The New York herald., 1921-12-18
CITY CLUB SUGGESTS
/ FEWER ALDERMEN
Recommends That Charter Be
Limited TO Organic
Functions.
NOME RULE FEATURED
Administrative Code Subject
TO Local Amendment
Considered.

Making the srar ing OF an adequate
measure OF hcme rule for New York
city its fundamental requirement., the
City Club has submitted to the Charter
Revision Commission a carefully pre-
pared report on the entire field, in the
course of which 1t recommends:
Removal from the charter (Which
may be changed only by the State Leg
islatiire) Of all except the basic princi-
Piles and grants OF power.
Establishment of an administrative
code, of ordinances. subject to local
amendment by the Board OF Aldermen,
with the concurrence OF the Mayor
Reduction of the number of Aldermen
from sixty-five to twenty or twenty-one,
With possible increase In salary TO at
tract higher class candidates.
Strengthening the Board of Estimate
along the line OF its major appropriating
and planning functions and freeing
OF members from other distractions.
Taking from the Borough Presidents
all except their Board OF Estimate du-
lies.
Substitution OF borough adniinistra-
tors or managers, appointed by the
Mayor, TO handle the administrative
matters now in the hands of the Bor-
ough Presidents.
City Planning Commission.
Establishment OF city planning
commission of eleven members. 60 be
made up OF the five Borough Presidents
and six unsalaried lay members to be
appointed by the Mayor for overlapping
terms of six wears euch
Abolition of the Sinking Fund COM
mission and vesting of Its functions in
The Board OF Estimate.
Continuation of the grant to the
Mayor OF great executive powers and
the fixing upon him of direct and full
administrative responsibility.
Relieving the Comptroller from GER
tain extraneous duties, such as the Blu
reau for the Collection of City Revenue,
the Bureau for the Collection of Taxes
and the Bureau for the Collection of
Assessments and Arrears.
Establishment OF a treasury depart
1nent to take over those bureaus and
also the Bureau for the Collection of
Water Revenue, now under the Water
Department, the collection of dock and
market rents, the receipt OF all license
fees and the collection of revenue from
leases and concessions granted by the
various departments.
Establishment OF q department of
hospitals and homes TO take over the
management OF all city hospitals and
various homes and institutions now un-
der the Welfare Department, except the
Municipal Lodging House, which should
remain, and the Home for Feeble
Minded on Randall's Island, which
should go to the State. Supervision of
all ambulance service to be given to
this department.
Combination OF the Board OF Child
Welfare. now separate organization.
with the Department OF Welfare.
Revision of Police Control.
Extension OF the Jurisdiction OF the
Tenement House Department over board
ing and rooming houses, indeed all
dwelling houses except strictly private
one family houses.
Extension of the term OF the Police
Commissioner TO eight or ten years, sub
ject him to removal only by the Gov
crnor or the Mayor upon charges and
after public hearing.
Abolition OF the License Department
and the distribution of its functions
the collection OF all license fees to the
treasury department. the power to ap-
prove or disapprove, suspend or revoke
a license to the department most con-
cerned with the supervision OF the par
ticular activity.
Removal from the charter OF most or
the educational provisions on the ground
they have been superseded by the State
educational law
Removal from the Department OF
Water Supply. Gas and Electricity its
duties relating TO the last two subjects.
Reduction of number of Tax Commits
Sloners from seven TO three. Appoint
n1ent OF the Civil Service Comnis-
sioners for overlapping terms Of six
years each.
Recon- lamentations for Economy.
AT the end of the report there is a
discussion of the separate county gov
cI'nment in each of the five counties
making UP the city. with the declara-
ton that 1t is wholly unsuited to city
conditions. Much Of the si0Oc0,0o0 II
costs TO operate these five governments
could be saved under proper organiza-
tion. 1t is declared. Much could he
remedied by legislation. but much
would need constitutional amendment.
IT is suggested that the following REM
edies are worthy Of careful considera-
ton: Abolish Sheriffs. giving peace
duties TO police and jail duties to De-
partment of Correction. do away with
Commissioner of Records, give fixing
of all salaries TO Board OF Estimate.
consolidation Of local courts. initiating
OF steps to consolidate five counties into
one and an amendment to the constitu-
ton permitting counties within "A city TO
be consolidated or abolished by statute.
The City Club has been making a