New-York tribune., 1900-12-02

w ia M 10 u no UT I'll
The Charter Revision Commission, which was
appointed by Governor Roosevelt under Chapter
465 of the laws of 1900. forwarded it's report to
the Governor yesterday. With the report the
Commission submits bill. to be transmitted to
the Legislature. providing for certain amend
ments to the greater New-York charter. The re-
port explains the nature of the proposed amend
ments and gives reasons for the changes recon-
mended. The report is signed by all the mem
bers of the Commission. as follows:
GEORGE L. RIvEs. Presi-l FRANK ). GOODNow.
GEORGE W DAWSON EDGAR j. LEyEY
ERANKI.fN BARTLETT ALExANDFR I. MASON.
GEdRGE 4aR II SRoMWETi. JAMES JAMES u Wells
WILLIAM c. DE WITT.
In the beginning of the report. it is stated that
the Commission could not concur in the belief
expressed in some quarters that there should be
no city legislature because the affairs of the
city are almost entirely of a business nature.
Then the Commission says:
To what extent the State should in the in
terest of the people of the whole State enact and
administer laws with reference to the affairs and
government of cities Is question which we
have not deemed it our duty to consider. But so
strongly have many well informed persons felt
with reference 10 the prdcJ1ce OF constant STATE
legislation concerning matters of purely local
administration that the adoption of a cOnStitu-
tional amendment has been urged prohibiting
the state Legislature from passing any 5peclal
laws not made applicable to all the cities Of the
State. The Commission is not prepared 70 rec
ommend so radical a constitutional change as
this but 1t may be pointed out that many of
the objects of such amendment might be ef-
fected at once If both houses of the Legis-
lature. by some changes in their rules, were to
refuse to consider any bills which related to
subjects Of local interest and with which cities
were themselves competent to deal
George L. Rives, the chairman Of the Charter
Revision Commission gave out the report for
publication Yesterday in advance OF it's recep-
ton by the Governor, because of the publica-
tion Of what purported to be the full text Of
the report. He said:
The publication in The New-Ycrk World'' of
this morning of what purpOrts to be report
Of the Charter Revision Commission is grossly
inaccurate. The document from which it was
copied was draft prepared some weeks ago in
confidence for consideration by the members of
the Commission and before some very i'm
portant questions had been definitely decided.
1t therefore fails to represent the views Of the
Commission some points, and states con-
cIusons matters concerning which the Commits
sion has decided to make no recommendations
There is hardly a line Of the report printed
which has not been revised, and there have been
very substantial additions to it.
Mayor Van Wyck. Controller Coler. Corpora
ton Counsel Whalen and several other promi-
nent officials of the city yesterday declined 10
make any comments upon the report of the
Charter Revision Commission. President Hola-
han of the Board of Public Improvements said:
'I have not read it thoroughly as yet, and
until do l cannot say much about it, will
saw however, that it is not more than 1 ex-
pected. I have heard that many Of the changes
that are proposed would be in the report. and
it does not surprise me-
A member Of the Municipal Assembly laughed
at the idea Of 120 Aldermen instead Of the pres
ent number He said:
II can imagine the clerk calling the roll on
some vote, and then absentees being called and
again called for. II would take all the afternoon
to do that alone. The Aldermen meet once
week They will probably do so if the new char
ter is adopted. Their meetings once a week
will then have TO commence on Monday and
last until Saturday"
President York. of the Police Board said:
IF they want the handling of the moneys Of
the Department, let them have it, l don't think
there is anybody here who will oppose that
strongly There is only one reason why 1t should
not be done. The conditions in this Department
make IL impossible for US TO make up a monthly
payroll till midnight of the last day OF any
month But we have always been able 10 have
the payrolls complete and to pay the men on
the first day of the next month No other de-
partment in the city Is able to do that 1 am
afraid that If the Controller has charge of the
paying of the men they will have to wait for
weeks, as the school teachers do.
LAS TO the appointment Of the Chief from out
side the uniformed force. like that provision
II gives the Commissioners more latitude. and
am opposed TO any division OF responsibility
in the Department. 1 in favor Of the one
headed commission, you already know 1
saw the reason for that the first day came
into this Department The Charter Commission
refers to Brooklyn's experience with the one
headed commission. just because Brooklyn is
the only place where IL has ever been tried in
this city. Il was a success over there"
Friends OF Bellevue Hospital said yesterday
that the charter amendment placing Bellevue
and it's subsidiary hospitals in the control OF a
Board of Trustees. TO be appointed by the
Mayor, would give TO these hospitals the best
system OF government ever devised. The plan.
il was said would take the city hOspi ais out
OF politics and give stable administration.
'BelIsvue Hospital" said one of its friends
Yesterday. will be the gamer. because Il will
be made specific city interest. independent OF
the other institutions in the Department Of Pub