The New York herald., 1921-12-03
Chairman Scott Says Aim
Will Be to Frame Accept
able Instrument.
LESSONS FROM THE PAST
Hope Is to Improve Present
Charter and Effect Econo-
mics for City.

That advocates Of borough autonomy
Rave little 20 fear from the charter re-
vision commission, which is TO be
sworn in by Gov. Miller and viii or
ganize at the Hotel Plaza this morn
ing, was indicated last night in an in
terview by former Justice Francis NJ.
Scott, who, is to be chairman The
commission will be organized with
former Justice Edward j. McGoldricls,
for many years an Assistant Corpo-
ration Counsel representing the city
before the Legislature, as counsel
Mr.. Scott and Mr.. McGoldrick are
Democrats.
1t is not that Justice Scott favors
borough autonomy, but because he is
looking upon the work 81 the commits
sion with practical thought of what
may actually be put into effect.
Personally" he said, II have always
regretted the Introduction OF borough
autonomy in the scheme of things at
the beginning Of the greater city. 1t
prevents a homogeneous community.
But. / have been told by people in a
position to know, the feeling for bor-
, oIgh autonomy is so strong it would
bill that did away with it. You see, we
have got TO deal with the situation as
it exists. We have not got homogene-
Gus city, but 1t can't be helped now.
I'VE hope TO draw better charter
than the present one and to economize
In places. But we hope 10 frame one
that will pass the Legislature. That Is
pretty important"
Special Charter Session.
The Governors idea OF special
session of the Legislature to consider
nothing except the charter Mr.. Scott
believes most excellent one Better re
suits are likely Gov. Miller will prob
ably tell the members Of the commission
tiis morning that they will be absolutely
Tree agents to work out the salvation OF
the City.
''He said to me- declared Mr.. Scott,
that he had no ideas. plans nor schemes
for the revision of the charter; the mat
ter would be left entirely in our hands
and 10 our judgment"
Mayor Hylan. Replying to a question
on that score he said:
'In understand the Mayor Is going TO
start In TO help. and ! would not be
surprised X he would end UP helping.
Corporation Counsel O'Brien, in Albany
The other day assured me we could call
upon him for every assistance possible"
The commission will not confine itself
to New York city or the East for ideas.
There has been a great deal of in
terest In charter framing I'm the West
in recent years" he observed. "and we
may get some valuable suggestions by
going aheld. Cleveland. / understand.
has a good charter [ IL starts under
commission form OF government on jan
uary L. IL may not BE exactly suited
to our need here but is worth studying"
New York city never has had a sci
entifc charter act, Mr.. Scot. ssid. What
was known as the consolidated act In
1882 put together lot OF loose laws for
the old city. The charter with which
Greater New York began life on jan
uary /, 1898. was we'll enough drawn,
but inadequate. Then came the Rives
amended charter of 1906.
INITIATED Dy Amendments.
"Thot has been in force since" con-
tinued Mr.. Scott, "and when tell you
that 1t has been tlnSered with by more
than 1000 amendatory acts or laws di-
iectly affecting II. you can realize the
condition IL is in now. There have been
three or four attempts to draw n new
charter, including the Gaynor charter
and that prepared by the William NJ.
WINS commission. probably the most
scientific ever drawn. But none of them
passed the Legislature"
1t would probably take until the first
OF the year for the commission to get
together its material, find out what the
law Is now and where the defects are.
Mr.. Scott said.
Twenty-Five years ago J used 10 know
n great deal about the charter" hc
adoed. referring TO his service as Cor
poration Counsel but | went on the
over the dam since. have clear idea
;here Is much waste labor and duplica-
ton. Some departments have large
clerical forces needed during certain sea-
sons OF the year only. It is not efficiency
70 try 10 train temporary forces. The
thing TO DO. u seems to me. is to have
. corps OF clerks who may be transferred
from one office to another, Us needed
possibly
The commission win elect also vice
chairman and an honorary secretary to-
day. There will be an executive secre-
fary and such associate counsel and
clerks as may be necessary. An ap-
preparation OF $4,000 that went with
the bill will unqucstionably be increased
as the need develops.