New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-23

the three city officials b. SeJn Low eH.
Nayor Of New York and chairman OF
the committee, and other members,
made il apparent that they did not
agree with these views.
City Bled by Legislature.
New York City is now suffering
from a plethora Of restrictive, interior
ing, financial. partisan legislation that
has been forced on il by the Legls-
lature." said Mayor Mitchell. 1--WE have
a sheriff down here who gets $4,000
year. This would not be II We had
home rule. By laws made here in Al
bany the city is forced TO pay manda-
tory salaries 90 - per cent OF the
county officials"
Mayor Mitchell cited numerous in
stances supporting his charges, chief
among them "the so-callcd teachers
equal pay law" which has cost the tax
payers more than $4,000, 600 in the last
two years.
These mandatory salary increases
that the Legislature has forced upon
the city could not have happened If we
had home rule" said Mayor Mitchell.
"Our eight pension systems are at
present essentially bankrupt. And
these burdens the city will have TO
take upon its shoulders because the
systems were founded on false eco
monte standards, thrust upon US by
Albany"
Powers Asked BY Mayor.
Among the powers that cities ought
10 have, in Mayor Mitchel's opinion,
besides those mentioned are: Control
Of the number Of employees and their
ta h
lie utilities: 10 manage their own
financial affairs, keeping within the
constitutional debt limit Of not more
than ten per cent Of taxable real es-
tate: 10 annex territory and to sepa-
rate from territory now constituting
part Of municipality; TO grant fran
chises, and limited control of compa-
MES operating under franchises; com
plcte police power.
IN the past few years there has
been an awakening. not only in New
York City, not only in New York State,
but in cities throughout the country"
said Mayor Mitchell. "Oficials have
shown a new attitude toward their
public duties, and the public con
science has been aroused. This is
hopeful sign and the spirit has come
to stay.
Must Break Absentee Government.
Home rule for cities, and the de-
mand for il, are normal developments
Of genuine democracy. II is the only
means toward efficient local govern
ment. II does not contemplate wider
latitude for local officials, but a
broader power for the people TO man
age the affairs of the localities where
they live. We cannot get an efficient
system Of local government from Al
bany. Albany is too far away, and the
lawmaking body, as result of re
moteness, has little sympathy and
little knowledge of local needs, which
for that reason frequently go unheed-
ed We need home rule to permit our
cities TO develop their own resources
and protect their own interests to the
fullest extent, untrammelled by legis-
lative interference. This would not
mean. as some one has suggested. the
creation Of number Of principalities
throughout the state. II would give
the people in the cities the right to
exercise the same power with regard
TO local affairs that the people of the
entire state exercise in matters of
statewide application"
The short ballot and scientific bud
cet-making 20 hand in hand, United
States Senator James W. Wadsworth
told the Committee on Governor and
other State officers.
THE present budget system is all
wrong" said Senator Wadsworth.
Financial requests should come from
the country to the Governor and not
from the legislator TO the Governor.
While the present system continues
log-rolling will continue. OF course,
you cannot eliminate log-rolling by
constitutional enactment or by statute,
for it is part of human nature, but
you can reduce the evil"
Direct primaries are pure and un-
adulterated specimen of freak legisla-
ton" according to Edgar NJ. Cullen,
former Presiding Justice Of the Court
Of Appeals, who appeared before the
Judiciary Committee of the convention
to-day.