New-York tribune., 1901-01-20
G. L. RITEs REPLIES TO CRITICS
AT A DINNER FOR REVISION COMMISSION
HE ASKS FOR "SALUTARY NEGLECT"
OF CITY BY STATE.

The Taxpayers Alliance, the North Side Board
OF Trade and citizens of The Bronx gave dinner
last night in honor Of the Charter Revision Com
mission in the Schnorer Club house. at One-hun-
dred-and-sixty -third-st. and Third-ave. Ex-Judge
Ernest Hall presided. About hundred persons
present
Among the Commissioners on hand early were
George L. Rives the chairman; James l.. Wells.
The Bronx member; James Mexican, Isaac NJ.
Kapper, George Cromwell and Alexander T. Mason.
Others present were j. A Goulden. Henry d. Pur-
roy and President Louis +. Haffen.
Mr. Rives the chief speaker Of the evening.
He said the Commission had been surprised at
the public hearings in outlying boroughs of the
city Taxes had been increased in those boroushs,
and improvements were practically at a standstill-
all owing the compleXity of the city govern
It had been urged that there should be local
officials to deal with local needs; that where money
TO be raised by assessment for local improve
local officials should have right to spend 1t;
that government should be simplifed that the peo-
pie should know to whom 10. go for redress for
grievances We have held fast to these three
principles" added Mr.. Rives In the opinion OF
the Commission the former Charter Commission
went too far in its system Of checks and balances
Of power Seven different bodies had TO act on
the question of regulating the grade Of a street"
The import change in the charter. Mr..
Rves said. was that giving the Mayor summary
power of removal.
Public opinion in this city, I am sure" contin-
ued Mr.. Rives, "abundantly sustains the views OF
the Commission. We have that within the
last few weeks a political party which for years
had been welded the system OF bi-partisanship
or division of responsibility in the Police Depart
ment has been finally forced to the position of
favoring a single headed Commission and direct
responsibility in Individual"
Mr.. Riyes referred to the criticism that the Com
mission had done much to enforce economy.
and said:
I do not however, myself consider that much
can be done in the way Of economy by an act of
the Legislature in Albany. What is wanted is
economy the part of a State in letting the
people of the city alone | convinced that we
shall never get economical and satisfactory gov
ernment in NeW-York unless there is wise and
sautary neglect of this city persisted in by the
government of the State. No man IS honest enough
to intrusted with the spending Of another mans
money and the State of New York will never be
honest enough to be intrusted with the expenditure
OF money raised by the taxpayers of this city.
"The changes proposed" he continued, "are not
| radical revolutionary, but the members Of the
Commission have endeavored in a sensible and
busnesslke way to deal with the situation before
the city. The citizens of the city should take up
definite proposal and push 1t, and the only
| such definite proposal is the report of the Com
mission, which the people should push through
| the Legislature"
Other speakers were Mr.. Wells Mr.. McKeen, Mr.
Kapper, Mr. Cromwell, Henry w. Taft and Mr.
Mason.