New-York tribune., 1913-07-21
S|X-YEAR MAyORA[N
PROGRESSVES' AIM
City Platform Advocates Like
Term for Estimate Board
Recall Provision.
CALLS FOR NEW CHARTER
Five Cent Fare and Phone
Calls Are Other Planks Put
Forward for Adoption at
Municipal Convention.

Tho municipal platform or the National
Progressive party. 20 be recommended To
the Progressive city convention Tor adop-
ton. made public yesterday. advocates
making the terms of Mayor and all Other
members Of the Board Of Estimate SIX
years. with recall election provided for
upon any regular election day In the term.
II also pledges tine party to work for a
scent fare anywhere within the city and
scent telephone calls within the same
limits
Among other proposals In the Progress
sive platform are: That municipal elec-
ton day be established in April. 10 per
cent Of the voters at a previous election
10 enforce recall election. primaries and
elections TO be held in schoolhouses.
wherever available. an candidates for
elective judicial office 10 be nominated by
petition only. with no party names. en-
blcm, or grouping initiative and referen-
dunn on any question ~ public policy:
elective candidates for city and county Of
fees 10 he nominated in direct primaries
with the Office group" type Of ballot both
IN primaries and elections.
Home Rule and Lower Taxes.
The general declarations of the plat
form are grouped under the title Of a
statement of general principles which
saws. we pledge ourselves to work un-
cea asingly 10 secure:
"CD 4 city freed from boss rule and ma
chine domination. by breaking the control
OF political machines over municipal cleo
tions and concentrating adequate powers
Of government I'm the hands Of officials re-
sponsible directly 10 the people.
"to 4 city freed from the Interference
of the State Legislature I'm local affairs.
through the constitutional establishment
OF genuine home rule.
",O 4 city freed from the excessive
charges and inadequate service Of corpo-
rations supplying necessary public ser
vices. by effective. continuous public reSu-
Iation. or. where necessary. municipal
ownership and operation
go A city freed from an excessive tax
rate. by Increased administrative eticien-
cy. rigorous economy In public cXpendi-
lures. the utilization ot tcommunity-creatcd
privileges as new sources II city revenue.
and the enforcement Of sound policy as
10 the puhlic credit
20 \ city freed from oXorbtant prices
ror necess1res Of life and other conditions
Of economic Justice which now harass and
oppress great numbers Of its people, by
the progressive employment Of municipal
powers 10 aid I'm ending those conditions
The platform proposes a charter con-
yention or n charter commission 10 draw
up a now city charter which shall he
submitted 10 a vote before nnal adop-
tion. and either commission or conven-
ton TO be chosen by elections from the
nvc boroughs under a proportionate ar
ranGemcnt
Five-ccnt fare anywhere I'm the city,
,-ccnt telephone calls In tho same limits.
gas - so cents and electricity AZ a
lower although unspecihed rate are
among the movements 20 which the plat
form pledges the Progressive party. and
complete waterfront ownership and port
development are put forth as necessary
preIiminarios 20 the construction OF A
publicly owned waterfront terminal rail-
road on the lower West Side of Manhat-
tan. Elimination of grade crossings
throughout the city and elimination OF
grade oncratiou Of the New York Cen
trail tracks below 60th street are two Of
the planks IN this section Of the plat
form.