New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-14
MENACEs TO HOME RULE
BILLS AFFECTING NETWORK CITY.
A DIGEST PREPARED BY THE CITY CLUB SHOW
ING THE EXTENSIVE T1NKERING WITH
THE CHARTER PROPOSED IN THE
LEGISLATURE AT ALBANY.

THE CHARTER PROPOSED IN THE
LEGISLATURE AT ALBANY.
The City Club, OF Nev-York through Its Commit
tee on Legislation has prepared statement VI
proposed legislation particularly affecting the Guy
OF Ncw-York introduced IN the Senate and Assem-
bly, NJ Albany during the month OF January
Following is the statement:
The Commission which framed the Charter OF
Greater NevYork had in view the erection OF
municipality which should be Entrusted with every
function essential 70 its development and the
complete management OF hs own affairs. Inc
language in which this purpose was expressed Is
at once brief and comprehensive, and every citizen
should make himself familiar With it:
With view OF sef-development. the Commission
has intrusted the new city with power 70 estanhsn
waters within Its domain TO build docks and I'm.
PARKS. schoolhouses and public buildings; TO open
streets and extend them to provide water and
Communication by ferry and railways between all
parts OF the great metropolis, The cy as ,, The
all the elements and powers Of normal growth and
ua recourse as hitherto to the legislature OF the
State for additional powers serious cyl SnG
Charter Commission to Legislature 1881.
Notwithstanding this painstaking effort on the
part OF the distinguished body that framed the
charter TO invest the new city with power to decide
for itself what it should do within the wel-recoG
nlZed range or ordinary fnuillOiIhl hCiNi'*' tiV
Legislature of tho State during the first month OF
its present session took up for consideration no
less than hundred and fifty oca' DIS anectlng
the city Many Of trese bills are absolute usurpa-
tons OF purely municipal functions. requiring at
the hands Of our citizens Improvements local in
character. the expenditure and burden OF which
must fall solely upon them. such as the paving
OF streets. the construction OF bridges. the opening
and improvement. OF parks: while others directly
aim at the increase OF salaries in city departments
changes IN tn attributes and qualifications of our
municipal officers arc our local municipal courts.
Interference with local taxes and assessments. etc.
anG. finally. forty-three OF them propose In terms
TO amend the charter before its provisions have
had any trial.
This condition OF things must convince any OBJ
server that the new charter is not 10 he treated by
the State Legislature with more respect than the
former charters CT New-York and Brooklyn. that
the lawmakers at Albany still consider the local
concerns Of the new city proper matter for drec.
legislative action. and that precisely as in the
past. they will exercise the prerogativs OF mpos-
ing upon the citizers OF the municipality without
their consent. and against their dissent, heavy
expenditures for purely local purposes. and will
continue 10 ignore the right OF the three million
habtants Of the Greater NevYork TO any
sponsible measure OF home rule.
The conviction must be driven homs 70 every
Newly orker; for this. f. IS only needful TO follow
the action Of the Leg "a Gre and 70 watch the
daily introduction Of bills every good purpose Of
which could be comprised by action OF the local
authorities of the city.
With a record in the Legislature OF SOC bills intro
duced in January which short legislative
month 1t is evidently light task for the busy
citizen 10 find out what mischief, either from
motive from negligence turks In this mass OF
attempted legislation. The City Club f. willing 10
take upon itself the burden OF that task 90 far
as bills especially affecting this city concerned.
and will. accordingly, present to the public from
81, .l,o ~
memorandum concerning bills OF this nature
The first nstslment OF this work here presented
however condensed. must of necessity a great
space: but the attention Of our citizens is earnestly
invited 20 1t, with the confidence that the knowledge
gained will awaken their resistance 70 further en-
croachment upon privilege OF home rule and
that resistance at all times and seasons in con-
versation, in discussion. in letters Senators and
Assemblymen. In public protest and finally at the
polls IS the only remedy and the certain remedy
Illustrations of almost every possible class OF UNI
desirable legislation will be found in the following
summary Of the principal bills especially affecting
the city. They here arranged under the sub.
1ects with which they deal
BRIDGES
The charter in Section 49, empowers the Munici-
pal Assembly. with the concurrence Of the Board
Of Estimate and Appointment. Ito provide by
ordinance" FOR the building Of bridges
within the city.
Senate bill No III Assembly bill No eoe) ITO
authorize the construction Of an additional bridge
between the boroughs of Manhattan and Brook
lyn." under the direction Of bipartisan commits
sion Of four members. the Mayor 10 be member
ex offico. This bill is bad in proposing to Introduce
politics into a great public work through the appli-
cation Of the Bipartisan principle"
Assembly bill No. 1ss provides for the building OF
/ a bridge over the East River by a commission Of
six members named In the bill.
Senate bill No l43 Assembly bill No. 42e) would
give the city authority 10 construct bridges over
the East River. This authority is given by the
charter.
Senate bill No ls4 requires the local authorities
70 construct a passenger elevator in connection
with the Brooklyn Bridge matter OF the city
authorities under the charter.
Senate bill No 276 (similar to Assembly bill No
1881 is striking illustration Of the legislative tnk-
ering with local affairs which the charter was
10 prevent II provides that the city shall appro-
pirate s22 90 for the construction of bridge over
or tho mill pond in the Thirty first and
Thirty-second wards Of the Borough OF Brooklyn"
Certainly, II the city cannot undertake upon It's
own initiative. under the full power given 1t by
the charter public work Of this magnitude we
cannot expect the charter 10 operate at all without
the constant Intervention Of the Legislature in the
details OF the city government.
The purpose OF Assembly bill No 3ss Is said 20 be
10 restore 10 Office the members OF the existing
Commission 10 build an East River bridge who
were removed from Office by Mayor Van Wyck
But IT would greatly abridge the power OF the city
authorities IN the building OF bridges by providing
that none Of the provisions Of existing laws
ferrng power TO construct bridges upon the Mu-
nicipal Assembly Commissioner OF Bridges OF
the city Of New-York. or authority. other than the
Legislature Of the State Of NewYork. shall he con-
strued 20 apply to bridges the East River or on
the Hudson River below Waterford"
PARKS AND THE PARK DEPARTMENT.
Senate Bill No. 22-To provide that the Grand
Boulevard ard Concourse shall be constructed by
Q commission OF three members 10 be appointed by
the Mayor for a term Of SIX years. with an annual
salary OF S 900 each Under Section 527 OF the char
ter the duty OF laying out and constructing the