The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-03-02
FOR sEooND-CLAss CITIES.
A Favorable Report in the Senate on Mr..
whites Hill for n Unirorru CHARTER.

a Favorable Report In tho Senate on Mr.
whites Hill for n Unlrortp CHARTER.
ALBANY, March 1.-The Senate Committee on
Cities unanimously agreed this afternoon to re-
port favorsbly tomorrow Senator Whites bill
TO provide 4 uniform charter for cities of the
second class. 1t applies to Rochester, Albany.
Troy, and Syracuse. 1t was prepared originally
three years ago BY n commission appointed for
that purpose in accordance with q provision OF
the new constitution. The bill has been intro
duced in the last two sessions. but no attempt
was made to pass 1t until tho last week of last
| years session. 1t was then rushed through both
houses, but owing to certain Objectionable pro-
visions which wero discovered later Gov. Black
allowed It to die. at tho instance Of some of those
who had been instrumental In securing its pas
sage.
No attempt has been made to move the bill
this year until to-day. when Senator White
urged the committee to report 1t with certain
perfecting amendments. The committee did so,
and Senator White intends to push the bill. 1t
goes a long way toward giving homo rule to the
four cities, and would make unnecessary q mass
OF legislation which they now seek each year.
For this reason its massage. would be q strong
The proposed charter creates q Board of Eeti.
mate and Apportionment, and gives 1t powers
okst by the hasf board in New YORK city. 'n It also eoe eS.
tablishes q Board of Contract and Supply. made
up OF tue city OFFICIALS ana neAdS OF departments.
II reposes the executive power exclusively in
the Mayor and the legislative power exclusively
In the Common Council.
1t provides that every city department, in
Guiding the Police Department, shall have a
BlnRle-headed commission. to DO appointed by
the Mayor and removable at his pleasure. The
administrative. head of each department. such
as tho Chief Of Police. is required to have a large
degree of technical skill fitting him for the per-
formance Of his particular duties. 1t provides
that public franchises shall be sold to the high
est bidder. and limits their duration to fifty
years. 1t does net affect any present tenures of
office and is not expected to arouse much Demo-
cratic opposition.
The Cities Committee refused to report favor.
ably Senator Ford's bill to regulate the hours of
drug. clerks. 1t has been opposed at several
hearings by druggists. and drug clerks both.
the consideration OF the Senate without recon.
mendation.
Senator Brush tried to have his bill relating
to the Board OF Health reported. 1t has aroused
great opposition and the mmitt refused to
report II at all. 1t will report tho following bills
favorably:
Senator Page-Making former Police Justices eligi.
BILE TO appointment as City Magistrates.
senator Misunderstanding the polio men who were
formerly members OF the New Utrecut force in the
same rank that they then held.
senator Page-AuthorizinR the Board OF Estimate
to pay to the American Museum OF Natural History
$4,000 annually in addition to the present appro-
priation.
Senator Misunderstanding from taxation the
House OF the Good shepherd.
Senator Notwithstanding till May /, 1893. all
Brooklyn theatre licenses which would expire in
April.
to reimburse L. NJ. Hornthai. Richard Kelly. Joseph
Fettretch, aud Jeremiah Fitzpatrick for expenses
incurred in defending a suit brought against them as
School Trustees by Louis NJ. Galligan.