New-York tribune., 1922-12-10
Craig Charges
Republican Plot
In Charter Plan
Comptroller Says Control
of AIdermanic Board Is
Aim Of "Jokers" Making
Over the City Districts
"Not a Home Rule Bill''
Asserts Proposal Does Not
Make Allowances for
Needs of the Community

Comptroller Craig pointed out yes
tcrday what he termed "jokers" In the
proposed charter for the city, which
has been under consideration In the
executive sessions Of the Charter Re-
vision Commission since Mayor Hy-
Ian. the Comptroller and other ofheiais
withdrew from the deliberations OF
the commission several weeks ago. The
city ofieials refused to sit further
with the commission when Chairman
Henry Dc Forest Baldwin and the ma
jority members insisted upon holding
,eeret sessions 70 consider the draft
OF the new charter drawn by Franklin
W. NJ. Cuteheon, counsel 70 the COM
The COMPTROLLER eontended ~ the
time that all the sessions should PC
nubIie and that his own birch bark
ssarter." which he said was the only
resi home rule document, should fur-
nish the basis for the new instrument.
M. Craig said yesterday the city 40.
n,inistration soon will begin 20 hold
rublIc hearings on his proposed
charter. and will be ready 10 submit u
70 the legislature early in the coming
session.
Says Republicans Plan Coup
In discussing the proposed Cutehe on
charter, the Comptroller referred 10 II
a. the creation Of ''the Miller mem
bers OF TIE commission" He deelartd
the only home rule In the proposal -
contained In the title. Ne charged
Governor Miller's apointees-thoso
who did nit withdraw-with playing
politics and gerrymandering IN the
proposed reapportionment OF alder
manic districts. He devoted much time
70 an analysis Of the redistrieting OF
the aldermen and declared the plan
had ben so worked out as 20 turn the
Board Of Aldermen over TO the Eepu0-
lieans.
"Thc attempted gcrrymander Is one
Of the outstanding features OF the
draft which has not been mentioned In
any public discussion" said the Comp
trollcr. "Thc gerrymEndcr, while in
iquitous In itself. is wrapped up N the
proportional representation scheme,
which Is simply an effort on the part
Of minority groups 10 be elected and
dominate Guy AWdlIas
Outlines Proposed Districts
"The propo ed gerrymander Is 70 be
accomplished by dividing the city into
nine AldcrmAnic districts. There are
az present sixty-fyc dlstrlets. each
comprising a small area.
"The Miller commission draft pro-
vides the Borough OF tho Bronx shall
constitute one Aldermanic district, 20
be represented by seven aldermen. The
Borough Of Manhattan is 10 have three
aldermanic districts, one a which will
extend from the Battery 70 Fifty
seventh Street. with seven aldermen;
one from Fifty-teventh Street along
the West Side Of the city 70 spuyten
Duyvil, with FIVE aldermen; one W the
central section of the borough, extend
ing from the East River 20 Central
Park West, and from Forty-seventh
Street 20 l34th street and the Harlem
River, with six aldermen.
"The Borough Of Brooklyn is 20 have
three aldermanic districts. with six
aldermen from each district. making a
total Of eighteen. One Brooklyn alder
manic district extends from Fort Ham
ilton and Bay Ridge In the west 20 the
old town Of New Lots In the east. takes
in the heart OF the Bedford section on
the north and runs 20 Flatbush, Coney
Island and Sheepshead Bay or the
south. Another district takes In the
Greenpoint, Williamsburg, 3 shwiek
Ridgewood and Cypress Hills sections
and extends 70 Jamaica Bay, and the
third district includes South Brook
I Ign, Borough Park, the Park slope,
Red Hook, GoWanus and the Wallabout
sections.
Queens. with entirely different CON-
munity needs, between Flushing on the
north and Far RockAway on the south,