New-York tribune., 1909-02-19
NO NEW CHARTER NOW?
UnEkeIQ To BE Made at This Ses.
sion, 1t Is SAID.
tBy Telegraph to IN. Tribune. !


Albany. Feb. 1s3If hght OF any great violence
develops when the New York City charter IS pre-
ssnted here for enactment Into law-end IL seeIns
utterly impossible that any document can come
from the Charter Revision Commission which VIII
not produce a fight somewhere along the lne-it Is
altogether likely that there will be no new charter
made at this session OF the Legislature This is
the consensus OF opinion among leaders OF ooth
parties in both houses OF the Legislature Coupled
with this Is much rather anxious speculation as to
whether there would arise In that case sufficient
demand for new charter TO cause the Governor
10 summon an extra session to pass one
Speaker Wadsworth said tonight that he knew
nothing whatever about the proposed new charter
but already in receipt OF letters from various
groups OF people and interests I'm New York an
nouncing that they purposed fighting certain pro
visions which they expected would be incorporated
in the charter.
ut seems that differences Of the magnitude indi-
Gated by these communications would almost IN
evitably throw for year the enactment or
any charter legislation said he The legislative
situation at the time the charter is presented VIII
be such that the members will not want to be held
here indeffnitsy local affair. even one which
affects half the population of the state And iess-
lation affecting that number Of people can't be
handled in hurry. The disposition in the Assem-
bly, would be TO let the members from New York
attend to that but We upstate people always have
found later that We had TO step In and
adjust differences most any New York matter
II we wanted TO get results"
Senator Harvey Hinman chairman OF the Cities
Committee to which charter amendments go. said
all such bills would be held up until March 1.
but after that time the committee would ahead
and consider those bills with reference 20 the exist
ing charter II the charter were not before the
Legislature. That course will be followed also in
the Assembly. He declared that II the new char
came before the Legislature its treatment would
depend to a very large extent the New York City
members
The situation here regarding this subject Is
interesting one. Some New Yorkers who ardeutly
desire charter profess TO see In the some
what elaborate for delay in the legislature
another manifestation OF the "gentlemen's agree
Ensnt'' which they said in effect about the
time Professor Herbert z. Cook turned down
for confirmation member Of the Highway Com
mission. They say the Republicans who may want
Democratic help 70 defeat the Hughes direct prf-
mary legislation perfectly willing 10 leave the
new charter In the hands OF New Yorkers-that IS
practically the Democrats. Some of this may
be true but II IS not the whole truth by any
The general opinion here is that matter what
form the charter may take when introduced 1t will
be such form need great deal OF redraft-
ing ana revision. and after that would legis-
Iative discussion and hearings. all Of which would
take much time. Two very long sessions in the
last years have made legislators disnclined 20
give great deai OF time this year any subject
coming along toward the end Of the session. They
would not relish an extra session any better.