IA
another loud protest.
The Clerk ratified along section after section until
he reached No. 20 Mr.. Dempsey offered amend
ment so as 10 permit the erection OF stands within
stoop lines with the consent Of the property-owners.
The amendment was lost by a vote OF 5 TO Is.
THE READING CHOKED OFF.
Mr. Nixon then moved that the bill he read only
by announcing the number of each section. Mr.
Finn and Mr. Trainor both quoted the law relative
to their privilege Of having the bill read length.
IAN eminent Speaker of the House OF Representa-
tives has held that there is no necessity OF reading
a bill through One or TWO sections may be read.
and the construction of the rules permit this 10
stand as a legal and proper reading replied Mr.
Nixon.
Wasn't It Tom Reed. a Republican Speaker
who made that rulingT asked Mr.. Roche in a high
key.
1T was and his decisions stand.' answered Mr..
Nixon.
The motion continue the reading Of the bill by
the simple announcement of the number OF its
tions was carried by vote OF s. 10 2s.
Mr. Forester offered amendment to Section
56 providing that the Brooklyn Police Department
shall be placed on the footing the New
York police II was lost. y
Mr. Fitzgerald offered an amendment TO Section
1l9 ahollshlng the office of commissioner OF Ac-
counts and permitting the Mayor 10 appoint three
nersons for such duties whenever necessary at com.
nensation 10 pe determined then. The amendment
was lost by a vote OF % TO 20.
The grinding on, OF the sections then went on
randlv on reaching No l2s Mr.. Finn offered an
Amendment striking out all sections from No ia
10 i2S inclusive relating to the Bureau OF Municipal
Sta tistics lie said the Bureau would be useless
piece OF machinery The amendment was iost oy
vote OF q 10 81 ,, ,,, ,, .ss.o...a
Mr. Green az this juncure .d ana q ADDRESSED