New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-12
TuAT BROOKLYN TALKS OF.
.oprcs OF GENERAL INTEREST IN THE
METROPOLIS OF LONG ISLAND.


m,ssion in reporting bill for the union Of New
" prooklyn and so forth, and sending 1t TO the
,ss,sture does not indicate that Brooklyn IS to be-
nc constituent part of New-York without so
neh as "by your leave' Even the passage OF tho
~ that was agreed upon last Monday would not mean
a. what does the bill provide Ii simply au-
ror,es the existing commission in case the measure
s.aones a law "t0 prepare and submit 10 the Leis-
anne charter for the Incorporation, government and
ADMINISTRATION" of certain city which IS to comprise
xrw-York Kings County, Richmond County and por-
inns of Westchester and Queens counties. Should au-
.orty to prepare such charter be conferred on the
commission the charter itself would have 10 be APP
uroyed by another Legislature. SO 1t is evident tat
there is going to be snap judgment In the case
Really there is prospect that the bill sent 10 Albany
last week win become law at this session. Whcn IL
comes up for discussion, the wisest thing would be
10 propose an amendment submitting the question OF
consolidation TO popular vote In the cities, towns ana
country districts concerned. What may be terlnea
plebisoite ought 10 be taken preliminary 10 any
other action. For this is question TO be decided not
on the whim OF few individuals, nor even IN ac-
cordance with the unanimous desire OF New-forA Guy
10 enlarge its population II is question for BROOK
lyn and Staten Island and Long Island City and the rest
TO decide for themselves. There must ana VIII be no
compulsory consolidation The matter one TO be settled
by popular vote and a popular vote would be pre-
coded by popular discussion that would make the merits
OF the whole question plain few people nave MADE
I'D their minds in flavor Of the scheme. The feeling OF
the great majority is doubtless fairly expressed by
Mr. Curtis In the good-humOrea but effective letter
which he sent TO the Commission on Monday The ad-
yantages of consolidation are loudly talked Of by It's
advocates Let us know precisely what those aa.
vantages are and wherein to benefit by becom
ipg part of Greater New-York."
II must be gratifying to Mr. Stranahan to knew that
be is not tho only in Brooklyn TO favor the alb
sorpton plan He has an ally In General slocum, the
only of tho dozen prominent citizens who accepted
the Commissions invitation TO appear before 1t last
Monday. supervisorat-Large Kretzschmar, though he
did not accept the invitation in person. practically did
so by sending letter in which he took directly the
opposite Wow. DR.. Kretzschmar's argument deserves
careful Consideration by the people of Brooklyn He
sets forth the facts with ucidiy and convincing force
His collation. Of the figures showing the comparative
growth of NewYork and Brooklyn would seem 10 lend
force to the contention of those enthusiasts who predict
that in time Brooklyn will be able to absorb New
York Wholesale consolidation is hardly possibility
of the near future. 1t will doubtless be a gradual
process. Brooklyn few years ago took in the town
of New-LOts and last year there earnest move
mont for the consolidation Of Flabush with the city.
The four remaining towns viii in the Of time
become city wards, and probably will be parts Of
Brooklyn before they part Of NewYork In fact,
their absorption is much more important question to
Brooklyn than the question of the citys consolidation
with the metropolis.
II curious how many mistakes have been made in
the course of the Eastern District bridge discussion re
earding the nsme of the ferry company which made
the strongest opposition to the Brett BILL The blum
der occurred more than in the Albany dispatches
where, perhaps, it the result Of haste. In the
more deliberate correspondence of Boston paper how
ever find the statement that the Union Ferry Com
pany, newly organized and powerful said no." 1t is
true that the Union Ferry Company was recently re-
organized but its interest in the bridge scheme was
hardly greater than that of the company which runs
ferryboats between Philadelphia and Camden. Brook
lyntcs do not need TO be told that the Union Ferry
Company's lines are all in the western part of the
city, and that Mr.. ODonOhues company which con-
trolls the Eastern District ferries IS the NewYork Ferry
Company.
No fault is 10 be found with Police Commissioner
Hayden's disposition of the charge against Overton,
the first colored member of the force His offence
not grave one and he was let off with reprimand
0verton was in civilian dress on Sunday fortnight
AGO when he saw a saloon door open and another
policeman come out. He dd not undertake 10 arrest
the saloon keeper because he the other officer there
and was In doubt what to do SO he simply reported the
facts to tho police station The result was charges
against both himself and the other policeman The
trial OF the latter was not finished but 1t looks as If
he was in a bad box. OvertOn would not have es-
caped so easily had he been man Of more experience,
and he probably be counted on not to repeat Ills
mistake. He made decidedly good impression when
before the Commissioner Thus far he has borne him
self in manly way and excepting this one slight slip
has done his duty satisfactorily The absurd boycott
AGAINST him has been ended by the peremptOry order
TO the men who refused for time to sleep In the
same room with him that they must occupy thelr
usual Quarters overtons conduct is making the way
clear for other negroes to become policemen provided
they wish TO do so and can pass the necessary ex-
animation.
Among the permits lately issued for the erection Of
new buildings was the following On the west side OF
Marcy-ave, bounded by Madison-st and Putnam
ave.. a four-story brick schoolhouse, l33xloo Inc
city of Brooklyn, owner cost, 100000 ms Is inc
new High school for BOYS, which was deciuea upon
some time ago The situation is an excellent one, the
site having formerly been the private grounds OF ex-
Supervisor AtwateFs house. 1t is about quarter OF
mile from the High School for Girls In Nostano-aVe'
and hle not directly line. 1t has the superior
location The excavation for the building was COM
pleted recently, and the walls may be expected 70 rise
,apdIy The school will stand In the midst Oh the
rapdly growing section which includes the Twenty
third and Twenty-ffth Wards, and win be as central
taking the city as whole could reasonably be eX-
pected.
Mayor Chaplin has little to say in regard to the
trolley as the result Of his visit TO Boston, but
1t is evident that the hlends OF the troiey @ie
in no way discouraged by his attitude, which Is
simply non-commttal Meanwhile Mr.. Richardson
Of The Atlantic Avenue Company has applied to
the Railroad Committee Of the Aldermen for hearing
On his application for permission TO substitute cleo
ticity for horsepower his several roads. lie en-
gagged in an eloquent argument at the City Hail. on
Thursday, in favor of the trolley, and was greatly
astonshed to lind when he had finished that among his
hearers were three members Of the Board Of Alder
men AT least he seemed to DO greatly surprised but
there those who think that the Deacon has ost
none Of the foxness of his character since the time
when he was hailed before a church board TO answer
charges Of ungodly walk and converSation--or some
thing to that eechis offence having been an attempt
to accomplish purely worldly ends by laying certain
car tracks on Sunday. Recently Mr.. Richardson
threatened to leave the question of change in the
motive power on his railroads to the state Railroad
Commissioners but evidently he has thought better Of
!. ~ has aaciAed n for