New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-15
FOUR CHAPTERS DISCUSSED.
JOSEPH II. CHOATE BEFORE THE CHAR
TER COMMISSION.
HE ARGUES LEGAL. POINTS IN THE CHAPTER ON
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. ARGUMENTS ON THE
DOCK, FIRE AND CORRECTION

cHARrrrEs-vARIcUs ARGUMENTS ON THE
DOCK. FIRE AND CORRECTION
DEPARTMENTS.
The public hearing at the City Hall on the pro-
posed Greater New-York Charter was continued
yesterday Unusual interest In the proceedings was
caused by the appearance OF Joseph II. Choa'e ~
the discussion relating the charities chapter ana
the opposition which his witticisms drew from Ed-
ward Iauterbach. The subjects considered yeslci
day were Docks Charities. Correction ana rHe'
All the departments affected were represented ny
Commissioners. Among those present were Com-
mcdorc Gerry. Commissioners Sbemeld' - brie"'
O'Beirne Faure Croft and Wright Chief Bonner
OF the Fire Department. the Rev. Matthew Iayior
and Mrs. Josephine Shaw Lowell.
Commissioner Seth Low presided. The first sub
feet taken up vas the Docks and President o Brien
Of that Department said that. with the exception OF
the extension OF power his Department was per-
fectly satisfied with the charter. AS to the subject
of ferries Commissioner O'Bren said he thought
that full control should be given the Dock Depart
mcnt President Low asked that a report be
handed to the Commission, as 1t was inclined 10
agree with General OBrien
Gherardi Davis submitted n brief declaring that
in giving the Dock Board power to condemn pri-
vate wharf property situated In what Is now
known as the city Of New-York unjust discrin-
ination made.
THE STORING OF COMBUSTIBLEs.
The Fire Department was then taken up Prcsi-
dent Sheffield Of the New-York Department recon-
mended that in addition to the present bureaus
buildings for repairs and alterations and the super
intendent for telegraph service be erected Regard
Ing the storage Of combustibles and explosives Mr.
Sheffield said that rot more than 900 pounds should
be left in any place. This will seriously affect
the storage warehouses along the Brooklyn water
front The provisions regarding the storage Of gun
powder preclude the Government from storing gum
powder in the Navy Yard.
Chief Bonner being called upon said he would
indorse the report which Simon Brentano would
offer Mr.. Brentano said that the power to be
given to the Fire Commissioner by the provisions
OF the proposed charter dangerous In the ex-
tremc. The powers OF appointment. declared Mr..
Brentano. entirely too sweeping Mr. Bren-
tano proposed that the grades of officers in the
Fire Department OF the greater city be similar TO
that OF the Police Department.
"As to the salary question:" said Mr. Brentano,
Il believe that a progressive scale should be
adopted. Instead OF the proposed S,4D salary 10
begin with. think that salary OF $500 should be
paid the first year. Each year think the hremen
should receive a raise of 800. until the maximum
salary is reached
As to the Civil Service examinations. Mr. Bren-
tano asked the Commissioners not TO hamper the
Department In this manner 1T is not proper
said he. that because a man knows a little more
arithmetic or speaks little more dramatically,
ne should step into the department over man
who has had years OF actual experience H6Huii5
fires
Mr. GERRY OBJECTS TO A DEPUTY.
When the Department Of Charities was taken
I'D Commodore Gerry bitterly opposed the provision
Of the charter giving the Charities Commissioner
power to appoint deputy and invest MN WIN
such great powers. He also objected seriously "
the clause which gives the Commissioner OF mar
ton FOR the care OF the poor children OF the city
shall receive money from the city enc nrry cpl at
tnck He declared that II a Commissioner OF Char
tiles. vested with the proposed po nxis,oncn "'
pO Wrs J o.s Shaw Lowell Of the chdrens
state Aid Society proceeded to take Commodore
donasroys f. Mace the proposed great power in tne
hands OF public officer tnan III the "a""s "a
Mrs ioweI argued in favor Of apponnp1 sn.l the
mcn %hou denite terms Of Once declaring that
this would insure higher class OF ofcsps Sk ann the
hope Of being continued in the place. ,no also s',au
that the dependent children OF me Grea aei ota
GER the head of a separate department She argued
that the power 70 commit destitute chdreh 10 IN
under the Penal Code should be taken from them
and lodged either with the c0mmssiOner h 81
such a department be created
MEssRS. CHOATE AND LAUTERBACH DIFFER
Joseph H. Choate. who said ne appeared in behalf
of the State Charities Aid Association, and also as
a decorative member of Commodore Gerry's society.
was the next speaker Mr.. Cnoate conlneu himself
almost entirely to the legal and constitutional points
of the proposed charter relative TO the chapter on
charities The wording OF certain sections, NJ
Choate said defective. He differed win MI
Gerry the power Of supervision over the com
mitment and discharge Of children from cnaritaDIe
institutions. -
Edward Lauterbach followed Mr.. Choate and
paid a warm tribute TO Commodore Gerry ana MS
society as well to other charitable institutions
Mr. Lauterbach strongly, opposed the PROVISIONS
which call for a single-headed Charity Commission
He called attention to the Czar-.ike power when,
under the charter would be vested In the charity
Commissioners. He took exception to several con-
stutional points noted by Mr.. Choae. and SAID ne
favored the commitment of children 10 institutions
by magistrates. but he also favored court OF APP
peal from the magistrates decision, the same as IN
the of adults. -
The session was prolonged after the usual hour
for adjournment to allow Colonel George Bliss to
speak in favor of the Catholic institutions OF the
city Mr.. Bliss objected to the clause in the pro-
posed charter relating to the compulsory discharge
of a child from institution at the age OF SIX |
teen. The speaker asked why, instead the Com |
mission didn't provide that at the age OF sixteen |
the city shall not be asked TO pay the usual annual
The hearing adjourned until to-day at p. m !