New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-25
AGREE on CERTAIN POINTS
HOME RULE DISCUSSED.
Parfg Doctrines and State Interests
Not To BE IHUOtC6d.

.ltsr,. pen. 24-Ths first meeting 81 the
committee appointed by tho conference OF T1a's
r7.u,,bucan eaders 20 consider the question OF
l,ovse rule met to-day. discussed the qoeston ~
q s.,-ilfo-v fashion disposed ~ the ret pfo3e''
- William Barnes. jr-, rather summary ''1
-her APPOINTED q sub-counlittee OF thfee' ''
sisting ~ Senators Elsberg and MaTshai ana
william Rar-es jr. 90 examine stil furthef lAlo
a.. -,,,.s,.rtes ~ The question This committee
VIII hold its hrsf session tomorrow. examining
IN. Nev--York city charter 20 ind what degree
%, hv,,e r,,ie the city now possesses and whether
the complaint IN the matter Is just or not This
committee A. clothed with all the authority pre-
,.iouslv delegated 20 the full committee by The
,orfo-ence whatever that was. The plan OF
william, Barnes. ir. which his newspaper an
r7ounced to-day. consisted in an amendment 10
the charter 81 New-Tork city by couferrng on
the Roard of Aldermen the power 20 regulate
nv ordinance the hours during which the mold
ers Of excise licenses should sell liquor
Almost the first action by the committee after
n assembled to-day was 20 indulge IN a species
OF experience meeting. Senator Nalby' OF 81
Lawrence County, was the first speaker oelhs
followed BY Senator Davis Of Erie County As
ssmhlyman Fish. OF Madison County ana s1a'e
supertntendent Francis Hendricks, OF syracuse
All these members admitted that their con
Ffffuprrlns
,bst they were cutie reccnciled 20 the situation
a. :, existed. Then william Barnes St., pre-
sented his plan. designed 10 give the aldermen
sone authority and all responsibility IN the
p,,,o- affairs This caused storm Of protest
an ,be ,,eunbers except Senator Elsberg' N
Guiding even Senator Marshall. Of Brooklyn
criticised this plan generally for two reasons
first that II was not IN line with kepuolicall
marty poiicies and, secondly, that II was uI"iso
20 put the control OF this question INTO 'e ii"iO
~ Tamnany Board of Aldermen
Mr.. Barnes had expected 90 be OVERCOME on
this proposition and yielded 10 tue N .y.i
although a. is well known that he holds sltohels
10 the belief that his solution Is the proper o4l'
so strongly tn fact. that he is likely 10 elhDou.
b. into a minority report when ne IN 49,.
Then the committee discussed the NoNtillol
vlsn OF perrnitting bona hde restaurants TO sen
liquor on SUNDAY. Together WIN thls lueSS S
the conferrees also discussed the Ralnes Jaw
hotel and IL agreed that any ming Ia
could he done 20 remove the ob5ecuonaDle leal-
res OF those places was desirable so lols a
Al did not interfere with other questions OF
,,olicv Then the proposition for the conferrnB
on local authorities Of the power 10 reg ula1e Iie
r,rice OF gas was brought Up. hut senator Many
asserted that there was grave question: IS -
,u-befbeT or moi the State had the authority TO
delegate this power. and cited a recent oeclsloh
in the Illinois courts supporting his coitehOo1I-
After the committee had thTaSheu over lle
around for nearly two hours Il found Itself IN
agreement on these points: First the appoint
fneut Of a Subcommittee, second, mat NOME
rule purely New-Nork CITY issue anu
third. THAI there existed no objection 10 The
granting Of certain additional powers 10 me
local authorities ia matters concerning the loeaI
interests simply, and not involving party ooc-
1rincS or State interests.
To investigate and discover what these were
and what legislation would be necessary 10 pro-
vide Them the subcommittee was appointed
consisting Of Two members from New ork
City and William Barnes. jr.. whose ideas are
regarded notably cosmopolitan.
fn-T0 &C
expects 10 present his bill increasing the
power 81 the Police Commissioner and the Fire
Commissioner in matters affecting the number
and government OF their respective forces
which viii set at rest al question OF
the legal right OF the Police Commissioner 10
restore the rhBee platoon system. and also give
authority to Increase the number OF the uni
formed force his own discretion. The con-
ference to-day was somewhat Of "A town meeting
in ftS character. The subsequent sessions are
expected 20 be lessons IN the New-N ork charter,
with crOss-references on possible amendments.