New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-20
THE MAYOR AND MIR. LOW GO ON RECORD
THEY JOIN IN AN EXPLANATION OF THEIR
VIEWS on THE CHARTER AND
THEIR VOTES FOR IT


THEIR VOTES FOR 1T.
Msvor Strong and President Seth Low. of Column |
h,a University as members of the Greater NewYork
Com mission yesterday joined in letter addressed to
George NJ Pinney, jr., the secretary OF the Com
mission in which they say That although they nave
voted for the Greater New-York charter as whole
ard have appended their signatures 10 the report to
the Legislature be submitted in connection there
with. they desire matter OF record 10 present
~ -srard 10 w i s' h TER
Iboso of the majority OF the Commission They De-
rsva that as a whole the merits OF the cnarter OUT
weigh It's defects and they therefore propose ~ sup
nort It's enactment and believe mat uhder II coisoi
dation safely be Drought dpou'' Inv
r m,nicipal assembly with a single chamber
4 cscond-A single Police Commissioner ana an III
10 the Mayor the power TO remove
b v5oe Of his term instead of limiting this power,
I as the charter does, to the hrs' SIX N'''''''' "
l term only.
REASONS FOR A SINGLE CHAMBER
In the statement appended Mayer Strong ana MI
u Low give their reasons as follows;
The Undersigned believe that IN the inaloritS ~ VI
cities N The United States well elsewhere, the
II Iew.YorI itself has had two chambers in IT,
legislative body The two chambers ala NOT prov os
hem The analogy sometimes drawn between tn The
legislative body of city and congress o, ndrsiened
IS fnisleading city legislature does not deal n
with political questions, put oi.'
United states nor any State of the Union keeps keeps
Al Of the states Of the Union except six. restrict the
meeting of their Legislature 20 a meni'ia "a cV is
BY any means all business and yet it is true in m the
opinion Of the undersgnea, tha' he larger sense
THE CITY MERELY AN AGENT
Thu neone q, the city look to the State, and not to
the CITY for the protection of life and property the
city Is simply the agent OF the state so lar as II mas
TO DO with the police force. WITH SCHOOLS WIN ','e
public health and. generally speaking as 10 ali 'hs
matters that relate to the life of the citizen AS 10
these subjects the proposed charter gives to the
nunclpal legislature almost voice at ALL except
voice as 10 the amount of money 10 be expended Tor
On the other nahd az 20 n the
Ing and making Of streets, the supply OF WaeT, anu
ali the rest OF IT, the city Is not so nuch me agent
.. the State 1t is the agen; oil the people Vi inc
Wha. IS 70 be especially sought. therefore. as II
appears 10 the undersgne in the organization OF
sc government in relation TO all sucn matters Is
system that will first OF all prevent the apu s
Bringing from reckessness or dish0nesE' bd eli
business The undersigned believe that the charter
makes ample provision s SO fd aha a . Se npa
Nmby is divided into houses. against both reck,
ssness and dishonesty the part of the oincais OF
TEN Of a Municipal assembly with two chambers, il
hardly be C %9 al to s end ssl
s and costly delay. For the rest the unders,sn zee
sgsaton a that is proper to city in single cham
berhlkeIv 10 avert mischief more successfully thar
sae Division OF power between TWO cnainpeI a fo
l 49, however, believe in a large legislative Dooy iol
l 90 large a city
| ELECTIONS AND POLICE CONTROL"
The Lexow Committee. by It's investigation o
the Police Department OF New-York. made clea
4 TO everybody what was before only dimly sus
pected, namely the vast opportunity there Is 10
i abuse Of the powers that the Police Department
l must have Under these circumstances i appear
Il 10 the undersigned TO be the dictate OF politica
i s,fxs he Potic
| Undersigned would not give 70 the Pomce DepdI
| nent the entire control Of elections They wouI
II 70 Go TOR Greater New-York what an Independent
Board Of Elections has done for the city OF roeK
yn IN the main satisiac,3pryy;; o LOT Ro"rd mus
have the entire control Of elections because IN
police force has 10 be so largely used on Eee
ton Day and in connection with elections. IN
best answer Is that I'm Brooklyn for quarter OF
century the contrary system has prevailed 10 IN
general satisfaction OF the beople, II 1he e,eot0
the principal argument In the opinion OF the vi
designed. in favor of a four-headed Ponce Boar'
the politics Of not more than two at the tin
OF Their appointment shall be the ssihe' hPpc"'
70 fan 70 the ground.
UNDIVIDED RESPONSIBILITY DESIRABLE
II is admitted that In city with police ior'
70 large ae that Of the Greater New-fork u
Organization Of the Department with single Cof
missioner at It's head would, require special
Engagements for trials and for the discharge
some OF the other functions Of the DepaI tIne m y
u is also admitted that the chapter on the Ion
b Department in the proposed charter IL B'.,
Improvement. as the undersigned think upon u
present law relating 10 the Police Department
he city Of New-York: but for the proper Du'
.ess Of the police the undersigned would RAIN
spons 80 d"e fo4 Is. sdminisration OF the Depar