New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-24
A RIGID MUNICIPAL SYSTEM
Instead of Home Rule, State Con-
troll Through Uniform Charters.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: When the conference OF Mayors OF
cities in New York State ask for home
rule" amendment to the Constitution, what do
they mean? Do they or any of them wish
that the terms Of the charter Of each city
should include any and all of the particular
whims and fancies Of a majority of the prin-
cipal legislative body of the individual city?
II seems TO me that the combined charters
Of the several cities constructed after such
fashion would be a ridiculous hodge -podge.
In ore city q certain power would be grtnted,
in another denied, and in many Of the others
so modified as to be almost unique.
II seems to have been forgotten that a city
government Is but q branch of state govern
ment exercised within a certain particular
tract Of land, be il large or small compare
lively, and if constitutional provision on the
subject is to be made, care should be taken
to limit rather than to enlarge the powers
now granted
Home rule should include the right to Sc
lect name, choose a mayor, choose a com
mon council COR whatever you wish TO call
it,, giving TO 1t the same powers as in all
city charters, no city having power to do any
act denied to any other city. In other words,
the charters should be exactly alike in all
respects. Certain functions of government
even in a city should be reserved entirely for
state control, particularly that of the public
health, the rules in regard to which should
be absolutely uniform in every municipality
in the state and enforced by state officials.
Let the Constitution give to the Legislature
the general power to frame universal char
ter and give the cities certain time within
which to adapt themselves to il, reserving, of
course, all remedies against the city which
existed at the time of the passage of the
legislative act. Allow no classification of
cities on account of population or location,
but make the law alike in all of them, so
that any one familiar with the law governing
his conduct in the City Of New York would
know that he was expected to obey the same,
and no other, laws in schenectady. IL is safe
70 say that there are no local conditions or
needs in any city which could not be provided
for in such universal charter Such char
ter when adopted by the Legislature should
be irrepealable or unamendable in whole or in
part lOI a peIlOu SuHCleuIly long 10 thdDlt
the people to discover its defects, If any
say, for ten years and then only by unan-
imous vote of all the members Of the Legis-
lature and the assent of the Governor.
As an instance of the propriety of general
laws relating to matters of universal rule, al
low me to call your attention to the fact that
the last Legislature of New Jersey passed a
law requiring strectcars to stop on the near
side of the street, and where this was i'm
practicable because of its occasioning dis
turbance of traffic, then at point designated
by a white banded pole, with a sign Cars
stop Here" prominently displayed. without
expressing any opinion as to the judgment
displayed, | regard this as an instance Of
proper legislation, notwithstanding the fact
that it takes from the legislative body of
every municipality in the state the power, il
it had it, of ruling on this important subject
and is by many Of them considered violation
of the doctrine of home rule.
w. P. DOUGLASS.
Ridgeield, N. j., June &c, 1915