The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-04
MAYORS Home RULE
PLAN STRIKES SNAG
Advocates Volleyed With
Questions-Get a Delay to
Prepare Answers.


ALBANY. June 3.--when the advocates
OF the proposed constitutional home rule
amendment adopted at the conference OF
Mayors recently appeared before the
constitutional convention on cities to-
day they were met by a food OF ques-
IONS from the members of the commit
Tee which caused a postponement OF the
Nearing until next Tuesday TO give them
an opportunity to prepare their nswer
Arthur l. Andrews. Corporation
Counsel OF Albany, represented a COM
nittes OF the Mayors TO urge their
amendment and after a brief explana-
ton OF It's provisions he was volleyed
with questions and finally Chairman
Low launched q typewriter set OF
thirty-one questions which seemed to
stagger the witness.
This proposed amendment gives each
city full power to exercise local self
government relating TO Its property.
affairs and government. To that end
each city maj draft local municipal laws
governing officers and employees. the
use OF streets, including public utilities,
and the regulation Of the conduct OF its
Inhabitants and the protection OF their
property. safety, health, comfort and
general welfare.
1t seemed to be the impression that
this amendment would give a city power
not only to grant franchises but TO
operate public utilities. 1t Is provided
that no municipal law shall become
operative until voted upon favorably ut
a special election. meaning that all city
charters must first be approved by the
voters. as well rs amendments made
thereafter.
Opposition Is Delayed.
There were a number present OPP
posed TO the Mayors amendment on the
ground tina IL gave too broad powers
who announced that they would defer
their discussion OF the question until a
later hearing.
Frank l.. Polk, Corporation Counsei
OF New York city. said that Mayor
Mitchell would appear before the COM
lnittee next Thursday. as he was u
member OF the committee which framed
the amendment. Comptroller Prender-
CAST was present at tO-day's hearing
and while not favorably disposed to-
ward the amendment will await the
position to De taken by Mayor Mitchell
before addressing the committee or the
question OF home rule. II was decided
70 permit the questions asked by the
members of the committee to-day to be
answered before a meeting of the COM
Inittee next Tuesday and that another
meeting of the committee on the nome
rule question will be held next Thurs
day.
Ledyard r.. Hale. chairman OF the
public utilities committee of the conven-
ton. announced that all corporations.
municipalities and persons subject to tho
Jurisdiction of the Public Service Com
missions interested in the-prOposals TO
make the Public Service Commission
constitutional bodies will haze "A hear
irg on Wednesday. The committee al
ready has heard from members of the
commissions and experts on the sub
1ect. n now desires to find what the
bodies regulated by the commission
have to say.
The committee has several proposals
before 1t for making the Public Service
Commissions constitutional bodies IN
order that politics will not be a factor
In regulating the terms of It's members.
They have been introduced by Vice
President Jacob Gould Schurman. Sena-
tor James A. Foley and Judge William
NJ. X. Olcott OF New York.
Education hoard Of Five.
A paid board OF five members To re.
place the present New York city Board
OF Education OF forty-slx members was
advocated by Comptroller Prendergas,
before the Committee on Education as
q solution Of the difficulties existing
under the present system of administer.
ing New York city school affairs.
Comptroller Piendergast expressed re.
sentiment ain charges that the Board
OF Estimate had been parsImonious with
the schools. declared the Board OF Edu.
= cation needed n better business system
argued for complete divorce of the
school board from politics. and said II
was a grave wrong for any one tc
stamp the great mass of school cnildrer
in New York with being immoral OF
immoral
The latter comment was impelled by
a charge that II certain appropriation
were not made for vacation schools the
city's boys and girls would become de,
moralized through contact with stree
influences.
The Comptroller appeared before tn,
committee to counteract statements at
tributed to New York city school OIL
Gals and DR.. Thomas Il. Finegan o
the State Department OF Education
which put the Comptroller in the ligh
OF opposing suggestions made In III,
Interest of the New York city schools
III We had a paid school board o.
Ave members declared Comptrollel
PrenderEast, there would he absolut,
harmony between that board and tn,
bodTu Oh Estlindto ana appOrtlOnment
and the summer schools would DE run
ming and manned with the regula
teachers without any additional expens,
{ the city.
II Months Term Urged.
Then the repeated suggestion o
Superintendent of Schools William II
MAXWELL that the school year be In
creased to eleven months. the same a
the European school year. leaving onl.
the month OF July for the vacation
period. would materially lessen tn
need for the vacation schools, and wha
schools would be needed for July I,
teach vocational and domestic branche
could be manned easily by the regula
teachers. II the 200 workdays a yea
system was in force the Board OF Edu
cation could man the vacation school
At once.
AT the last hearing the impression
was given that a million school chill
dren would be turned upon the street
of New York city during the summe
months because the vacation school
arc no 20 be opened.
"The truth Is that last year onl
2s,768 scholars registered in the va
cation schools. while the Board o
Estimate appropriated s39,s40.000 70
the New York oity schools this yea
or $780, 900 more than last year.
II resent the charge that our schoc
children Will become thieves an
crooks In the absence of vacatio
school8L II Ia Q poor estimate of thel
m6Pll afa~nfnn. nnlv A nav capt ~ ,b