New-York tribune., 1901-03-27
AGREEMENT ON CHARTER.
DEMOCRATS PROBABLY WILL NOT oP-
POSE AMENDMENTS.
HARMONIOUS DISCUSSION OF CHANGES BY Jo1N
CITIES CoMMTTTEES-Tw YEAR TERM
FOR MAYOR

Albany, March S.-The proposed amendments 10
the charter Of New-York City will probably be
made with the full of the Tammany dele
gation in the legislature and OF Mayor Van wyck
so that the bill will be vetoed and the legisat-
will not be required TO pass the bin a second
time. This will mean earlier adjournment of the
legislature
The joint executive session of the two commit
on cities tonight 10 discuss the proposed
charter changes was marked for its cordiality
among the members. and the intimation was plainly
given that Governor odel desired the Democratic
minority be satisfied. There is some divergence
Of opinion over the question OF two years four
years the term for the Mayor but Il will prob
ably be made two years. About 10 per cent of the
present charter is not 10 be disturbed.
The school section is decided upon and Will
propably meet with general approval. although
the teachers win undoubtedly attack some its
features. The borough boards are to be abolished:
the Board OF Education, consisting of forty-six
members appointed by the Mayor is to be in
entire charge Of the educational system, except
ing so far as limited powers and duties de-
yolyed TpOn local school boards in small districts
Tie members OF the Board OF Education are to
be selected from the several bcroughs in about
the proportion I'm which delegates are now
sent TO the Board of Education from the several
borough boards. The Board of Education is to d.
vide the city into fortysX local school board dis
tricts. in each of which the borough president Is
appoint five persons who. with a member of
the Board of Education be assigned by the
president Of that board and district superin-
tendent assigned by the city superintendent. are
10 constitute local school board.
The section providing that aldermen shall have
the power 10 fix school salaries will be rejected.
The demand 10 have the Davis bill affecting the
schools absolutely repealed will be acquiesced
in. Provision will be made 10 fix the maximum
The principal discussion tonight was on the
proposal TO abolish the Municipal Assembly and
replace IL by a larger Board of Aldermen 1t Is
ueisNea as an ouISone OF tle discussion that IN
Aldermen will not be made so large a body as
Enended, l23 members This reduction of the board
is Governor Odells suggestion. and IL VIII either
be adopted with sixty members in the board
else viii be left as at present with a Council and
Board of Aldermen.
makes borough presidents practically commission
OF public works, IL was held by number in
Of responsibility lot wise. The Democrats OBJ
1ected TO the provision that the departments OF
sewers ana highways which under the present
charter have jurisdiction throughout the entire
city. be abolished. and that their functions be
transferred TO the presidents OF the several bor-
oughs. Under this plan the borough presidents
would occupy position closely analogous 10 that
OF the former Commissioner of Street Improve
Inents OF the Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth
Wards II is believed that this will be changed
greatly, and that the Sewer Commissioners will re-
tain office.
Another objection on the part of the Democrats
IS the provision creating the Board OF EST
mate. II was held that this would give 10 Brook
trol the president OF the board and the Controller
and get the support OF Richmond.
There serious objection 10 the plan OF
the charter commission reorganiZe the Fire De-
partment along the lines the Police De-
lection TO the recommendation reorganize the
Board OF Health so that there shall be three COM
Commission will probably be abolished and a board
composed OF tve commiSsioners representing each
wa" The e tenemenf house, bin Which creates
q commission, will be incorporated in the charter