The sun., 1890-06-04
FOR A GREATER NEW YORK.
FIRST MEETING or THE SPECIAL COM
MISSION 10 CONSIi I:R 2HE SUBJECI.
Andrew ". Green, who Was chosen Chair
man, Points Out tho National R~ Well a%
LI.tL.

man, Points Out tho National Ra Wen aS
Local Necessity tor Consolidation.
Tho Commission appointed bY Gov. Hill to
consider the eApedcnCy OF consolidating the
various municipalities upon tho islands en-
closing this hnrbOr met In tho Office OF An
drew II. Green Yesterday afternoon and orHnn-
ized by the election Of MIR. Green as President.
Tho other members OF tho Commission are
Calvert Yaux. j. s. r. Stranahan, John l.
Hamilton, and George II. Cathcart. William
r. Rodgers was chosen Secretary. Tho bill
creating the Commission provides that the
Governor should name six Commissioners.
but through an inadvertence he named only
fvo. The bill provides that the Commission
ehall be increased by the Mayors OF New York
and brooklyn and the Boards OF Supervisors
OF Westchester, Queens, Kings, and Richmond
counties each naming one. The Commission
is TO act with tho state Engineer and Surveyor.
The Commission will request Mayor Grant to
appoint as the representative OF this county +.
W. Devoe. whom tho Governor. II is said, In
tended to name as the sixth Commissioner.
The members Of tho Commission will receive
no compensation for their services. but the
Board OF Apportionment OF this city is en-
powered to appropriate a sum not exceeding
5000 to carry out the objects Of the act No
limit Ia fixed to the life OF the Commission
beyond the provision that it Is to report TO the
Legislature at its noXt session.
Mr.. Green made an address to the members
OF tho Commission. In speaking OF our lack
OF harbor defences. he said: " There is, more
over. the province OF administration which
may concern itself for the defence OF all our
cities against assault. The subject OF our coast
detences was one to which Samuel J. Tilden
gave special attention, and, however much his
warnings may have been neglected passing
bay contrnn1 THAR UfSa and DatriOtia
character. Since its original settlement by the
Dutch this city has four times suffered inva-
sion and occupation by forces despatched by
foreign fleets.
f"For several years preceding the war OF 1912
British cruisers lowered about the mouth Of
our harbor, iInprisonnG our seamen, and,when
the war came, capturing our merchantmen
within Gunshot OF our shores. During tho
civil war the presence here for short while OF
u friendly Russian feet had more effect in dis
couragng hostile combinations among foreign
governments against this nation than any
demonstration we were then able to make.
We are as helpless now against the assault OF
modern fleets as We were in other periods to
the antGuated methods OF assault then en-
pioyed Here is tho commercial capital OF
great and spirited nation. whose borders
stretch along the shores OF two oceans and
from tho frIgli zone to the tropics. hanked on
the spoiled child OF the most domineering ma
ton OF tho earth, equipped with Mmplest
ocean business of the continent. and ready
TO- push TO, the point Of rupture some
In t the adusiment Of which New iorE has no
more Il ecial Interest than Topeka and Dem
yer. With all the rest OF the country our peo-
lie are ready to share with ardor Whatever en-
counter the protection OF our national rights
makes necessary. Whatever wars may come
knows that New York must first answer at the
muzzle OF the gun: Every power on the globe
upon the American coast. there stands group
OF our most opulent cities within gunshot from
the opon sea- At the one point along our en-.
tire coast where We are most open to assault
we have accumulated greatest temptations to
invite It and smallest means to repel it. This
situation. OF itself. it Is discredit to our
cities and to the Government;
Even II We view proper defences without
reference to peace or war: but in no more seri-
GUS light thar as part Of the lashtonhble fur
board capital of a great empi.e, such defences
should be provided n that same t,, spirit OF del,
us to send supertiuous embassies to foreign
courts. or order such ships OF war as we have
to foreign coasts, and by other compliances
stature in their ranks. This however, Is the
Ioast important view in which to regard tho
SoT Gsefa fi0t IN time OF peSoo a. s Of
national parade. they are essential in time Of
G TeaTe he 0 a he
eion Is continually forced upon us. that the
page Of American history fullest OF lgnomlni;
an assault upon the cities OF this port which is
not properly met
sible iniamy all these sister cities may consoli-
date without sacrifice Of local privilege. and
this Commission, II it shall accomplish nothing
moro. will have done ineStimAble service to
our community, our State. and country II IL
shall awake Influences sufficient to INDUCE the
fences for the port Of New York. Our national
temper is peaceful. and our methhods; policy.
reserve rnS bst attUde but "6sevation Of the
experiences of other nations admonlshes US
that the hest assurance OF peace Is demonstra-
ton OF our ability IL provoked to carry on
Mr.: Green thought IT t, was a tortuitous
organization upon the day when the
authorities of the nation have actively entered
unon the business of taking account OF our
population, our resources, our achievements
and our prospects. with u view OF presenting
70 the reopis data by which they may guide
enter upon." he said. has been inspired by tho
same considerations. Directed as We are 10
lnguire into the eXpediency OF consolidating
those nolghboring municpaities 1t will be our
duiy TO examine the municipal conditions by
which they are now regulated and 10 present
such such data as will guide popular opinion 10
yudiclous conclusions upon the question OF
ter future relation TO each other 1t Is TO bo
desired that wo look into this subject in its
brOadost ms lccts. that we discard all JealOusieS
hnd that the report we are directed to make TO
Cities are tho flower. and fruit. the
standard and eNGmplar OI whatever character
or civilization they may he reared under. They
are not the inhninlHte outgrOwth OF communal
vegetation. or mort integers of gIoat and
living scheme. but active and potent factors In
it. DehaucLments OF race or nation first
como through their cities. and hO race or peo-
pe ever falls inlo decay unless its cities have
been corrupted A. the commercial capital OF
q great nation We have Great trust in charge.
The temptations winch might lure commu-
nifty from the pain ol beautiful progress
were never 80 layishy spIead 10 uUon our palh.
More than any otber community we have had
greatness thrust nron " without masking an
Gnort or taking thought, in ueTiOd which is
but span in the IFS Of great cites in lho Old
v orld. The community assembled around
this port. ono by contiguity Of borders. by
commercial association, By industrial pursuit,
and hy social sentiment, one in eicry relation
hut that OF political arrangement. Is already
the second clty IN the world, and is stul pro-
gresRng with such spcol upon increased do
yevlmuut that Il ere h scarcely luOm iordOu3t
thai when tho /, taut o. this day shni reach
Elatur!tS and come to cast his first NOtu he Will
bo II rItL Gu OF ma m'EirpGi'y %hIch IN nor.
N.HtlOn, III Wealth, H!II !ElNlcnrO sldIi "lAud at
the head uf tho !lp" - tho great riilos whose
Influences guido the ,los'in!oS pi the word or
Nlpsn rr,ityIg np ptL "a, a llEfOI -