New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-11
SuIzer Signs the Cu||en.Levy
Act. Providing Home Rule
for All Municipalities.
CAN MANAGE OWN AFFAIRS
Governor Insists the New Law
Does Not Affect Rapid Tran
sit and the New York
Subway Contracts.
lBy Telegraph to The Tribune. ]

to turn down local bills on which the
signing of the Cullen-Levy measure
makes action by the Legislature and the
Governor unnecessary. There were scores
OF these in the Governors hands. and 'he
, Senate and Assembly calendars were
clogSed with them. Those passed viii
be recalled from the Governor by the
! Legislature. If he has his way. as the
| powers they sought are now in the hands
OF the cities instead of the Legislature.
The bill gives home rule IN its broad
| est sense" said Governor Sulzer. III
grants to all cities OF the state power TO
regulate. manage and control their prop
erty and their local affairs. with all tie
/ rights privileges and jurisdiction neces-
sary 90 carry that power into execution.
Does this bill take the power over
/ franchises in New York city away from
the Board OF Estimate and the Pubic
Service Commission and give 1t to the
! Board Of Aldermen the Governor was
asked.
II have studied the bill very carefully,
| he replied, and am convinced that there
is nothing in that contention. The Oil
! IDtS IOl dilt'A any ''hA ''''Nf ''
Court Of Appeals has decided that tic
, rapid transit act is state ana not "A
local act. That being the case, it cannot
| affect the New York city subway situa-
ton. and will in no way interfere with
tho subway contracts
The Governor said he was fortified in
| this conviction by the best legal authoH-
! ties in the state. and that he had dis-
cussed tine question with representative
OF the New York city Corporation Conn
sells Office lie said they were agreed as
TO the provisions and powers ~ the 'HL
! which had been very carefully drawn and
! would meet all the requirements called
! FOR by the Democratic. platform pledge
for home rule.
The home rule law viii eliminate the
necessity Of the introduction every year
I'm the Legislature Of Il large mass "l
local legislation. Governor Sulzcr estmat-
cd that il would cut down the number 81
bills introduced BY about onc-third. lie
said he would sign no more bills Wnch
sock powers the cities themselves nave
now under the home rule law.
Under the new law New York City "hl
no LONGER need to come to the Legislature
for power To- create pensions grant lo'i'
claims. widen streets. issue bonds. acquire
deck property and for many other powers
which il had not had before. And New
York civ. I'm the matter az lack Of home
rule powers. has not been nearly 80
badly or as other cities Of the state
particularly Buffalo. 1t has been '"id
of Buffalo that Tire city could not exist
. wear without coming to the Legislature
for some power OF privilege in running
its government.
Tho now law Will have no effect ON ne
Mckee bills. introduced as a result OF the
controversv I'm the New York city schools
between Superintendent Maxwell ana
President Churchill of the city school
hoard The measure has been approved
bv the state conference oil Mage Is' '"e
Municipal Government Association Wc
Citizens Union and many other civic g.
CARNATIONS.
In signing the bill the Governor SAD
",rbo tremendous importance 10 me peo-
pIe of this general law can hardly be 'N-
agecratca II gives the cities OF the I'm
nire state sweeping powers. making them
sunreme. and equipp!ng them with Iuli
authority To carry out and perform "h
the requisite functions Of local scii-soN-
ornront and il unshacklcs cmanclpates
and liberates our municipalities from m
reference by the state legislatures.
,,hor, is still considerable skcpticlsm IA
tho minds of men interested In the WEI
care of the government of New YORK Guy
a. ,eyars to the Cullen-Leyy home rule
act. ,,
81 have not seen copy OF the bill ana
/ ca have not had chance To study H.
said ex-Mayor Seth Low last hight
However. from what nave read IN inc
rousnapers. il seems to be q measure that
should not become a law WITHOUT '1' mus
careful consideration. think IL might
well be recommitted 10 the i-'siS'''''0
for another hearing.
III. as stated this hill takes the power
Of granting franchises away from 'ne
BOARD OF Estimate and puts II naeh III
the hands of the Board of Aldermen
said John f. Mitchell. president OF the
latter bodV II should certainly ne op-
posed to It" Ill,
80 / am not in favor o. the so-callcd
home rule bill" said Mayor payhor'
- ,.brase home rule is being USED
nowadays 10 cover up good deal oil mum
hueQery. / refused TO join with other
Majors i'm recommending thls So-cai'eu
| home rule bill.
| -, T. not necessary to any clty, III my
Judgment. and know it IL not necessary
20 this city. The Corporation 'ouhsei
- 49,. that II makes the consent OF
IN. BOARD of Aldermen Necessary 10 tle
Granting OF all franchises hereafter We
took that power away from the hoafd 81
Aldermen only a few years aso ior cause
"So,ne ueople are never happy unless
,ha, are tiukering with the laws win
o,od and competent men YOU VIII nave
eood Government under poor laws. ana
n.ithout such men you cannot nave Sood
o.,,,ar,ment under the best oi laws. As
soor as something happens mere are
80. ,oo,lc who think that what is
needed IL a new Law.
..,r,oro arc some people whose fingers
,,' =, hs AT this aw-tinkering all the
| ,t..o Thev are. as a rule people who do
rothine for good government under the
Ilsns which we have. ! nope the Governor
| vii, moi approve this bill. But. oi course,
! No is tho best judge OF the matter and a
! man OF prudence
ron,rollor PrerdeIsast said thit AT ffst
no mad been opposed 10 the Dill but Dep
,,,. controller Matthcwson had talked
I with +. \. Tanner who DIRE" The measure
for the Municipal Government Association
=, ~ Work State. and the latter had
| ..t.,t hin, there was no danger Ia 1t