New-York tribune., 1908-06-02
THE GoTERsoR. AND. THE CITIES,

Governor Hughes in his speech at Kingston
alluded to one of the oldest of this country s
problems and TO the solution of which
his administration has particularly addressed
itself-to wit. the failure of municipal govern
ment As the Governor views it from his ex-
perience in Albany. one of the great reasons for
this failure is the demoralizing effect of con-
slant legislative interference. With all the
provisions in our laws for home rule there is
not enough local self government: there is not
enough self reliance in municipalities. They are
governed hy their local officers with active as
sistance from the state capital. The local ad-
ministrations constantly appealing to the
state for authority to do this and that. and
those who disagree with the policy of municipal
authorities are constantly asking the Legislat-
ure to overrule them. Governor Hughes has
from the first set himself firmly against this
practice and has vetoed hosts of bills meddling
with local government. and his continuance in
office is desired by every one who hopes TO see
the status of the cities improved by c1dowing
them with the reality of local self government.
Governor Hughes has definite policies respect
ing the cities reaching far beyond the mere
performance of his official duty of vetoing
want0n interference with local Independence.
In his Kingston address he said:
am convinced that the way of Improvement
lies in the direction of simplicity of charters,
proVidng framework o. government with n
grant OF appropriate general powers and with
guarantees of fundamental rights.
The minutiae of administration should be gov
erned by bylaws or ordinances enacted directly
by the community through its representatives
without interference by the Legislature.
1t was along these lines that the Charter Re
vision Commission for this city appointed by
him made its report last year, and since the
present commission contains the members of
the old commission II will undoubtedly be
along these lines that the new charter of New
York will be drafted. The commission will
work ont the details essential 10 carry out this
idea which the Governor only states in
general way in his speech. In effect the diff
ference will be this: Under the present system,
as charters are now drawn, the Legislature at
tempts to supply in advance all the funda-
mental legislation necessary 10 the city's gov
erument. the Board of Aldermen having 10
really important legislative power. Such a
method is bound TO fail and bound TO result In
constant appeals 10 the Legislature TO tinker
municipal charters in the light OF experience.
What the Governor cOntemplateS is that the
Legislature shall furnish to 'the city only the
framework of government. Its charter will
correspond to the constitution of state and
in conformity with that constitution it will pass
ordinances for its own government. Such an
increase In real local self government this
system WOuId Dfihg alioHt cdHhot IAN 10 Ut
veIop a sense of public: interest in and public
feeling Of responsibility for municipal govern
ment which cannot exist where the government
is made and modified by external authority
Governor Hughess remedy for the demora
Zation of municipal government is TO put more
democracy intO city governments. He would
give to the people of each city the power
TO develop and exercise their capacity for self
government. There is no reason why democ-
racy should not reach It's most perfect develop
ment in the cities. Historically it was in the
cities that II had its origin and attained -
most complete SUCCESS IN the past The cities