New-York tribune., 1900-12-03
CHARTER ALTERATIONS
VIEWS FOR AND AGAINST THE pro-
POSED CHANGES.

The several changes IN the city chdrter which
have been suggested by the Charter Revision
Commission provoked a great deal OF discussion
yesterday. OF course. opinions differed widely
as to the value OF the proposed alterations but
on the whole they seem 70 have met more favor
than disapprobation. The attack upon the un
necessarily heavy salary list Of municipal en-
pIoyes, the single-headed Police Commission the
Mayors power 20 remove HIS appointees
throughout his term, increased home rule for the
boroughs and the supplanting OF the dual Mu-
nicipal Assembly by an enlarged Board OF al
dermen. were the suggestions which received
most attention. Here are some Of the comments
that have been made upon the Charter Com
missiOners' report:
WILLIAM C. DE WITT. one OF the trainers os
the original eharter-I have been 50 intimately
connected with the construction Of the charter
from the beginning that cannot speak Of II frag-
beresStsS i've nv ,-sSys non n witch vvol1l5
quire very long publication in fact would take
a page Of The Tribune but for the present must
leave the subject with the committee
AsHBEL P. FITCH. also one Of the trainers of
the original charter-I have always favored
single headed Police Commission
JOHN J. sCANNELL Fire Commissioners am
in favor Of single headed commissions I would
recommend one for the Fire Department. Wei
as the Police pep n slsS apProye p ne
during his entire term.
ANDREW H. GREEN one Of the trainers OF the
original charter)-The Mayors term Of Office might
better have been reduced TO two years, with elgi-
bility to reelection
RANDOLPH GUGGENHEIMER, president OF the
Municipal Councfl-Some Of the changes recon-
mended are good and some are impracticable. That
IS all / wish to say at present.
JOHN DE WITT WARMER like the suggestion
for local legislature consisting OF one house. in
OF two: also those for increasing the power
the Mayor and Of each borough President, Tor
single headed Police Commission, FOR putting
checK upon CITY sdIdIIeS LOl lLle Iepodl " 1.apo
recommend wider extension OF the principle OF
municipal ownership
FREDERICK BOWLEY President Of the Bor-
ough Of Queens-The adoption OF the suggestion
relating to increased powers for borough presi-
dents would be vast Improvement over present
conditions.
SMITH ELY. former Mayor Of New-York-I think
it would be wiser to give our new charter another
tions for revision.
EDWARD NJ CIRCUIT. President Of the Borough
Of Brooklyn-I heartily approve the single cham
bered local legislature. the single headed police
Commission and the increase Of the Mayors power
of removal to the entire duration Of his term
The Rev. Dr.; RAINSsEoRp Rains rector Of St. Georges
Protestant Episcopal Church--There should be only
one head to the Police Department
FRANK MOSS counsel to the AIazet Committee
The report is admirable one. on the whole but
the Mayors term Of Office should be reduced to two
years.
CONSTANT A ANDREWS. banker-The re-
modelling of the local municipal legislature and the
placing Of the police under the control of a single
perience
THEODORE W. MYERS, former Controller OF
the city-If all these changes are adopted I think
that before long we will need rerevison Of the
char SaaTter G but but 1 aPDr4Ts the sggseS0n tor single
removal for the Mayor and the reorganization OF
the Board of Education
HENRY D. PURROY. former County Clerk Of
v,crTa dad Dol
Commission, the separation OF the Board ef Elec-
tions from the Police Department and the looping
off Of superfuoUs departments and officials are
much to be desired.
WILLIAM BRENNAN. Deputy Commissioner Of
sewers-The charter revisers. I see. have recon-
mended the abolition Of the Department ef Sewers.
ment to entitle it place by itself in the city
government.
CLARK BELL-The recommendation to Increase
the Mayors power Of removal is a good one So
are the recommendations concerning the reorganiz
alton OF the municipal legislature. charging the
authority Of the borough presidents and reforming
mission did not submit an entirely new charter Tor
the Legislature to adopt
JOSEPH j. LITTLE, ex-president Of the Board
OF Education-The Board OF Education is large
enough now. 1t should rather be decreased than
increased as the charter revisers suggest The
borough boards should be abolished and full power
70 manage Ihe scno9is Pe SiSH o, 70 0roDosed ssch
Commissioner will be found 70 De prac[lcaIy s1-
Of that district on his own ideas OF what schools
ought to be-
T. r. FARRELL. Deputy Commissioner OF the
Department Of Highways cannot agree with The
suggestion that this Department should be abOl-
ished. 1t would virtually be a return TO the old
Department Of City Works, which had outliVed us
usefulness.
HENRY CLEWS. banker-One man power IN the
Police Department will be improvement, feel
sure.
A. AUGUSTUS HEALY-The concentration OF re-
sponsibiIity will be practical Improvement. esps-
ctally in tire Police Department
JOHN GUILFOYLE. Commissioner OF the De
partment Of Buildings for Brooklyn-The suggestion
is made that this Department be abolished ana lts
duties divided among borough bureaus. 40 hO'
like that. This Department should be let alone
LOUIS F. HAFFEN. President Of the Borough
of The Bronx-I am in favor OF all those susges-
tions in the report which give increased home rule
to the separate boroughs.
THOMAS F. BRENNAN. Deputy Commissions
Of Charities-A sirfgle Commissioner would De-
lieve. find it impossible to perform all the WorK oL
this Department. 1 think this Department WOuu
be better let alone by the charter reviserS II Nas
never more honestly efficiently conducted f"'u
at present.
THE ITALIAN BUDGET.