New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-21
AnLECTITES NOT ARGUMENT.

Some members of the Charter Commission
who were present ut the hearing perore the
Governor on Monday manifested In their rephes
10 criticisms of their work a temper when they
have no reason to cherish. 1t Is the charter that
is under consideration, not the character or the
citizens who framed It. Its severest critics have
made explicit and generous acknowledgment OF
the zeal and industry which the Committee on
Draft devoted to their arduous task, and have
never felt the slightest inclination to d!sparage
either their ability or their dlsnterestedness.
1t was their misfortune that the time allowed
for work Of extraordinary magnitude and dif-
fculty was far too short. 1t may have been felt
also that they were not wholly free from blame
IN undertaking such labor under such condi-
tons. But II that thought has been entertained
It has never found offensive expression 1t has
often been said and certainly as OFTEN py Inc
Tribune as by others, that the Commissioners
who gave all their energies at heavy sacrince
Of private interest and convenience to what they
regarded as public service were entitled 10
cordial recognition of the excellence OF their mo-
tives and the completeness Of their devotion.
But citizens of equal intelligence and equal
fidelity to their convictions were not to be de-
tered by consideration for the feelings or the
Commissioners from condemning those features
of the charter which seemed to them to be
wrongful and dangerous They were bound so
soon as they could reach decisive opinion con-
corning the most comprehensive part Of
scheme Of government which they were not ena-
bled to scrutinize until il was on the verge OF
enactment to express that opinion as publicly
and as emphatically as possible This they have
done, under the disadvantage Of haste and scant
attention from those who should have vel
coined light from every quarter. at meetings of
numerous civic organizations, In the press, IN
conversation, at the hearings before the Mayor
and finally In the presence or the Governor
They have made deep impression on the public
mind by clear and consistent exposition OF
the radical faults Of the charter, but their op-
position has been perfectly decorous. They have
attributed no sinister motives to the Commits
sioners whose work they have censured, and
have earned no ill-will or reproach from their
most sensitive opponents.
1t is surprising, therefore. and disagreeable
to find such men as Mr.. Carter, Mr.. Parsons,
Mr.. Hewitt and Mr. Delaheld denounced In
terms quite characteristic Of a Legislature
which takes pleasure in sneering at the Mayor
and people Of New-York, but utterly incOnsist-
ent with the general estimate OF the more
important members of the Commission. 1t Is
natural and proper that the men who drafted
the charter should defend it, If they conscien-
tously can, but 1t is dscreditable to them from
every point Of view to describe the opposition
as trivial" frivolous" mean" selfish" and
dishonest" Not one Of those adtectives, but
the precise opposite of each of them, applies TO
the condemnation which has been pronounced
upon the charter.