New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-12
CHARTER CHANGES URGED
REPORT OF THE CITY CLUBS COMMITTEE
ON GREATER NETWORK
SIGNED BY wELr~KNowN CITIZENs-A SINGLE
MUNICIPAL CHAMBER. A SEPARATE BUREAU
OF ELECTIONS AND A sINGI.E-HEADED

SIGNED BY wELL-KNowN CTTIZENs-A SINGLE
MUNICIPAL CHAMBER. A SEPARATE BUREAU
OF ELECTIONS AND sINGLE-HEADED
POLICE DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDED.
The City Clubs Committee Greater New ork
appeared before the joint committee of the Legis-
lature in Albany last Tuesday and requested
TO present brief summarizing its suggestions for
changes In the charter prepared by the Greater
New-York Commission. The brief was sent yester-
day TO the chairman OF the joint committee at Al
tany 1t Is approved by all the members OF the
O club. wi 40 ar !.
chairman; Joseph H. Choate James c. Carter John
f, Parsons. Joseph Larocque. William r. Horn
blower Wheeler II. Peckham. Charles c. Burling-
ham, r. Fulton Cutting Lewis l.. Delaneld. Horace
F. Deming Dorman b. Eaton. Professor Frank J..
Goodnow Myer s. Isaacs. William Travers Jerome.
j. Frederic Kernochan, James b. Ludlow James
W Pryor Albert Shaw. William Allare Short and
Simon Sterne.
In the beginning the brief declares that the City
Club desires to urge suggestions contained in the
supplementary report Of Seth Low and Mayor
Strong which may be summarized follows:
First-'rhat the Municipal Assembly shall consist
OF a single chamber. Two chambers in the Munich
pal Assembly are unnecessary and cumbersome. A
single body charged with full responsibility can be
made dignfed as the higher OF two; and under
proper regulations its proceedings can be made as
Second-That the Bureau of Elections should be
separated from the Police Department. and that the
The for advocating the separation of the
Bureau OF Elections from the Police Department is
chiefly the desire to remove all excuse for making
the Police Board bipartisan.
The statement is made that the result of the BIZ
partisan law has been disastrous and shows that a
bipartisan Board becomes easily the instrument or
political leaders.
Thrd-That the Mayors power OF removal be ex-
tended over his entire term In advocating the
change proposed, the City Club or New York does
not express any opinion as TO the wisdom OF the
general theory of municipal government which seeks
to fix responsibility by lodging very large powers
in the hands of the Mayor. But II Il thought that
entire term rather than only during the first six
months.
The City Clubs other objections 10 the draft Of
charter the following
Fourth-That it provides fixed terms for almost
all the important city officers
Flfth-That the charter provides for the af1rma-
tive vote of all the members of the Board OF Esti
budget. IL has been contended that any one mem.
Der of the Board of Estimate and Apportonment
ought TO have the power 10 check any attempt upon
the part OF the other members to misuse the i'm
portant power 10 determine the annual budget or
the city On the other hand 1t Is argued that 10 re-
Quire unanimous vote upon the budget IL 10 place
In the hands Of one man power when might De
scrupulous member OF the Board to make serious
trouble. The charter provides enough safeguards
in the process Of fixing the budget without the re.
Qlirement that the Board shall be- unanimous and
a vote OF four Of the five members OF the Board OF
Estimate and Apportionment should suffice.
Sixth-That the draft charter as whole IL OBJ
scure confused and inharmonious. The full force
detailed statement which II would be extremely
laboriOus to make ana tedious to read
Attention is drawn in the brief to several sections
by way OF Illustration