New-York tribune., 1922-06-18
Charter RerisiOn VIII Not
Bring Good Government
Brooklyn Realty Brokers, While Suggesting Many
Changes in Charter, Say That Efficient
Rule Is Up TO Voters

priating body o. an salaries except
those Of elected officials in thc city
and county.
?. Sufficient power in tho approTr'-
atlng body Of the city to abolish or
consolidate conflicting OF unnecessary
bureaus or departments.
3. Requirement thal 70 appropria-
t'on be made or budget passed unless
upon a favorable vote by majority
Of all voting members q The Board or
Estimate and ADportiorment
!. Repeal OF the law making u
mandatory 90 pay prevailing wages %
mechanics and lab3ress.
3. Housing al city agencies IN city
owned buildings.
s. Retiring city bonds hy the use
Of surplus moneys Of tne sinking fund
whenever market conditions warrant.
7. Parole Commission % be discon-
tinued.
:. Department of Public Markets %
be abolished and its powers and duties
70 be transferred % the Comptroller.
Q. A central engineering depart
ment under the direction Of q city
engineer.
10. The transfer Of street cleaning
IN Richmond and Qucns % the Street
Cleaning Department.
II. The Department Of Licenses, ex-
eept collection Of fees, % be operated
by the Police Department.
70 The collection Of taxes, assess
ments, water rates and license fees BY
the Comptroller in one tax collection
Office in each borough without any IN.
crease In personnel.
l3. Abolition Of the Board Of Water
Supply
IL. Salaries 20 be controlled By the
city
The committee advocates that the
Board Of Estimate consist Of nire mem.
bers each having one vote. viz, Mayor,
Comptroller and seven members elect
cd by their respective horoughs; two
each 10 be residents Of Manhattan and
Of Brookfn. and one Caca % be a resi-
dent OF Richmond. ucers and the
Bronx. That the President u the Board
Of Aldermen and the five borough pres
idents be members without votes. but
tha. otherwise their administrative
functions remain unchanged. That the
Maoor shall he chairman IL the board.
and that the salaries Of the voting
members of-the board shall be equal.
The power Of administration should
be separated from the pOhor OF appro-
priation, and it is for that reason that
we advise that the borough presidents.
as administrative officers, be members
Of the Board Of Estimate. but without
voting power. We believe that the
Board Of Estimate should have abso-
lutte control Of an salaries. except those
Of elected ofcials in the city and
county government. and that the Board
OF Estimate should have power % con-
solidate or abolish conflicting or un-
necessary bureaus or departments.
Reduce Number of Aldermen
A reduction in the oBard Of Alder.
men from It's present number Of sixty
/ five 90 about twenty-onc, changing the
/ lines Of representation % conform with
7 the Senatorial. rather than the As.
/ sCmbly districts. is suggested. An in
crease CT salary of each member Is
/ favored, SO that ADLER men will end the
Office attractive, with no increase IN
power; that the ofiice Of the Commis-
sioner Of Accounts be abolished and
his powers be Transferred % the Board
Of Aldermen.
The report Of the Joint legislative
committee on the Department Of Docks
I Is approved by this committee In rs
/ principal and essential features.
The committee believes in q wider
measure of home rule Tor the City of
I New York 90 the extenl that the re-
/ sponslbility for administering the city
I Is entirely placed on the elected officials
/ OF the city. The city being a sub
/ division or agancy Of the state, is
powers are necessarily limited BY
/ grants from the state, which must AZ
all times have power 20 change the
general form Of is grant, should it ap-
pear 70 the satisfaction Of the Legis-
lature that the structure of. the city
government Is not ORDERLY and Efficient
The operation Of municipal affairs
under the charter. as granted BY the
state, should, however, deyolye wholly
upon the city oaicials without inter.
yention and interference By the Lsgls'
lature in matters Of administration