New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-05
TO CONFUSE SITUATION.
A HOME RULE BILL IN.
Democrats Take Precipitate action
The GoUernOT's YieSrS.
rEr zErEsnAru 10 TEE THTBUSE.l

. ,,,,..,,-e ,,,,-rorffre- 20 be a home rule bill
-bir places IN the hands OF the local authoTl1leS
q cities every power now possessed oy ire
State and would result. many think In ittie
less than absolute disruption Of the state. On
der It's provisions the Board OF Aldermen would
have power over franchises. the regulation o.
the ucuo- traffic and the fixing Of hours and
fees. as wei Hs directing their payment to the
city treasur-- The local Civl Service Commits
sion would be relieved from ali jurisdiction OF
the state Board and an excise commissioner,
appointed by the Mayor, would exercise the au-
thority now vested IL the state Commissioners.
All legislation inconsistent with the provisions
OF this wholesale abolition OF law would also be
rerealec. TO quote Tamraary Senator on the
bill:
IT abolishes everything except the Harlem
and the Bronx rivers, and may be amended Ia
that respect"
The meaning OF this remarkable measure IS
that the Democrats have been led to believe
that the Republicans under the lead Of Cover
nor Odeu have in mind home rule legislation
TO defeat this they have rushed in with Their
absurd and hurriedy prepared bill Their one
fear y they are to he believed. was that some
measure would get IN ahead Of them. and Their
sincerity Of purpose may be deducted from Sen
stor Dowllng's laughing comment;
The two parties are getting so close together
on the Governors home rule plan that Il VIII
need State constabula-y to keep them apart"
WHERE oDELL IS THOUGHT TO STAND
In the niost % AL this uproar It is interesting
60 know Just where Governor Odell stands and
so what extent he is committed TO home rule
or 20 any home rule plan. The tacts' IL ms
friends are to be believed. are these
The Governor hae for some time been I'M
pressed with the appeals OF the people OF New
York city for home rule. He realizes that justly
Fr untustly the people 81 the city feel that they
nre being badly treated az Albany. With this
"a his mind he wrote his home rule reference
On his message subsequently one New-fork
City Republican after another discussed with
him the subject 81 nome rule and presented one
or two specific bills aimed 70 accomplish this.
The result OF all this II the Governors friends
IRE correct IN their surmlse, IS that the Gov
nrnor himself came 20 believe that there was a
great deal IN the claims OF the people OF New
York CITY and 10 think that some legislation
which was consistent with the best interest Of
fhe State was desirable TO bring about q better
understanding between the people OF the city
and those % the rural communities. How 10
accomplish this is the point that Governor Odeli
IS now considering.
within The last few Gays there has been an
effort made TO make 81 appear that home rule
plan is already drafted. that the Governor has
consulted with leaders and determined a line
~ action, but such is not TIE case. Governor Ode
said frankly to-day that he had not consulted
with a single legislator. and was not committed
TO any plan. The fact that he personally has 20
give closer attention 20 the home rule prob
lem Indicates rather a personal than q party
change OF faith The Governors friends still
maintain that not until there have been party
conferences. and not until these meetings which
the Governor admitted to-day were to come of
lrrH f1lrr MA rr-fTf
that there is any definite programme OF home
rule. Such a programme does not now exist
HOME RULE LEGISLATION NOT CERTAIN.
That the advocates OF this doctrine have made
O powerful convert IN the Governor is said 10 be
certain; but that they have thus insured any
home rule legislation is by no means certain
In the next few weeks party leaders viii con-
Ter on the matter. After they have ended their
conferences there may be definite programme
agreed on or it may be deemed inadvisable 10
carry the AFFAIR TO the legislature the present
tine; but the exact status Of the case is set
forth above, and any effort to establish definite
plan. as yet is mere imagination.
In discussing the question to-day the Cover
nor frankly admitted that ne was considering
home rule. Ee said:
rs e. big eges,tioa sHd good many wise heads
- M Sr 1s'saSlIe ao OUTSIDE vii DC called
developments. Z am in something OF the positfo1
% he OLD fellow whom ] used 70 watch putting in
paving etones. re would drive in two or jhree and
then ne woulc say: When those come out there
se Any commission 70 consider TIE question
petenf 70 deal with the matter
PARTY LEADERS TO CONSIDER PLAN.
The talk about the increasing Of the powers o.
the local supervisors. whose powers are vested
In the local Board Of Aldermen in New-York
City. es q cans OF giving New-York City hone
rule. Is. according to Governor odeITs friends.
TIE result OF an exploitation OF an fdea be has
had Ter many years IL IS that lEezv-YOFk City
has gained its. various local legislative powers
through releases Of similar character but this
toss not mean that the Governor has decided on
this method ana means TO bring Il about He
has not He has decided In his own mind that
he home rule matter should be carefully con-
sidered by party leaders. and that from this
consideration there SHOULD come conservative
legislation
II the Governor took reserved attitude IN the
discussion OF home rule william Halpln, OF the
Republican County Committee OF New-Yorl.
who al the Capitol to-day. was unquali-
hedly enthusiastic. f5e said Just after the Dem
ocratic home rule demonstration:
Governor ode started this movement and it is
eoing % prove great thing Conferences win De
some scheme OF municipal home raie viii De
sso.see; &c, 10 one car say a. this time hat Tie de-
licaor iratLe Niil IN some @sy, be incilded This
does not confuse the situation IN the least il viii
help us out Il win make ne Republicans gst in
sisht ''' ''''1S' Is AZ
SOME FUN OVER THE MEASURE.
The introduction OF the Democrats slarr-banz
measure caused only a ripple OF surprise in
the Senate. Senator cooeseiL who represents