New-York tribune., 1911-09-01
FRIENDS Of CHARTER
NOW IN A QUANDARY
Doubts Arise as to Whether
Measure viii Get Through
the Legislature.
FEAR UPSTATE OPPOSITION
Mayor Writes Again to DR.. Alb
bott Defending Document
City Club Sends
Out Briefs.

Politicians who have been following
the course Of the proposed new city
charter said last night that there were
now some doubts as TO the bill going
through the Legislature at the special
session beginning next week. It was
said that Charles T. Murphy and other
Tammany leaders had been pondering
the question most seriously Of late and
were wondering whether the game would
BE worth the candle.
In the first place, there are signs OF
serious opposition upstate. Some of the
Democrats there have sincere doubts as
70 the advisability Of forcing such a
charter upon the people of New York.
Others. It is said, are considering the
wisdom OF making the charter bill an
onportunity Of showing Murphy and his
men that he does not after all have the
power Of making all the upstate mem
bers Jump whenever he cracks the whi7.
Again. over IN Brooklyn there IS much
opposition 20 the charter among Demo
rrats. John H. McCooey, the leader in
Kings County. may not be ready 70
break with Murphy on the charter, but It
Is d question as 10 whether he can hold
his members Of the Legislature in line
for Il.
II is understood that Murphy, in talk
lng 70 a friend recently, outlined the
fuss that an attempt to pass the charter
would kick up and the hostinties 10 the
organization that il would bring Il the
charter We're actually inflicted upon this
city. and has begun to figure up If the
benefits that the organization would get
OUT Of II would compensate for the harm
that would be done 70 his leadership
both here and IN other parts Of the state
Mayor Writes Again to Or. Abbott.
Mayor Gavnor wrote another letter to
the Rev. DR. Lyman Abbott. editor Of
The Outlook" yesterday. It is reply
% DR.. Abbott's letter printed on Sun
day. in which he specified the bad points
Of the proposed charter. The Mayors
letter Of yesterday is bitter IN tone.
4mong other things he says. What I
object to is the misstatement Of fact"
Again he says: To be entirely frank
with you. I do not see how you are led
into giving currency 10 such errors"
THE Mayor sticks TO his contention
that under the present charter and rapid
transit act he has the power of separate
and additional consent in matters Of
rapid transit franchises and contracts as
well as routes. His letter follows:
have been so busy disposing Of false
statements about the proposed new charter
that I have neglected YOUR published letter
until now. j am trying 10 nelp construct,
not pull down. We nave some people here
whose whole notion is 10 deride. destroy
euu embarrass. They never contribute in
lIe way Of construction.
The principal ObjecLo on IN your letter you
express i'm these words: But perhaps the
nest important Of al these increases in
.He power of the Mayor lies IN the pro-
vision that q separate and additional ap-
rr0v1 OF The Mayor shall be necessary 10
tn- validity Of every franchise I suppose
y1g have learned by this time that instead
NJ eng new, that provision IS ID the pres
-rr charter. and in the rapid transit act,
and has existed for generation. / regret
fea ~ see YOU under the mistaken notion
.l0t 10 is new i'm the proposed charter. u
!nH want 90 axe Lnat power away from
Pho Mayor. + have no objection 10 your 50
arguing. What I object 10 is the misstate-
I.s- me saw 10 YOU further. that there IS
q provision IN the constitution OF the state
f.ar no railroad franchise can be granted
without the consent (I now quote of the
local authorities having the control Of the
street or highway upon which IL is pro-
r0-al TO construct or operate such rail-
fa-l" By the charter or TINS CITY TOR
U0le than q generation the local authorl-
lies mentioned IN this constitutional pro-
sion were the Board Of Aldermen and
th> Mayor acting separately. Several years
ago the Board Of Aldermen refused % unite
with the MavOr in granting the Pennsyl-
raniq Railway Company q franchise to con-
sfrllct its tunnel through the city. I1eTe-
upOn the LEGISLATURE substituted the Board
~ Estimate for the Board Of Aldermen.
And thus the power was vested IN the
Board Of Estimate ana the Mayor. Have
YOU not heard OF all this, for II is familiar
history