New-York tribune., 1911-09-25
All Join in Formal Protest to
Legislature Except Gaynor
and President GreSSer.
TOO MUCH POWER TO MAYOR
so Monstrous a Proceeding" as
to Railroad" Il Would Ex-
press Contempt for Public
Opinion and Rights"

p'4S4iS ~ c. tIDdIt9 al Jile luslOn CaHul-
dates elected at the last municipal cleo
ton. forwarded 10 the legislature yes
terday a statement giving their objec-
tions in detail
The amended charter was introduced
on Monday. September Is II has not
been possible TO get a copy OF it until
the last day or so. 1t is now purposod
TO again amend it in many particulars
and as thus amended it viii not be ready
for examination by city officials and tax
payers until the 18th inst" SAYS the
statement.
In the face OF this situat on we are
told the charter IS 10 be railroaded TO
/ passage on Wednesday. the 18th inst. So
monstrous a proceeding would not he
undertaken except for the purpose OF ex-
pressing contempt for public opinion and
/ public rights. No charter should be
( passed until in its final form It has been
subjected TO the scrutiny Of the citizens
Of this city, and no committee or legis-
lative leaders would plan such action
unless they feared the result Of the COM
plete examination which should be given
this momentous measure
The protest is signed by Controller
Prendergast and Borough Presidents
McAneny. Steers. Miller and Cromwell
and underneath their signatures is the
statement that President Mitchell gave
/ his permission to sign his name 70
| protest. This group represents twelve
/ Of the sixteen votes in the board and
includes every member except Mayor
Gaynor and Borough President Gresser
Restriction rather than expansion Of
the commission idea I'm the control Of
the city's financial affairs. says the pro-
test. is the keynote Of the provisions
relating to the Board of Estimates
powers.
"p;scredjtsbIe Backward Step"
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pri.t sraoo g. do,.o.od % tho r,ro,.i-
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- .a.id 80. s,anotiaas &c =. ts tor,on
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Ian 80. -. -. - e.o1 ,aa.tda-
alton. If the plan to give to a single
officer Of the city this vast and unusual
power las been abandoned. the draft.
as a whole would be less Objectionable,
but with a difference Of degree only.
we believe that the proposition 10
ltake from the board the control Of the
process Of making the city budget
which has been its principal function
lever since its establishment. and from
which it's very name is derived-is quite
as indefensible as TO deprive IT Of con-
-
The committee Of the board directs its
chief protest AZ the proposals tending
to put the budget making power in the
hands Of the Mayor. but ii also devotes
severe criticism TO the proposal 10 give
the chairman Of the aldermanic finance
lcommittea seat and voice in the delib-
erations Of the board. 10 the changing
lover of the boards chief engineer 70
a CITY engineer 10 he appointed by
the Mayor. and to the proposals 10 fix
certain salaries Of city officers and en-
Iploves by charter provision.
.1L. m,L;,. mo.. t...
mart Of the boards work" saws the pro-
test. The Mayor acts on the budget as
a member Of the board only. his three
votes being cast for or against particular
| items. Just as the others are cast. The
| Mayors relation 10 the board is not that
of an executive who passes separately
unou the acts Of legislative bodv Of
which he is not a member The nIap
,,dor ,,bicb no votes and acts &c q
,,,o,,,hs. Of the hoard is pecuIiar 70 >eu,
YORK though in this respect the citv has
articinated one of the princ,nIas or tho
so-called commission government that 10
ro,c receiving so much attention
,l,u,.,,,,bo,, the countr,.p
noscrihiro then tho dotaiI os h,,s,..
making the protest recites that under