New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-26
'CHARTER HEARINGS END
. WITH GENERAL ATTACK
Mr.. Binkerd. of City Club, Says
Its Changes of Government
Would Be Dangerous.
URGES ENTIRE REDRAFTING
Declares Title Should Be Amend
ed to Read AN Act to Partly
Annul the Results Of the
Election of 1909"

Winding up the series Of hearings that
have been held this week on the pro-
posed city charter by the joint legisla-
tive committee Robert S. Binkerd. rep
resenting the City club. made an attack
or the charter all along the line early
last evening. The important provisions,
he said. would so change the system OF
government as 20 be positively danger
Gus unless they were entirely redrafted
The minor provisions were destructive
rather than constructive. II the Legis-
lature was bent. however. in going ahead
with the new charter. he asked that the
committee publicly announce in advance
the amendments that they had made as
a result of the present hearings. and
begged that the public have an oppor-
tunity to criticise the work in that form
at a final hearing"
Chairman Foley said il was the inten-
tion TO make the changes public. but
that he did not believe in another hear
ing as it would only drag the thing out
70 IN interminable length.
1t was announced that the committee
would spend all next week in executive
session. when it would endeavor to whip
the charter bill into shape with the adj
vice of experts on the various depart
ments.
Henry Bruere OF the Bureau Of Mu-
nicipaI pacaarob ,,ada q r,Iaa 20 ba,-a
the proposed charter presented 10 the
people in the form Of a referendum. In
this he was backed up by Winter Rus
sell
Edward VI. Bassett. a former member
of the Public Service Commission, and
lie Roy T. Hardness. assistant counsel OF
that commission. both protested against
provisions in the charter that would
affect the Public Service law. They were
particularly emphatic in condemning the
proposition 10 give the Mayor the power
OF veto over franchises and contracts.
Elliot H. Goodwin. secretary of the
Civil Service Reform Association. pro-
tested against proposed changes in the
charter which he believed would weaken
the powers Of the Municipal Civil Ser
vice Reform Commission; also taking
away from the State Civil Service As
sociation its power Of passing on the
acts of the municipal body.
AnnuIs Election of 1909.
Mr.. Binkerd minced no words in con-
Gemning the charter. In his opening re-
marks he said:
Without any personal meaning. I feel
free 20 say that amended title might have
been given 10 this bill 10 substantially the
following effect An act 10 partially annul
the results Of the municipal election OF
1899 80 Now why This charter mas come
down 10 us from Albany, and proposes 70
deprive the Controller OF a large portion
Of the fiscal policies and functions that he
was elected 20 perform. The President OF
the Board Of Aldermen is no longer 70 Re
Acting Mayor In the Mayors absence. The
Borough Presidents are 20 have their
Building Department taken from them.
The Board OF Estimate and ApportiOnment
is 10 be- deprived Of much OF its power for
the contracts, and all Of It's action IN rapid
transit matters Is 10 be made subject 10
the nsuperable dissent OF the Mayor
And now, in spite Of the result OF the
municipal election Of 1893. the only mu-
niCipal official whose power is 10 be IN
creased Is the Mayor He is 10 become re-
sponsible for the Building Department, he
is TO choose a city engineer in the Board
OF Estimate and AppOruonment Inc
Mayor is TO have power 10 destroy pubic
records. the Mayor is 10 have power 70 ap-
point eight men 10 new departments.
This proposed charter makes against the
exercise of ample authority by the board of
directors of the city. which is the board
Of Estimate and Apporuonment. py deprlV-
ing them Of some OF their powers. and by
enlarging the powers OF the Board OF Al
dermen II practically revivfes what was
merely a defunct historical institution
the Sinking Fund Commission. Al the
very same time that the executive author
itv is more concentrated. IL is proposed 10
make the Mayor and the Borough Presi-
dents irremovable. II Is proposed by II 10
take away from the Controller the power
of independent fiscal control. and 10 limit
tba commissioners of Accounts 10 lnveStl-
cations on the order OF the Mayor, so that
with greater concentration OF power we
have less safeguards, Tor the enforcement
OF responsibility. This charter takes
backward step IN providing for the election
OF the Chamberlain, because II only means
that we shall lengthen an already TOO long
municipal ballot. and call for the filling OF
office by popular election Of a purely min
isterial ONCE.
II was apparent 10 any one who had
gone through the Hammond and the
Gavnor charters. said Mr.. Binkerd, that
some one had gone through the former
and wherever the words Board Of Esti
mate could be stricken out and the
words Sinking Fund Commission sub
stituted il had been done. The reason
was clear. Asked 10 state the reason he
declared il was that the Sinking Fund
Commission was Democratic body.
Mr. Binkerd went on 10 say that he
intended 10 specify d few jokers in the
bill He pointed out that the charter
made it necessary 10 get the consent Of
the Corporation Counsel 10 all standard
forms Of contract. not only as 10 their
legal aspect, but also as to their sub
stance. Safeguards for the leasing Of
nubIic docks and ferries were wiped out
he said. After enumerating what he
10 be many other jokers Mr..
Binkerd argued against comforting upon
the Mayor the right 10 overthrow the
work Of the Public Service Commission
and the Board Of Estimate by interpos-
ing his veto OF franchises and contracts.
Mr. Binkerd referred in passing 10 the
c.ct that Ray r. Smith. former clerk
y, the Republican Assembly, had drafted
the proposed charter for Democratic
hon. rule" legislator as a delicious
Joker
Power Given 20 Governor.
,,-....,,g against taking away from