New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-12


and says he will insist on vote on
the cotton bill before adjournment. lie
has had his way on wool and may posi-
bly, have IL on cQlton. He has the power
and will exert it sufficiently to make
the Democratic party realize the folly
which it committed when il attached
itself as a tail to the La Toilette kite.
MR. GAYNOR AND THE CHARTER.
Fortunately Mayor GaynOr admits Ill
his letter to Mrs lIinrichs regarding
criticism of the proposed new charter
for this city. that he has not yet READ
that document. otherwise he might be
suspected of being careless of Facts or
o. deliberately seeking TO create impress
sons contrary to fact, AS 1t is. many
things in the Mayors letter. which III
effect is defence Of the proposed char
fer which he has not read. must be at
tributed TO ignorance of its contents.
The Mayor for instance. says no
franchise veto is to be given TO him
under the terms of the new charter.
and indicates his idea that this draft
will confer on him no powers over fran
cl,i2es not his under the existing charter.
Nothing could be further from the fact.
IT present the Mayor must approve the
having out of a new route under the
rapid transit act. He has no powers
SCI arate from those as member OF the
Board of Estimate over the approval oil
plans and contracts, or franchises for
construction equipment. maintenance
and operation of routes approved under
the rapid transit ACT. The proposed
charter stipulates that his separate as
sent as well as that Of the Board OF
Estimate. must he obtained 10 every
franchise or contract for the use Of pub
lic property for franchise purposes.
This assent" which, on hairsplitting
basis. may not be technically veto,
hut which is equivalent 10 franchise
veto power. is necessary 10 the validity
of each franchise or contract. Thus the
now charter would give final control OF
the transit situation into the hands OF
the Mayor He might not only block
! y, the Public Service Commission and
tie Board of Estimate but. by With
holding his separate assent, might pre-
vent the awarding of franchises or
cCntracts-in this sense the words are
synonymous-for equipment, mainten-
ance and operation Of new subWaHs
approved by the Board Of Estimate.
These facts the Mayor will realize when
1 he reads the proposed charter.
The Mayor indicates his belief that
the proposed charter is largely Based
OF the draft reported by the Hammond
/ Commission. rewritten by the Corpora
I ton Counsel's staff. If the Mayor
should compare section with section no
/ doubtless would find that the draft m
dor discussion was very different from
the draft of the Hammond Commission.
OF OF the legislative committee which
presented report this year, or Of the
/ first edition of the Corporation Coun-
iSers labors The Mayor seems to think
/ that the changes proposed in the Con
/ troller'S department are less drastic
than those suggested BY the Hammond
/ Commission. and says the Controller az
moved al the changes proposed in the
+ Corporation COunSels draft II IS our
/ impression that The Hammond charter
did not propose 70 take away the Con
/ troller's bower To audit contract pay
ments and the municipal payrols. on
penditureS which the Bureau Of Nuni-
cipal Research estimates might amount
/ 10 S130OOO.O0O annually. 1t is Incredible
that Controller PrenderCast over as
scented 10 such a proposition.
The charter draft under consideration
proposes TO make virtually one-msn
/ government with desirable checks and
balances on the Executive and his sub
ordinate appOinteeS removed or broken
down. Under the political conditions
which would come into being with this
charter Ibis new city government al
( most inevitably would be delivered into
/ the hands of Tammany Halls official
dom. Assemblyman Short, who helped
draw the document, says its policies
were dictated 10y the Mayor and repre-
Isutatiycs of Murphy. Murphy, of
course. will grab what he can get. Will
/ the Mayor be able 10 stand for this
/ charter. 20 advocate if. TO sign it if
passed. when he has read it and sees
/ how different il is from what he now
seems to think il ia be-