New-York tribune., 1903-04-18
HOME RULE RUN WILD

Assemblyman Reynolds has proposed a con-
stitutional amendment to extend the measure or
home rule enjoyed by counties, towns ard VII
lagos and end the present abuses of special local
legislation. It provides that no special village
town or county law shall be introduced except
Oh petition of the local authorities in each case
or on petition of 2 per cent of the voters In a
county for a county bill, or 10 per cent OF
the voters Of Il town or village for town OF
village bill. Every special bill OF this kind
after passage by the legislature, unless vetoed
by the Governor, must be submitted to the cleo
tors OF the village, town or county, ana, II ac-
cepted by them, becomes a law.
The purpose of this measure commands sym
Dathy great many special bills are passed.
to subserve the purely selfish interests OF
few people, which are wrong to the majority
of community which they affect Frequently
a member of the legislature and small coterle
of his friends will involve town III deDt OF
cause injury to the property of other citizens
who have no influence at Albany Inc
courtesy" Of the legislature deprives the aG-
grieved people Of any consideration They can
not get member from another district to SPEAK
for them. If he interferes he will be politely
told that 1t is a local measure and none OF his
business. He probably has measures OF his
own to pass, and so does not care to press oo-
We are naturally inclined to favor anything
that will break up this system, and think Wen
of the proposal to invest rural boards of super
yisors with larger powers and take from the
legislature almost all necessity for passing
snecial local bills. Nevertheless, we do not
think Mr.. Reynolds's amendment wise one 1t
would make New-York, in many respects,
loose confederation of independent towns car
rying the local veto power to an unhearo OF
extreme. This proposal goes further than the
home rule provision of the constitution for
cities. There deliberation is forced upon the
legislature but it can pass a bill by a mere
majority vote a second time if it thinks the OBJ
iections Of local authorities not well taken
Mr. REYNOLDS would make local disapproVal
final and create a semi-independent sovereign
in every little village situation might exist
reouiring particular law for a certain locality.
If the Deople there objected to it, the whole
State would be powerless. 1t must pass law
appIying to all localities, in many OF when,
perhaps, it would do harm, or see itself dened-
It is all very we'll to establish home rule, but
il is well to remember that the State is, aTter
all thn unit of government and the sovereign
mower within its sphere. 1t ought not TO sur
render its final complete authority, however
much it may wisely regulate its use- In the
last ANALYSIS the State, not the town. governs
the town. and in an emergency it should be al
wavs able to govern even though local sentl-
ment is adverse to its measures There may
he times when the majority in village would
have selfish schemes oppressive to the MINOR
ity. or subversive of general interests, ana De
carving these schemes out in a scandaIous
fashion which could be checked only by speclal
legislation.