New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-20
AGAIN ATTACKS CHARTER
citizens Union Says II Would
: Bring Back Spells System.
HTS AT MAYORS POWERS
rxecutive Gould Twist Govern
ment to Own Ends, Article in
"Searchlight" Declares.

=, an article entitled How the Ripper
-A.-,e- Rips" the current issue OF Inc
c-.-chIight," published by the Citlzehs
,r.,on does some ripping OF its Own Oh
wills which Il points out In the ne"
-. o,srter. The worst things found IN
- cbsrter are those provisions which
~ r.icIs declares. are political devices
- ,e-rnit the Legislature TO reverse the
- - the people. 70 bring back the spoils
.,.stenn TO New York and TO place in the
hands Of the Mayor autocratic power u
,.rist the government 10 his own ends
TIE worst assault. II is declared Is on
the Board OF Estimate. particularly IN l's
hrdeet and franchise powers. speelai
..-oss is laid on the fact that the cnalr
- ~ the Finance Committee of the
r,o.-d Of Aldermen is added as member
..v,ng hack 10 an alderman some OF the
so,rrol over franchises recently taken
.rav from the aldermen as body Also
.,acial fault is found with the provision
ubich gives the Mayor the power 10 Ap-
roint the committee 10 supervise the man
trg ~ the tentative budget, which ~ oe-
,la-ed 10 BE- in fact the most impor'Ah'
mart Of budget making.
Tho taking from the Controller OF inc
lending OF the investigating and oelaAi
-, IN connection with budget making
"a the depriving Of the Borough Presi-
-. the President OF the Board Of Alder
-,sn and the heads Of departments Of thelr
seats in the Board Of Aldermen are oiIeu
=. particular iniquities Of the new charter
scheme. The President OF the Boaru Oh
Aldermen is also deprived CT his funcuon
NJ Acting Mayor. being empowered 10 ap-
mint the Acting Mayor from the Boar
NJ Estimate or department heads Sin0e
,,hose latter are appointed 70 their places
~, me Mayor himself and hs may change
,bs-n a. his pleasure. IL is pointed OUT
.ba+ the Mayor can choose any one ne
rlesses 70 take his place when absent
The Searchlight" says;
tn. urinary object Of the ripper chsr-
-er is 10 proouce q gigantic concell q d LloI :
~ mower in the hands or the Mayor 49, ~.
% break down present safeguards * ~
waste and graft The ripper C.ia- -
+sEss away the Governors power TO re
-oove any elective city or borough ON
Ger except corOners. VINO are Hlau7 OOi
ouEh officers by the new cnartSsIr e,,,- auto.
a.. The new charter gives the Mayor duto-
1-a-9C powers. vet he is made secure
against removal in case ne abuses IloSe
sections 100. 1852 and 1893 OF the pro-
,ossd cnarter give the Mayor an aosolute
ysto power. from which there is no APP
nssI over every rapid transit matter COM
ne bsfore rhe Board Of Estimate
The ripper charter also has oeen a, terlI nes
Commissioner Of Accounts a private IN
,7,jisiror OF The Mayor. and declares that
snv report made By the Comm ssloner ~
81 admiration OF criminal charges SHAH
- kept secret The Mayor IS empoWere d
10 order the destruction Of any records
5snosited with any city board, BODY or Of
@cs- upon the application OF such orf1cer
and the consent Of the Mayors appointee,
re Corpora ton Counsel. Thus the Mayor
~oriId cover his tracks absolutely in max
ing an oppressive investigation Of a pub
ne of7ciaI ne did not Ike. or help pub
he odcial in danger OF indictment 20 de-
srrov me evidence existing against him
IN The records OF his ONCE.
L is also pointed out that full control
u the patronage Of the city ofices Is
thrown into the hands Of the Mayor
through his appointees.