New-York tribune., 1912-01-04
CALLS NEW YORK MODEL
"BeSt Governed City," Says
Mayor OF HobOken.
rs IN CHARTER CONFERENCE
Gov. Wilson Promises to Have
Committee Appointed to Draw
Up Sample Charter.

New York is the best governed city in
America due to the wise and forCeful ad-
ministration of Mayor Gaynor," said Martin
Cooke the newly elected Democratic Mayor
Of Hoboken, I'm talking to twenty-five may
ors of New jersey cities, who had gathered
yesterday at the home of Mrs. Caroline Il.
Alexander. Castle Point. to discuss ways
and means of bringing their antiquated
charters up to date. Mayor Cooke also
favored the power Of appointment and re-
moval, which New Yorks Mayor has and
he urged its adoption in the charters OF
New Jersey cities.
Mrs. Alexander. at whose home the con-
ference was held, is one of the leading
women suffragists of the state She said
there was no significance in the gathering
there as charters We're too complicated
for women 10 understand.
I'VE feel It part Of our duty" she added
ito bring the men together in conferences
of this sort to discuss questions of this
kind which have 50 much to do with good
government of our cities"
Governor Wilson presided at the confer
ence. "A Mayor" said the Governor, 'has
a difficult position to fill. He is sometimes
diSrredited because there are things he
wants TO do, would like to do, but can't
because of the tanGle he is mixed mp in
by the city charter | am opposed TO
cities Of this state being governed in de-
tan from Trenton and favor putting local
government into the hands of the people
of each particular locality"
Frederick w Donnelly, Mayor Of Trcn-
tor, which has the commission form OF
government, highly praised this method OF
conducting public business. lie said that
in the four months that the commission has
been in mower the City Hall had been trans
formed from a political gathering place into
headquarters for efficient public servants.
The men employed by the city, he said,
were at their desks from o'clock in the
morning until o'clock in the evening and
politics was entirely eliminated
All the meetings Of the commission were
held in the open. he said, because. not be-
ing politician he stood better chance
of getting an even break when the public
looked on. Although the commission eX-
pected TO save 100000 the first year Of
its existence. Mr. Donnelly said, tn" tax
rate next year would he high, because the
peopIe had not heretofore taken enough IN
terest in their affairs.
Neither Mayor Wittpenn of Jersey City
nor Mayor Mcbride Of Paterson thought
that the commission form Of government
was an ideal one Paterson has the rcpu-
tation OF being the best governed city In
New Jersey. The Mayor has the power Of
appointment Of all officers, including a
finance committee. The success Of the Pat
erson form Of government has been due to
n great extent to the men appointed by
Mayor Mcbride 10 this committee, all Of
them being men Of high standing in the
community.
Mayor Wittpenn said his idea OF city
government was to elect Mayor and give
him complete power Of appointment and
removal
Governor Wilson said he believed in the
| commission form ~ government lie said
| that while Mayor Wittpcnn's ideas repre-
scnted the prevailing American opinion. no
one man was competent 10 carry the on
| tire government Of a city in his thinking
box. What goes on in "A mans mind
is not made public" he said, unless II is
brought out in debate. ! believe In com
mon council"
Henry Bruete. director Of the Bureau OF
Municipal RescarN, said he believed the
.
the best system Of controlling public df-
fairs. Dr. Allen, Of the same bureau, said
he agreed with Mayor Cooke that New
| York City was well governed just now.
! Two years ago" he said. "yOu couldn't
| tell whether New York owed t6coo.0O1 or
had Sl0opJ.U0J owing To the city. To-day
We can tell the financial condition OF the
! city in five minutes Nearly all OF the
! departments would this year show in
creased earnings he said, because Of the
! installation Of business methods.
! Just before the conference adjourned
] Mayor DAILY OF Harrison created much
| amusement by saying that he did not know
! just why he attended the conference, Is the
| citizens of his city were satisfied with their
! charter and didn't want change
/ The conference adjourned after passing
! q resolution asking Governor Wilson 10 ap-
point a committee TO draw up a sample
! charter. This the Governor agreed TO do
! 'as a private citizen discussing public af-
! fairs with his fellow citizens. but not as
| Governor of New Jersey No date was
| fixed for another meeting of the mayors