New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-31
MANY CHARTER CHANGES
Committee Reaches Agreement
on Minor Provisions.
SAFEGUARD FOR RECORDS
Destruction of Old Ones to Rest
with Court, Instead of
the Mayor.

II was announced by the Joint legisla-
tive committee last night that they had
reached a tentative agreement on a num-
Der of changes in the proposed charter as
result of their deliberations since the
public hearings closed Most Of the
changes are Of minor Importance. IT was
said that the committee would devote to-
day 10 redrafting the provisions of the
chapter on the Finance Department re-
storing to the Controller his powers Of
audit
The principal change decided upon as
reported is in the section relating TO the
destruction Of obsolete records. In the
present draft Of the charter the power 70
order such destruction is given the Mayor
II is now proposed TO repose such power
IN the Appellate Division of the Supreme
Court, with the additional restrictions that
the application for such destruction may
be made only after twenty days notice
IN The city Record and after It has
been fled with the Appellate Division, the
Mayor and the Controller.
1t has been decided 20 keep the pro-
visions Of the present charter in regard
to the office Of Commissioners Of Ac-
whom shall be an expert accountant. and
that they shall he solely under the direc-
ton of the Mayor in the matter Of their
Investigations.
In the present charter 1t is provided
that notice Of a hearing on an application
for franchise shall be given by publica-
( ZION in The city Record" for twenty days
prior 10 such hearing. The proposed
oh. .s-,-
TIE committee now proposes 10 make the
time ten DAYS. The same notice is re-
quired on hearings for revokable privi-
leges.
Complying with demand from a num-
Der of civic bodies. the premiums on the
sale Of corporate stock are 70 be paid into
the general fund and not into the sinking
fund, as was provided In the present draft.
Pay Of Service Board,
The provision requiring that the ex-
penses Of the Public Service Commission
be included in the city budget is 70 ne
stricken out, leaving the expenses of the
/ commission as mandatory appropria-
ton by the Board of Estimate, as provided
In the rapid transit act The Controller is
to be made a member Of the Board Of
| the tentative budget Of the city.
The present draft would make IL un-
necessary 10 have the consent Of the Civil
Service Commission for the hiring Of ex-
/ perts for special work. The committee
/ has decided 20 return this safeguard
When Mayor GaTnor was asked last
night if ne had any further statement TO
/ make on the charter he replied
/ have covered most everything The legis-
/ lative committee notified me to-day that
an my recommendations nave been adopt.
ed. and the changes are now being made
by the craftsmen
Then the Mayor smiled as he added:
What "a chamber Of horrors is fin the
heads Of Bruere and Allen. Of the Bureau
Of Municipal Research. and some of our
| Citizens Union friends about the charter.
| The poor fellows think we are going 10
burn up all the records of the city, then
loo. the city and burn IL down. Those
capable Of doing evil are always thinking
! evil Of others
Borough Presidents Suggestions.
A committee representing the five Dor
ough presidents sent TO the legislative
posed amendments 70 the present draft
Of the charter They argue against TAX
ing the Department 81 Buildings ont OF
the hands Of the various borough execu-
/ tives and consolidating them under one
/ city department They argue that they
ought 10 have the issuance NJ all permits
for tearing up the streets Such permits
are now also issued by the Water ana
other departments. They also want juris-
diction over all streets, including those
now In the hands Of the Park Department
They also ask that the provisions in re-
gard TO paving be so changed as TO permit
the Board Of Estimate 10 select a patent
Pavement whenever it may seem de-
sirable.
The brief also argues against giving the
| Fire Commissioner the supervision OF the
construction and regulation Of all fire
prevention and escape devices.
Hugh Gordon Miller. counsel for the
I New York civil Service A.ociation Of
Employees. wrote 10 Mayor Gaynor yes
. tcrday 10 say there was no good reason
/ Why all the employees I'm the competitive
class should not have n trial on charges
before removal lie did not see why
policeman should have more. protection
/ than ci-il engineer
The Bureau Of Municipal Research is
/ following up the charter letters Of the
/ Mayor with a letter TO upstate legislators
and editors pointing out what they call
false statements. wrong inferences and
omissions" Among other things it says:
Contrast his 1.-THE Mayorsl charge that
I he has "repeatedlv exposed sale Of such
I aldcrmatic consents for licenses
ar from 500 To 5000" with the new
CIartor's extension of aidermanic power
over cornorate stock. annual budget sal
/ arv changes. etc. When YOU read his
claim too. that "in some way obnoxious
T0wer TO sell consents was sneaked into
INC charter remember his reiterated
Claims that only falsifers would call this
charter made in secret