New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-09-08
REPUBLICAN CAUCUS
TO OPPOSE CHARTER
Barnes. State Chairman, Favors
Party Standing Against Tam
many's Raid on City.
LEGISLATURE TAKES RECESS
Reconvenes September 18, When
Congress Apportionment Will
Be Taken Up First, and
Possibly a Primary Bill.
tRr Telegraph 10 The Tribune |

nv Telegraph 10 The Tribune.
Albany, Sept when the Legislature
reconvenes following second recess taken
to-day, the Republicans OF both houses
will caucus on the proposed New York
City charter. Senator Bracket and Assem-
blyman Edwin a. Merritt. jr.. issued call
this evening for a caucus Of the Repub-
lican Legislators Immediately after the ses-
sion on Tuesday, September 10.
The call for this caucus says that 1t is
TO he held lowing to the serious changes
which are contained in the proposed new
charter Of the city of New York. and TO
the fact that the bill is to take effect with
out the Intervention Of an election by the
people"
When asked about the caucus William
Barnes. jr.. chairman of the Republican
State Committee, said:
/ heartily approve of the action of Sena-
tor Bracket and Mr. Merritt. the Republi-
can leaders of the two houses. in calling a
joint caucus Of Republicans in order that
united action may be taken on the proposed
charter for the city OF New York.
1t is bad public policy for the Legislature
TO intervene between the people and their
chosen representatives,. In 1909 the people
OF New York City elected whom they de-
those offices to have the functions provided
for by the present charter. Further, ii is
bad legislation for the Legislature to at
tempt to thwart the will of the electors
thus expressed. No amendment to the
charter OF any municipality should ever be
made TO take effect until after an election,
so that the electorate may have absolute
knowledge of the duties which the various
officials are TO perform when elected
There have been reports that three Re-
%
and Argetsnger and Ormrod of Rochester
would vote with Tammany on the char
ter. Walters early in the year at a gath
ering OF Republican Senators where a eau
Gus on the charter was under discussion
said II one were called he'd have to bolt
it. He said he had given his word to vote
for the charter as Tammany wanted it in
constellation Of certain local legislation.
Ray y. Smith, deputy boss OF Onondaga
County and formerly clerk Of the Repub-
lican Assembly. has been acting as coun-
sci to the Democratic charter tnkers That
fact is supposed 10 have had a great deal
to do with Walters's attitude.
Others Will Not Bolt.
Argetsinger and Ormrod. while friendly
enough with Tammany and not particularly
friendly with State Chairman Barnes. are
not considered likely TO bolt a caucus.
What Walters will do under the circum-
stances is arousing much interest here.
FRANCIS Hendricks his leader. is an oldtime
Republican politician with whom caucus
boilers aren't in favor. II the semi-inde-
pendent Democrats who have been talking
opposition to the charter actually vote
against 1t and the Republicans are unani-
mously against II it cannot pass. Murphy
TO pass it will have TO get all his Demo-
Gratis
Tammany men here intimate that Mayor
Gaynor in all probability Will not get the
two things in the charter he is fighting for
hardest now-the small paid Board Of Edu-
cation and the franchise veto which vould
enable him to tie up all future subway
work If the plans and franchises didn't
suit him They don't say so, but II is be-
coming rather apparent that the insiders
i'm Tammany think the Mayor would he on
tirely too dangerous with all the powers II
was proposed to give to him by the char
ter as originally drawn. Consequently
when that document is ready for passage
those powers wifi he shorn greatly.
The scheme for wholesale consolidation NJ
departments in new ones urder the Mayor
VIII be almost unrecognizable The Nu-
nicipal Civil Service Commission will he re-
moved from the jurisdiction Of the State
civil Service Commission. but Tammanv
men say that will be even more to the adj
vantage of the organization" than to the
Mayors, even If it is his commission. Other
features. such as the reapportionment Of
aldermanic districts. will be clearly and
distinctly Tammany's. The Murphy lieu
tenants here think they have been dipIo-
matte enough about all this so that the
Mayor will not veto the charter when IL
comes to him. even II he doesn't Get as
much out of it as he expected To. No doubt
Is expressed by the leaders as to it's passage
just as Tammany wants IT.