New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-07-14
Boss Murphy, Of Tammany,
Would Get Practically All
He Wanted, Also.
INTRODUCED AT ALBANY
Controller to Lose Many Funo'
tions, While Board Of Alder
men Gains in Power-Cham-
berlain Elective Office.
fBy telegraph to The TriOune.I

7, came as q renort from the Senate ann
Assembly Committees on Cltles' 70 "
printed and recommitted. Accompanying
I, we're special resolutions for the print
ing of large number Of extra copies
for distribution. in accordance VII"
Governor Dix's idea Of familiarizing the
people with its provisions
There was no discussion OF the meas
IRE in the Senate In the Assembly
Sneaker Frisbie said the committee
which had done the work on this oocu-
ment deserved commenda'i6 ne
thought that before the Legislature gof
through Us years work 1t would pass
"model charter for the city, one wnlch
should command the respect OF the men
who really wanted to see the best ann
highest form Of popular administrative
government. Assemblymen Merritt ana
Hammond commended the work or the
cities committees Assemblyman Short-
who worked long and hard and disin-
terestedIv on the draft charter, said no
thought IT was a pretty good documeh~
The charter tremendously Increases u"
mowers of the Mayor over those ne no"
possesses II takes away mucn OF ""
lower and many important iunc'lons o.
the Controller. 1t gives to the Board 81
Aldermen many new functions. Poilt-
cally. all these changes would be OF srea'
importance and sweeping in effect
Many New Offices.
Many now offices are created unde'
this measure. The City chamberlain be-
comes an elective official Tie first eler-
ton. though, would not take place unt'l
1913 The salary would be Slo,ve
,-ear There would be Il Commissions
Of Buildings appointed by the Mayo
with a deputy in each borough. There
would be a Department OF Msrhets
Weights and Measures, which would re-
lieve the Controller Of the jurisdiction
he now has over markets, department
of Ferries and Department OF Licenses
The paid Board of Education "oul'
number seven members, the president TO
raceive $4,000 year. the other mem
bers $500 each.
Fspeciallv important are the changes
IN the duties Of the Controller. ~ pres
ent he prepares the tentative budget
task of great importance In the nnanclo'
u.orl, of the city, as on this TENTATIVE
budget the final budget and the appro-
priations are based. Under the proposed
charter this task would be given to ths
secretary of the Board of Estimate inns
work he would do under the supervision.
but not necessarily under tho control o.
an advisory committee Of five members
of the board. These members would be
selected by the Mayor, with the eXcep-
tion of a new member OF the board, the
chairman Of the finance committee OF the
BOARD of Aldermen. He must be MEM
her of this special advisory committee.
The Controller under the new chartsr
may not audit the payment for fees To
experts hired by the Corporation Coun-
sci or claims adjudicated and settled ny
that official. At present the Corporation
Counsel has not the power To settle
claims or confess judgment Tho Con-
troIler. If the proposed charter became
law. could not audit the payments on
contracts certified by the head OF any
department. This is a provision which
aroused great difference of opinion
among the charter drafters, but finally
was put in under pressure from the
powers that be politically. AntiMurphy
legislators contend that IL would put ths
treasury of the city at the mercy OF the
head OF any department who wanted 10
make the right" arrangement with IA
vored contractors.
Sinkna Fund Board Powerful.
Another striking feature of the pros
posed charter is the power II gives TO
the Sinking Fund Commission. That
body is to have goodly share OF ths
powers Mayor Gaynor intended to confer
on his so-called board OF control In the
charter which he disavowed. The Sink
ing Fund Commission, under this draft
is to become the Interpreter and ex-
FOUNDER of the true inwardness and real
significance OF the city's fundamental
law. In case of any differences OF opin-
ion between city departments as 10 juris-
dictlon. powers or duties the Sinking
.Fund Commission would be called In.
lie decision would be final, and could not
even be taken into the conrts.
The Mayor Is 10 get a salary Of $4,000
2 wear instead OF $4,000. He is TO have
an absolute veto power over the grantius
of franchises. II he wants TO 80 away
from TIE city for any longth of time. or
through illness or accident Is prevented
from attending Ia bis duties. he may
name his substitute from the Board of
Estimate or choose the head Of any city
department 10 serve
The Commissioner Of Accounts be-
comes the head of a bureau In the
MAYORS office While this official gains
some os the duties now performed by
bureaus in the Controllers office. his
novers for investigation will not be SO
broad as they are now. He may conr
duct Investigations only when directed
to do so by the Mayor. and on such sub
,ects and to such an extent as the Mayor
permits.
Franchises are TO be granted FOR
term of twenty-five years. with twenty
dve-year renewals, save franchises for
"tunnel railways" They are to be
granted for nfty-year terms, with re-
| uewal periods OF twenty-five years.
| Issues Of corporate stock must be ap-
proved by the Board of Aldermen The