New-York tribune., 1922-01-18
Charter Board
Adopts Craiss's 3
Assembly Plan
Approves Fundamentals. but
Would Limit Powers Over
Borough Presidents and
Pay of Higher Officials
Aldermanic Unit Retained
City Legislature Liable TO
Mayors Veto, Which, How
ever, May BE Overriddcn

Comptroller Crag's birch bark ciar-
ter was the basis Of discussion ycster-
day at meeting Of the Charter Re
vision Commission. Tho commission
adopted Mr.. Crag's fundamental home
rule provision that the city govern
mcnt should be vested in q local leg r.
lslative assembly with full powers to
consolidate or abolish departments and
control and fix tho salaries Of ap-
pointive officers and employees.
There was some discussion over the
retention Of the Board Of Estimate as
now constituted US a part Of the mu-
nicipa assembly. The consensus WIS
that it should be retained, the Board
Of Aldermen and the Board Of Esti-
mate to constitute tho assembly.
Comptroller Craig spoke in favor Of re
lining the Aldermanic Board IS con
stituted, with the sixty.seven members,
instead Of smaller organizations
"a smaller board, say Of twenty one
members, would not be az representa-
tive and would not function as WE'LL"
said the Comptroller "Bcsidcs you
are more likely to get twcnty-onc first
class Aldermen out of seventy than
out of twentyone.'
Power Over Salaries Limited
The problem of the organization Of
the aldermanic board and Others
in regard to the specific powers
Of the proposed assembly were left
open for further discussion. The
point Of the power Of such an assem-
bly, to legislatc elected officials out Of
office came up. The commission agreed
that while the local legislative body
might he vested with power to extend
the duties of the borough presidents.
it should not have power to reduce
them. 1t vas decided that the assembly
should have power to fix salaries Of
employees and for the Judges and em-
p!oyees Of the minor criminal co courts.
such as Special Sessions and the city
magistrates courts, but should not be
permitted to curtait any activities or
functions of the higher grade OF Judi
cial officers. It was decided TO place
county officers under the control Of
the assembly.
a long discussion followed over the
powers of the borough presidents un-
der the proposed charter Several COM
retaining borough autonomy and
against any curtailmcnt Of duties OF
the borough presidents. Comptro.ler
Craig said he was in favor OF borough
autonomy as feature Of home rule
Borough President Riege'mann. @.
Brooklyn, thought home rule should
not only apply to the city as a whole
but be extended into every borough,
SO far As that could be done.
c-~ al
ers mentioned in Mr.. Craig's charter
be vested in the proposed assembly.
but that its action should be subject
to the Mayors veto. He thought the
assembly should be clothed with the
power to initiate for the betterment Of
the city at large. The motion was
adopted with the proviso that the as
sembly could pass law over the
Mayors veto by o-thirds vote
No definite name was adopted for thc
local legislative body, but it was called
the municipal assembly for the pur-
poses OF consideration.
Every Member at Meeting
Every member of the commission at
tended the meeting, most Of them TAX
ing an active part. The first matter
brought up was the amendment to the
state constitution to conform to the
resolution adopted last week regarding
county government. This provided that
special laws relating TO any county
WITHIN the city be special city laws and
therefore subject to the approval of the
Mayor L. J. McGoldrick. counsel to
the commission, asked if the body de-
sired him to draw up the amendment
and have it introduced in the Leeis-
lature. Comptroller Craig disapproved
of any action until the commission was
ready to submit short charter. The
The classic of all screen love scenes ia /.
II orphans OF the Storm, Apollo Theatre.'' |