New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-08-28
KINGS COUNTY CONSULTATIONS

WORK OF THE CoMMIssION-RELATIONS OF COUNTY
AND CITY OVERNMENT-APPBAIsAIs.
The Commission appointed TO devise plan
for the consolidation OF Ihe county towns and CITY oil
Brooklyn under municipal government and the
division Of the united territory held Its fifth session in
the Courthouse at Brooklyn yesterday eXJndge John
A. Lott presiding. Tue Committee the Legislative
Department presented elaborate report the features
OF which were that the Common Council should consist
OF 80 members that the ward boundaries should be re-
stored as they existed prior to the passage OF the
amended Charter that Aldermen shall be elected for
two years receive compensation for their ser
vices that the Common Council shall have no power 10
require licenses from farmers for selling the produce OF
their farms or gardens and that the ordinances now in
force in tho City Of Brooklyn shall not apply TO the
Wards formed out OF the present county towns.
The Committee on City Works reported that there
should he such a department with all the powers now
confeTredaupOn the present Board The COMMITTEE on
Public Parks recommended such a department, whose
jurisdiction should be the whole county The Com
mittee on Laws recommended such a department, the
provisions OF the law in regard TO the CRY Court OF
Brooklyn applying to the consolidated city. The Com
mitteo on Fire Department Street Openings, Local
improvements, Public instruction, and Taxes and
Assessments made similar recommendations All OF the
reports were laid on the table and ordered printed.
The Committee on the Terms Of Consolidation made a
long report setting forth that the seventh section OF the
act under which the COMMISSION Is acting, atter direct
ing general plan 10 he devised upon which the city
and towns shall be "united and consolidated under one
municipal corporations called the City Of Brook
Iyn" declares that It shall also provide for consoli-
dating OF the county OF Kings far rs
can be with that Of the City OF Brooklyn and reducing
the expenses thereof and for imposing the duties now
imposed upon county officers far may be, upon the
officers OF the city created" This require
ment, on its face. appears 10 express doubt
whether provision CARRYING OUT thehc onYeHtH
or either Of them be made The constitution Of the
state recognized the division Of t territory into several
and the existence OF Board Of Supervisors In
each county the time Of its adoption The provisions
OF the Constitution indicate that 1t was Intended TO have
county government separate and distinct from that OF
the city. each having its appropriate functions. The
fact that the Constitution IN express terms authorizes
LEGISLATURE OcOnfer upon the Boards OF Supervisors
OF the counties powers Of local legislation ana
administration which otherwise could only he derived
from the Legislature itself shows that II not H.
tended that sucn power should be exercised by the city
| authorities, and the legislation OF the state
! OF the city government is made subordinate and
subject the control OF that OF the county II follows
that 1t would be inconsistent with the constitution that
the government of the county should he consolidated
with that Of the city, The Committee conclude that the
Commission cannot tske any action In the premises
! The conclusion OF the Committee was unanimously
| approved by the Commission.
An animated discussion of the first section OF the re-
port Of the same Committed in relation appraisas,
| presented AZ the previous meeting, then ensued.
TIns G. Bergen OF New-Utrecht opposed the passage
Of this section claiming THAI inc Vsue OF Brooklyn pun
lie property being appraised II might be found that
theIe vas q oept W TWO OF tIte hilou anu the Gully
towns wDich have no GeDt would next year be oDhged
10 pay the of the old city. He moved amend
the section so as 10 provide that in the public property
OF the city appraised the puOlc parks should DE e1
copied; and III the manner Couey Island should
be excepted, IL being private property OF the town oil
Gravesend.
Mr. Berger was informed that Brooklyns public prop
ery had recently been appraised, ana that the value OF
the public parks being excepted the assets would not
be equal 10 the liabilities IL finally resolved Ia ad-
ourn until Monday ana in the interval the Secretary
was instructed 10 obtain fTOm the Controller "a OF the
| city assets and liabilities.