New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-30
THE CHARTER NOT READY.
TWENTY DAYS MORE ASKED BY THE
COMMISSION.

REMARKABLE ExrEDiENT ADOPTED BY THE AS
sEMBLY LEADER TO Jam THROUGH A
RESOLUTION EXTENDING THE TINE
FOR REPORTING THE CHARTER
.,hanv. Ian. % (SpeciaD-The Legislature re-
ceivcd word from the Greater New-York Com
mission this morning that it would be unable to
complete it's work by February I. as provided in
the law by which it was constituted The letter
conveying this information read as follows:
New-York City. January q. 1897.
To the Legislature: 1t is needful that this Com
Complete The charter for the consolidated city OF
New-York. prepared by II coniormaby 10 Cnap. e
sso p ' disenty since its appoint comply
literally with the directions Of the legislature that
Ths h0q nop 5epo' CHARTER is Substantially nhed
Little is to he done except to revise the text IN or
tons 10 supply inadvertent omissions. ana gen
orally to perfect the form OF the ,bs ca as finish it's
work by February 20 and that no iurther time VIII
ouests that the time for the submission of its final
report he extended TO that dadH by order OF the
Commission. b. r IRAO1' TTesioeh'
The Republican leaders attempted to meet the
situation presented by this letter by passing a
resolution extending the time within which the
Commission may submit its report. Mr.. Nixon.
.he Republican leader in the Assembly. without
ing 10 the rules, presented a resolution by word
NJ mouth In effect ii motion. not writ
ION resolution This invention of a vocal reso-
luton" met with objection from Mr.. Finn. the
Democratic leader He said he favored extend
ing the time of the Commission. but he desired
time 10 consider the resolution. Such resolutions
under the rules Of the Assembly must be laid
aside for a day IL there is objection to their i'm
mediate consideration. Such objection was
made. but Mr.. Nixon damned" through the
resolution by a vote of 81 to 4.
In the Senate Mr.. Cantor and Mir. Grady had
heard that the resolution coming. and
had warned the Senators that they would make
the point of quorum. Accordingly, senator
Ellsworth. the Republican leader. decided not TO
make contest, and, upon MS motloh inc sen
ate adjourned
senator Cantor this afternoon said: Il am very
sorry indeed that the Greater New-fork COM
mission was unable TO complete IT'S work wlthln
the time prescribed by law The statute under
which they were appointed made it obligatory
upon them to present TO the Legislature a com
pete charter or before February j. 1870. Wnlie
the Commission itself was 10 remain IN EXIST
ence until March |. If the Commission had been
unable finish its la bors II should nave appheu
in time TO the Legislature. so that an act could
he passed amending the law of last year. That
would have been the orderly procedure instead
Of that however these gentlemen. acting prooa-
bly, under the suggestion Of the RepuDhcans IN
control of legislative matters. have requested US
in violation of the statute passed last year re-
curing them to report by February /. to extend
the time for making their report by Joint resolu-
ton 10 February 20 II is a dsorderly proceed
ure. we have no power to amend statute by
sOint resolution
The Statutory Revision Commission seems TO
he Of the opinion that the Legislature cannot by
concurrent resolution extend the time WITHIN
which the Greater New-York Commission may
make it's report. Assemblyman Abel. OF Brook
lyn, is also of this opinion. He has introduced
bill which amends the law Of last year under
which the Commission was created. by extending
the time therein stated for the Commission TO
report from February TO February 70