The New York herald., 1922-01-11
CRAIG CHARTER PLAN
ENLARGESPOWEROF OF
CITY IN EVERY WAY
Transit and Civil Service
Commissions Are AbOl-
ished.
BOND ISSUES PROVIDED
All County and Other Of
fices Would Be Munich
pally Controlled.
p.
BOND ISSUES PROVIDED
SALARIES ARE INCREASED
Filling of Vacant Offices Is
Vested in Aldermen - Re-
mOval Provided For Too.

Under the terms Of the thumb
nail" Charter presented yesterday to
the Charter Revision Commission
by Comptroller Charles l.. Craig the
Transit Commission would be abof-
sion would cease to function within
the limits of New York city.
The city would have the right to
own and operate any sort Of public
utility.
The city also would be placed in en-
tire control of the organization of all
county offices and other offices within
it's limits which serve the city or any
of the five counties, or for which the
city appropriates money. Practically
the only exception to this would be the
Department Of Education, which the
courts have recently held to be exer-
cising State function, and the Su-
preme Court, which is a State body.
The general structure of the present
government Is retained. the city re-
ceives thu broadcs, grant Of powers and
provision is maze for a municipal as
sembly consisting of the Board of Es-
timate and the Board of Aldermen to
legislate for the city's needs. The
charter provides that the Mayor and
the Comptroller shall receive SIS. 900. the
Corporation Counsel. who would be an
elective officer. $4,000: the President Of
the Board or Aldermen and each OF the
Borough Presidents, $4,000 each, and
each Alderman 5000
| 1t Is provided that ali elective officers
may be removed by the municipal as
Eembly by proceedings similar to i'm
parchment, instead of by the Governor
OF the State. as now. Also ths Board
Of Aldermen would have the power of
filling vacancies in the offices of Mayor.
Comptroller or President Of the Board
| of Aldermen for the remainder of the
term. The Aldermen from each borough
| would fill any vacancy in the Borough
Presidency OF membership OF the board
from that borough.
Salaries Are Advanced.
The grant OF power to the Comp
troller in the Craig charter is most ex-
tensive. turning over to him all the
duties and function now exercized by
the City Chamberlain. Comptroller
Craig and the Chamberlain nave not got
along at all well.
Authorization 4: given for the issu-
ance Of general fund" bonds against
any surplus sinking fund moneys, the
proceeds OF which would be used for the
reduction of taxation. This would be a
legal confirmation of what has been
suggested might be done to raise in
part the $4,000 coo which must be pro-
vided for In the 1922 budget under the
court ruling.
Under the Craig charter provision is
made for new elective officer. the
Corporation Counsel, at salary OF
$4,000 a year. 1t also advances the
salaries OF the Mayor and Comptroller
to $4,000 a year and the salaries of
the Aldermen from $4,000 to $4,000. The
salaries Of the President of the Board
OF Aldermen and the presidents of the
five boroughs are continued at $4,000.
Mr.. Craig would grant to the Comp
troller increased powers In the matter OF
settling claims AGAINST the city and In
the purchase OF real estate. His charter
continues the Striking Fund Commission
with three mer,bers-the Mayor, the
Comptroller an6 the President OF the
Board of Aldermen--with the vote OF
at least two Of these officials necessary
for majority in any vote of the Board
of Estimate.
The charter empowers the city to de.
termine the number. salaries, methods oi
powers and duties of all persons In ia
city service except elective officers. The
city gets control over all departments, l.
empowered TO grant franchises for
periods not exceeding twenty-five years
The charter provides that Il shall be sun.
nlitted 10 referendum and shall take
effect on January /. 1923, IL passed by
the Legislature and ratified by a refer
cndum by that time.
Municipal Powers Granted.
After confirming the rights granted to
the city by previous charters the char.
ter contains these express authorization
| OF power to the City Of New York.
Il. To contract and be contracted
with. and 70 institute. maintain and de-
fend any action or proceeding in any
court.
'2. TO take, purchase. hold and lease
real and personal property within and
/ without tho limits of the city. and ac-
quire by condemnation real and personal
property within the limits OF the city
for any public or municipal purpose. and
20 exercise all of the powers and do
nsinion OF ownership therover, and "a
sell and convey any part of such prop.
erty or exchange II for other property
but the rights of the city In and to fits
waterfront. ferries. wharf property. land
under water. public landings. wharves
docks. streets. avenues. parks and all
other public places are hereby declared
to be inalienable except that a sale &c
or exchange with an upland owner may
be made OF lands under water inside the
high water mark when established by
the Commissioners OF the Sinking Fund
Lpon a straight line. or otherwise. ir
front of the property OF said upland
| owner.
"3. To determine tho necessity for ant
construct, lease or acquire by purchase
or condemnation. and to control ant
operate the public works for supplying
itself, its inhabitants and industries