New-York tribune., 1921-12-19
kecommendsScrappingof
Sinking Fund and Esti-
mate Groups for Com
mission Elected by City
AppOilltive Power
Taken From Mavor
Would Abolish President
OF Aldermen; Minority
on Committee Dissenfs

Inc Meyer Legislative Committee
winch has been Investigating the af-
1a'rs of New York City, recommends
sweeping changes in the city govern
ment IN its first report, which was sub-
mtted to the Charter Revision Com
mission yesterday The abolishment
OF the Board of Estimate, composed of
the executive or administrative officers
of the city and the Sinking Fund Com
mission, and the election by the cjtv
at large for six years of Board of
Finance of nine members, three to be
elected every other year, to deal ex-
cluslvely with city finances, is the
chief recommendation.
The committee proposes that such n
change be made in order to separate
the executive or spending power in
the city government from the appro-
priating power. All OF the powers of
both these boards over city finances
would be transferred to the Board of
Finance under the committees pro-
posals.
Power of Removal in Board
The committee also recommends that
the Board of Finance have power over
appointments to the Board of Taxes
and Assessments, now lodged in the
Mayor, and also power, on the request
Of the Mayor or its own motion, to
remove city officers by wo-thirds
vote for cause. The abolishment Of
the office of President of the Board of
Aldermen at the end of the term of
the newly elected incumbent is recon-
mendcd All existing mandatory legis-
lation fixing charges on the city or
counties should be repealed and such
future legislation restrained by const-
tutional amendment, the comm ttee
suggests.
The new board should be chosen at
the annual election in 1928. the report
suggests, and prepare it's first budget
for the year 1925. Although elected by
the whole city, the members of the new
board should be resident as follows !:
Three in Manhattan, three in Brook
lyn and one in each of the other
boroughs.
The Mayor is to transmit budget
for the support of the entire city and
Of county governments to the Board
of Finance, under the proposed plan,
and have the power of veto over the
board, subject to being overridden by
a two-thirds vote. The Mayor, Comp
troller and Borough Presidents are to
retain their executive and administra-
tive powers unimpaired.
The Democratic members Of the
legislative committee fled a minority
report in which they dissent totally
from the conclusions and recommen-
dations" made in the majority report
"In general the minority m mbers
of the Legislature elected from the
City of New York are not at this time
prepared to recommend the extension
agree that the powers of the Board of
Estimate and Apportionment, particu-
larly the powers of the Mayor and
Comptroller, should in any degree be
divided or curtailed," the minority re-
port reads. Particularly, in view that
the very handsome as we'll as substan-
tial majority by which the administra-
ton of the Office of Mayor and Comp
troler was ratified and indorsed by
the people not more than a month ago
it would seem that they should be given
an opportunity, IN 0Dedlence TO the
will SO emphatically expressed, to cor
rect whatever deficiencies in the ad-
ministration Of the present charte,
may exist"
Minority Asks for Referendum
The minority further unanimously
declares that whatever decision should
be arrived at by the Charter Revision
Commission, the latter should recon-
mend to the Legislature that the char
ter, before it becomes effective, be rati-
fed by referendum of the people of
the City of New York The minority
report was signed by Senators James
Continued or page four)