New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-23

and other adjuncts Of commerce. anu a., p Ia re-
main inalienable and be disposed oil ony ny WI
lease for limited periods upon pe''o"''"' ''
lions.
SUPERVISORY POWERS.
The Municlpal Assembly through its representa-
lives Is the organ OF the people in the various DOT
oughs and In every part of the city III j. maui '''
dutv TO see that the laws and ordinances OF the Guy
are faithfully observed by all depar tnents anu , 1
fcers To this end the Commission, , mas ~ nower
Vunicinal Assembly By Joint resolution tne po"o
to make inquest into and within the carenu nu
fined limitations Of the char rd Officers OF the city
most useful and necessary function obrriiT
salutary che, on secret abuses az amhorItv
and oppressive and Illegal exercise oi ""'"''-''
NEW PUBLIC WORKS
IT, 100000, =, no large and costly range OF public
works comprised I'm the general term local or pup
lie improvements" the charter PROVIDES IN one IL.
spect atdHerent and more appropriate pu' eau'is
effective check. 1t creates Boaru vi i" a.
movements referred TO below. which has )ur'suic-
on over the bridges sr S ke aV of the city, It is
clear that such works ought to be primarily Helds
mn1nned - unop fixed plan and designed and con
structed in accordance with the ngnes' rovdes in
general that The initiative in such mpr9ve inrc
Shall be taken by the Board OF punnc l ~ ppee,
ments. requiring however. that works OF grea az
mopnitude and cost shall have also the approval OF
the Board of Estimate and appointment ana OF -,
h mirns V Assemble with veto power the
Mayor and with power in hve-sixths OIL an 90 inc
Wunicipal Assembly to override the Mayor 'c,o
These provisions, requiring respectively Ihe
ton of the Board Of Estimate ana and The
sanction OF the Municipal Assembly. and sup1ec,-
ing the ordinances OF dhe nf the Mayor un
less overrdden by ve-sNths vote WILL WILL, IN IN, ,te
Jus me necessary power of development. render II
substantially safe from serious apuse'
BOARD OF PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS.
The essential features of the Board of Public I'm
provements are: % a president of the Board WIN
power TO enforce harmonious action upon al IN
departments represented In the board 'hit "o
public work: 90 the responsibility OF each depart
innen rerrescnted i'm II for the work to be done 10y
the department: go the initiative IN nnattcis
ing 10 public Improvements. which, III general l.
Tbe Board Of Public improvements proposed N
tho charter consists of the president OF the Board
~ 0 he annolnted by the Mayor. of the commits
sioncrs OF the six departments naNInb V,ai ~
sIso 20 70 he apponted by the Mayor. and ex-ofcio
of the Mayor; the C9n,ronsr; hd e'' Roronrb The
MAYOR the Controller and the Corporation 'ounse
have been added to the Board OF fuons ilp'" i,
ments in order TO dcvolve upon that DOGGY no, 9ii's
The functions that are given to the Corresponding
Board in the city OF ST Louis MILL ~ bb,,, aiso
has demonstra ed it's value and efficiency ou' hiso
The functions that have been committed In New
York heretofore to the Board Of street opehhes
The presence of these great officers OF me cis! !,
however upon the Board of Public Improvements
can hardly fail to be an advantage to me bohrd
arise wls in connection with all public work that is
carried on upon large scale. p.,,,u, In
Tho thor member of the Board or PUBIC I'M
provenens in the proposed charter Is tne presus Inv
Of each borough FOR administrative purposes: o,e
ci,r has been divided into the I'VE suDiiNlsloilS
INTO which the territory OF the city divides lse,l
by following natural lines ana 'heSr basn boronshs
are named Manhattan The Bronx brG ',p sbc
queens and Richmond To hos ina dscrip,yn
The president of borough is an oncer eieS,eu ns
the people OF nqrosHn local 10 improvements that
are TO be paid for by assessment for dement's ana
12l Ia represent the borough on the Board oil run
iic Imnrnvements In the latter Board. the pre'i-
dent OF the borough has a vote as to all questions
Affecting his own borough.
The BOARD of Public improvements thus consists
Of eleven members. This Board Is one OF the chieI
,posb out Ei in its and
powers. 1t is large enough TO orams S ,hIrng
eo as to secure intelligent and thorough discussion
II has in it's membership the heads of the depart
therefore command the advice and the technical
information OF the experts in all OF these ncpar,-
great elective officers. the Mayor and the Con
troIIer. who will bring to the deliberations OF the
locality is insured a hearing and a voice by the
presence the Board Of president OF the
the Board, to advise It upon. all legal questions
that may arise. The Commission Is sangulne that
this feature OF the charter will JUSTIFY itsclf as
Thoroughly as the Board of Estimate and Appor-
tionmcnt has justified itself during the last twenty
years. .,,,o>. On, ,>r,rs
Such protective provisions in respect of the debt
creating power and borrowing powers OF the city
are neither anomalous nor unnecessary. The cost
OF public improvements In the municipalities OF this
country permanent In their nature and too great
to he borne out OF current taxation is generally
met by the issue OF bonds other evidences of in
debtodness payable in twenty or thirty years
other long periods OF time. The temptation to
create present debt and TO throw the burdens OF
1t on the future is great. and 1t Is universally
recognized that such power must he conferred
l,,,tt.
lions in this country being constitutional restrlc
tion on the total aggregate Indebtedness that may
be created (Which is generally much smaller than
the 10 per cent limitation In the Constitution OF
lar vote Even these have not always proved
effectual against the creation OF improvident or ex
must submit to the Home ONCE or other central
authority in London for examination and sanction
money This check on ill-advised improvements
works well in gs eo ,h and Is eh sa
is imposed upon the power Of the electors and
on a similar principle and for the same purpose
we have devised and imposed checks upon the debt
creating 81 Re G bo BS cary Sy ns
Apportionment and OF the Board OF Public I'M
provemens and by subiec'rs ordinances creating
tation in this State is too large TO be In itself
srcat"r CITY are not such as to make IL appropriate
in many instances at least. to submit to the people
proyement-for example additional bridge over
the East River or other Ike improvement-should
be constructed made Ii seems to the Commits
sion that the checks and safeguards contained in
the charter against the creation Of improvdent or
excessive Indebtedness are specially appropriate to
the circumstances and conditions OF the greater
city giving it freedom of action to initiate to all
needful permanent and expensive improvements
nroyided they have the approval OF the boards
above mentioned and the sanction of the Mayor
ASSUMING LOCAL DEBTS
The Commission has provided a necessary re-
suit OF consolidation for the assumption by the en-
arged city of all the valid debts OF every locality
This appeared to II 10 be mandatory by the terms
of the law under which 1t is acting. AS the city in
herits all OF the powers. franchises rights and
property Of the municipal and public corporate Ions
10 be consolidated Ii must necessarily assume their
lust obligations and liabilities IL would be i'm
possible to secure uniform rate OF taxation
throughout the territory OF Greater New-York with
tl.l LIZ. nm. OF La L.