New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-18
FOES OF CHARTER SPEAK
No Word in Defence at Meeting
in Chamber of Commerce.
ABBOTT AND WINS HEARD
So Called Gaynor Document, 1t
Is Argued, Violates Principles
of Self Government.

The proposed charter for the city of New
York found no friends yesterday at meet
ing OF the Chamber Of Commerce. The
Charter Commission had called the special
meeting and many prominent New Workers
were invited. Or. Lyman Abbott and Will
lam NJ. WINS were among the speakers.
President Hepburn, In opening the meeting,
said:
This Is not an indignation meeting, but
an inquiry into the merits and dement's Of
the new charter. II may be a Just cause for
Indignation however. that a matter of such
Importance comes up when so many are
away and those who remain wish 10 avoid
labor because Of the heat Of the year"
Or Abbott went for the charter hammer
and tongs saying that his objection "a
II was fundamental. He declared that both
IN the method Of it's preparation and in the
proposed method Of is enactment II viola
ties fagrantIy the fundamental principles
of self-government. He continued by COM
pairing the conditions in 1877, when the
colonies had a population no larger, and a
combined wealth estimated at S2,250,G0 less
than New York City has today Then, he
said discussion Of a new organic law was
free and open. and aided:
Contrast this method Of framing the
organic law of nation and the method
which has been pursued in framing this
organic law for the city. Imagine for a
moment that England had proposed 70
frame an organic law for the colonies and
impose II upon them. and that the federal
Congress had framed the constitutions FOR
New Mexico and Arizona as priva tely as
this charter has been framed
This charter will confer upon the Mayor
powers more unlimited than are conferred
b. the Constitution on the President, or
upon any Governor. and, | think. greater
powers than are conferred by any NUM-
cipal charter upon the Mayor Of any city.
William NJ WINS. chairman of the com
mission. began by saying that II is neces-
sary TO provide for the laws Of the city 90
that they Will be for the people and not
for the politicians. and ended by comparing
the proposed charters usefulness 10 the
CITY to the possibility of wasps taking pos
session Of a bees nest He said
The drift Of power has gradually been of
late from the aldermanic body 10 the ex-
ecu1ive In this charter an immediate shift
OF power is provided for New departments
are provided for as necessities which are
very doubtful. Another provision makes
possible the election by the people OF the
City Chamberlain. There has never been
such necessity II permits the intro
duction of politics into the Board of Educa-
ton. II seeks to remove the auditing
power Of the Controller. The borough
presidents are made unremovable and
thev are the greatest factors for the
politicians.
Other speakers who attacked the charter
were Albert f. Marling and Eben E. Oh
colt, Of the Hudson River Day Line. both
of whom dwelt on the limiting OF the Con-
troler's power.
James @ Cannon, president OF the execu-
tive committee Of the chamber, offered
resolution which was unanimously adopted
that the Legislature be recommended not
10 pass the bill at the coming adjourned
session. but 10 submit It 70 joint com
nittee composed Of members OF both
houses with an equal number OF cltlzens
chosen by the Mayor. Mr. Hepburn will
appoint a committee 10 go 70 Albany 70
nress the chambers objection to the pro-
posed charter
Assemblvn1an James a Foley. chairman
~ the cities Committee in the Assembly
,cas ENACTED 10 be present TO represent the
citv but old not arrive until the iuhCneOlI
which followed the discussion he ssld ne
was sorry discussion had not peen p ost.
poned until the Mayor had an oppol tuhi'J
10 he present or 10 be represented.
We expect to have the charter al.
tackled" said Mr.. Foley, nut 90 n1II
tF,rl, ~ &c fair that so many sections should
receive 1,clsi the adverse criticism that they
have However it may be true that the
matter is not nearly perfect and we are
only too glad 10 have fair judgment passsu
unon such portions as may appear 10 be
omen for improvement. 80, ,,,-
go this end. we propose 70 hold pubic
hearings in the City Hall, beGlnning Non
DAY. August y. where everyooGy VIII get
an onroTt1nity to discuss the charter.