New-York tribune., 1907-12-02
FOR CHARTER
REPORT TO GOTERNOR.
Suggestions to Reduce Cost and
Facilitate LEGISLATION.

Facilitate Legislation.
Suggestions for reducing the cost of maintaining
the New York City government and recommended
lions for two methods OF facilitating legislation
besides general suggestion that the powers of the
municipal government be increased were included
in the report filed with Governor Hughes on Satur-
day by the Charter Revision Commission. The
commission that was appointed last July has been
at work for four months the much discussed
questions of municipal government and the report
goes over the ground thoroughly. Means of saving
money have been discovered by the commission in
nearly every branch of the government
Along these lines the report advocates a reduc-
ton in the number of aldermen. reconstruction of
the Tax Board, as well cutting down of the
number of executives in several departments and
division of the business now handled by the
Board of Water Supply, Gas and Electricity. The
report is non-commttal the question of munic-
lpal ownership and declares that since it has been
definitely adopted for New York City by the acts
OF the Legislature the subject should be
carefully studied.
The report consisting of eighty-two printed
pages. takes up separate chapters each of the
departments Of city government and is signed by
the Mayor, the Controller, James Cowden Meyers,
aldermanic member and secretary; William NJ.
Wins, chairman; J. Hampden Dougherty. George
l. Duval Nathaniel a. Elsberg, L. R. l. Gould
and Charles II. Strong who constitute the
mission.
Attached the report are tables showing the
number Of more important acts passed by the
Legislature since the revision of the charter in
1901 and the number of important bills affecting
the city that were introduced at the last session
of the Legislature. Also there charts accom-
panying the report and giving the analyses of the
existing government. After reviewing the various
charters since the organization of the city of New
Amsterdam in 1852. the commission states that the
defects of existing system both fundamental
and administrative, and can be corrected only after
mature deliberaton.
WANTS WORK CONTINUED.
1t therefore recommends the appointment of a
commission to continue the work and to draft
charter proper and administrative code. By the
expression charter proper is meant organic
law bearing the relation TO the city that the
constitution bears the The administrative
code would contain many of the provisions now in
the citys charter and. in brief, would prescribe
and regulate the manner in which the functions
and duties authorized by the charter should be
formed. If this plan adopted the charter
would be simple that the average citizen could
understand its provisions easily he now
understands those Constitution of the United
States.
The commission believes provision should be made
that amendment OF the charter should be almost
as difficult of accomplishment as is the amendment
of the constitution OF the state The adminstrativ"
code, the other hand. should be enacted. in the
first place, by the Legislature, and thereafter be
subject amendment by the municipal Legislature.
amendment thereof by the State Legislature being
made difficult.
The report contains quotations Cf the conclu-
sions Of various committees that animadverted upon
the practices Of Charter tinkerng and continues:
The majestic function Of making laws for
sovereign state as impeded by the attention gwen
the demands OF special interests and localities
measure of enlightenment should settle FOR itself
questions which in their relations to the state as
10 and interference ~ the central Legislature arc
enervating in their effect upon the cardinal prln-
ciple OF home rule
The commission favors the increase rather than
the reduction OF the Mayors powers Of appoint
ment ard removal.
MODIFICATION PROPOSED.
The division of administrative functions between
the Mayor and the borough presidents Is discussed
at length. The commission held public
hearing in each of the five horoughs. and in all
except Manhattan a wish was expressed for a con-
tnuance OF the present system In Manhattan.
however. nothing said on the subject There
fore. the commission is OF the opinion that the
present system should be continued in a modified
form" and says more fully.
We say modified because local prejudice and
benefit and political advantage OF the whole peo-
PIE else The entire purpofe OF eons9idpo1 ip5l
oils II must sink TO he position OF mere con-
the difficulty Of arriving AT SATISFACTORY s"Iuunh
OF this problem. but 1t IS convinced that economy.
s poPeT whole ,E' viii b best Encouraged and promoted
senarate borough governments upon central gov
er1ing departments. These should be represented
in the boroughs by deputies appointed because OF
their knowledge OF and familiarity with the bor-
oughH for which they may he appointed ana pos
sessing stated residential qualifications. An end
responsibility that has worked much mischief
in The greatest of the boroughs, which Is. IN point
OF fact the core OF the greater city.
The commission is unanimous IN neileIIng 'iia'
there should be a local legislative body The con
tfnuance of the present alderTnanlc body now
ever is not recommended; nut the commission is
divided the proper constitution Of the municipal
Two plans, each Of which found support in the
body composed OF the FIVE borough presidents
elected as present, and representatives or aIde
men elected from districts into ~hici the pofouSHs
should be divided These representatives, Sioulu b'
sixteen in number, making. with the borough pres
idents a legislative body Of twenty y-one members
presided over by the president OF the Board or
Rp,darroe, elected as at present. The sixteen mem
hars should be apportioned among the borouEhs
as follows: Six from Manhattan four from Brook
The sixteen districts should be erected so as 10 be
independent of the changing boundaries lnseiardpie
from Congressional Senatorial or Assenpy rep
resentation and should. as far as possible pe
axed nv natural boundaries SO as TO PROVIDE com
mIInity or neighborhood, rather than essentlaiy
noIitical representation The division OF the city
tn+n toroilEhs whose lines historical or geo
ara nhIca has resulted in strong 1eeiihg or ocal
Tesnonsbility. Their subdivision into large alder
manic districts, having permanent pouiiudiieo'
would conserve this sentiment
SECOND PLAN.
Tho second plan would provide for the appoint
members of the Board of Estimate ana Apporttol-
ment Except the Mayor, who would retain tht
f. wouId be presided over by the vice-Mayor VINO
would correspond TO and have the powers OF me
present president of the Board or AIdetiieI- ll'
hoard OF Estimate and ApportionInent me CON-
unanimously recommends, is 10 ne coil-
posed of Mayor, Controller president t9 3f tlG
Eoard of Aldermen and four members eiecltu
hy voters of the city al large