New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-22
DEFENDED BY THE MAJORITY.
AN ANSWER TO THE OBJECTIONS OF
MESSRS STRONG AND LOW-THE

MESSRS STRONG AND LOW-THE
THREE PROPOSALS IN DISPUTE.
Three of the proposals Of the Greater New-York
charter have been subjects Of disagreement among
the members Of the Commission. They are:
First-The division of the Municipal Assembly
Second-The constitution Of a non partisan Board
missioner fSgs and an independent Board Of Elections
Third-The grant TO the Mayor OF pnh IN e,l
icrm only
Mayor Strong and President Low Of the Columbia
University made public in Saturdays Tribune.
through the secretary Of the Commission. George
NJ. Pnney. ir.. their reasons for opposing as mem
hers Of that body these parts of the charter while
approving the instrument as whole
The majority of the Commission have filed with
the secretary FOR record counter-document show
ing why they voted for these particular sections
secreiar, Pinney made public this statement yes
terday The paper after stating the groundwork
Of the disagreement. discusses the questions which
have arisen substantially as follows:
DIVISION OF MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLY.
In constituting the Municipal Assembly the Com
mission found that it had to deal with community
OF 100000 people and with an annual budget Of
S0oGlco. add that adequately 10 deal with these
subjects required the exercise OF many and varied
powers When scrutinized. IT will be found that all
Of the powers conferred by the charter upon the
Municipal Assembly are essentially legislative IN
ihejr character They are conferred for no other
reason. No conception is more erroneous than the
rnunirv such AS The proposed charter Will consti-
tute as simply chiefly the government of the
There is in reality little analogy. II was indis
pensable to confer the necessary powers OF ioca.
government and AZ j. the case in ali American
governments. TO provide safeguards against the
In the opinion Of the majority. the least among
the safeguards which have been provided against
he Municipal Assembly with two branches This
IS the form of legislative assembly that prevails in
every State OF the tnlon IN TACT ih limos. every
country having free government like our own.
But il may he objected that. while these truths
are automatic and fundamental as iespec's on on
gress and the States they are inapplicable 10 the
mp1,nicipaa misfake Whether we consider size
,otulatiou the magnitude of the interests AT stake
or tne ne ven way there should be TWO legis
Iatiye branches in an ordinary STATE Lcs I
senohv of great city like New-York This body
exercises important eoYernmen1aI po"ers s h
ceptions and deals with budget larger IMAM ;tiiy
OF ,he be In,Ted states for many years afe. the
Sormation OF the Government no on" p:oposes
70 dITS and 10 Substitute In the deliberate
fudgmentef the majority OF the ION VIII v
he size and circumstances or Greate New i0 PIX
&c Considered, the all-sufHcient justihcatlon ioI
TWO houses in the Municipal Assembly Is ohau
rresents an additional barr1er asans' Uau ~.
pr rasb and precpitate legislation. Nor Is this
all II has another distinct aqsalads s ne cbneen
me members Of the upper mouse ~ 600, ~
Tom a larger constituency about SG $500 man nan
,ao,nbers of the lower house (aoout NuV'; ana
gives ali the advantages that resu- irohi 'h's q"
cumstance - .
..rt4r, OBJECTION NOT WELL FOUNDED
7, affection be made that the delay In ieelsia,oh
IA ,,ss,hle difference of opinion between the TWO
houses will impair the usefulness OF the iegisia'"e
80, nv rendering IL difficult 10 pass needfui meas
80 - leg,sla,ion the objection Is not well found
- All e~nerieuce shows that cities surfer hct
80 60. ecfion but from oVeraction ana Nasty
ana improvident action tndef the schehie ~ hinS
en- ana under the general ordinances ~hch
LII ~ ,dor,ed uursuant TO H. the current ana iou-
WIN - - he municipality VIII 80 on wlthouss
siSi,a,ii reouirine special action on the part vi
.d,,icin.i Assembly. No substantial harm ca "a
an,,e from The existence or second body anu
,or'cb suhsfantial evil may be prevented IN shol, -,
NJ esistenco OF two houses necessarily nisuicS
e,ea;er dellbera ton. publicity ana pubic or -,
tton without endangerng the ultimate passsas' W
nessures meritorous in their chaiactei, az n -
tH,anc" ~ Two independent houses dCes rot IN me
eghtest degree diminish the sR az " az a.
1,,ather Increases such responsibility IN case OF d
difference Of opinion -. .txo ~ tho Municin.l
it NAV be obec ed that the size OF We
assembly IS unnecessarily great mn ~
Chen We consider that upon the uuop.,ty., ~, -
'bar,er Ncw-York will In size ana Popu'atio" III
cnme the second city in the. worn" - no' S'tr
tomnded Experience shows tnat u ~ norn ~ ~
o,t 10 corrupt TO misead ana 10 TOT, p'a,;sla,t,o
oonhina lions In large than IN Sinai Iceio'aa 4.
Iodies The Municipal Assembly, as pi Ii,""a hod
~, nearly as large the average IeeiSIatise Dor
70, IN his country dealing with people Iess nuinc,
&c md subjects not more important. Ine .APh,
once M other countries Is almost unlIoIn 70 g., -
ssmec, The present Common Counch OF u,e si.3 ~
london consists OF 20 members; county nnmon
i~ndon Is composed Of 23s members the 'o1 1a ~
Io,,ncil of Manchester. l0. OF GIasso"' ''' Va