New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-08
THE CONSOLIDATION SCHEME.

The scheme for consolidating New-York,
BROOKLYN and their suburbs within this state
has reached the stage OF favorable report by
the special commission appointed to consider II.
Thus it has been put fairly upon its feet, having
been in the air for many years. By this we
mean not that the proposition has seemed at any
time to be on the verge Of adoption by univer-
sal consent, but that it has been one of the
topics which never quite die out OF discussion
however often they may be pushed aside. 1t
was MIR. Stranahan, we believe, who first
brought the subject prominently into view, and
he has remained its most strenuous and con-
ant advocate. The people OF Brooklyn in
general are supposed to regard the scheme with
suspicion if not aversion, fact which makes the
support of Brooklyn's first citizen all the more
conspicuous.
There is no subject of municipal concern
better entitled to full and frank discussion,
and for this reason we are glad that the COM
mission made report so decisive and so nearly
unanimous. An adverse report or narrow ma
iority would have taken the life out OF the
project and laid it on the shelf once more,
whereas now it will undergo the scrutiny or
thousands, and eventually, we may hope meet
the fate that it deserves. We are strongly OPP
posed to precipitate action. There is no evil
dence that the people are ready for The ques-
ton in New-York, Kings, Queens, Richmond
or Westchester. Nor is il now question for
the Legislature to decide 1t cannot be pre-
tended that the passage of Consolidation Act
would be ratification of popular sentiment at
this time whatever it might be at some time
in the future. There is no occasion for haste,
but, on the contrary, there is every reason for
deberation. The step proposed is momentous
and blunder would be irrev0cable. decree
of union now would be, for all that is known to
the contrary, a coercion OF the majority.
1t is our belief that consolidation is our ulti-
mate destiny, and we can conceive OF clrcrm-
stances under which popular sentiment in favor
of it would crystalline rapidly, at least in New
York. If, for example, the possibility that Chi
cage will contain greater population within
few years than this city should come to be a
certainty, or to be regarded as such, we have
little doubt that an overwhelming majority OF
our citizens would vote to keep New York the
metropolis by the process now proposed Nor
would that be merely silly display OF sentl-
ment. The practical value of numerical SUI
premacy is not inconsiderable, and a refusal to
pldtc tuC uOdu VI VhS Ni"iNS Va
the United States, where so easy an escape from
that humiliation is provided, might be natural
and proper exhibition of civic pride.
Even supposing that the danger of being out
stripped by Chicago is remote, the ambition and
desire to expand into the second city in the
world cannot be deemed culpable. But here
comes in the consideration which MIR. Curtis, as
a resident of Staten Island, suggested in his
letter to the Commission. We are bound to ask
ourselves whether consolidation can fairly be
expected to give us better administration of
our common affairs that is to say, better streets,
more light and a clearer atmosphere, more eff
Gent Police and Fire departments, and taxes
lower in proportion to the comfort and security
which they procure. On this point nobody has
produced or perhaps can now produce salts
factory evidence. 1t is for the consideration
of these and kindred details that time is needed.
We arc glad to have the scheme so far matured
as to make it capable Of intelligent and in
structive discussion and because that is our
feeling in the matter we should profoundly re-
greet hasty action at Albany. This is question
which ought to be decided by popular vote, and
not by legislative enactment