The sun., 1892-01-20

The Greater New York.
Tho bill prepared by the Consolidation
Commission with reference to the union Of
communities about this harbor into single
great municipality is one Of the most i'm
portant measures which will engage the de-
liberation Of the present Legislature.
The territory which the Commission
would have included in the Greater New
York. and for which the bill directs 1t to re-
port general plan of consolidation and
government. comprises the city Of New
York. the counties Of Kings and Richmond.
and portions OF the counties OF Westchester
and Queens. Naturally. OF course. the
thickly populated counties along the New
Jersey shore Of our harbor are also parts OF
this great metropolitan district. but the
division OF State jurisdiction presents an
obstacle to their joining in the proposed
consolidation which Is not removable for
the present at least. II. indeed. 1t can be
overcome at any future time. Nothing
stands In the way OF the consolidation OF
the rest. II the Inhabitants desire it and II
the Legislature grants their wish.
The bill. accordingly. directs the Commits
sion to report bill for the submission Of
the question OF consolidation to vote Of
the people OF the several communities.
This will enable the Legislature to ascer-
tain the popular will as to the matter.
and II the decision ia favorable to the
scheme. the union will follow as an inevita-
BILE consequence. Practically. therefore. the
measure simply describes the territory
which the proposed consolidation would
effect. prepares for basis OF union. and
turns the whole project over to the mil
lions concerned. to DO by them accepted or
rejected after a full consideration OF all the
questions involved.
Nothing could be fairer than that and
more consistent with our theory OF govern
ment. The bill does not commit the Legis-
lature to the consolidation OF these cities.
but it grants to their Inhabitants a rightful
opportunity to say whether they wish to
come together or to remain under their
present divided municipal administra-
ton. Instead OF few men at Albany
settling the question. 1t will be de-
cided by all the voters OF New York.
Brooklyn. Staten Island. and the West
chester and Queens towns comprised in the
area described. II the majority is against
the proposition. that Is the end Of it. 80 far
as this generation is concerned. II the ma
jority in its favor Is small the Legislature
might be justified in putting Off the execu-
tion OF the plan; but II 1t Is as great as we
have no doubt 1t will be. the Legislature
cannot disobey the popular command.
The opponents Of consolidation will have
their chance before the people: and thus
the question will be removed from Albany
to be settled here in accordance with tho
sound principle Of home rule. II the argu-
ments against union are sound and unan-
swerabe. they will be no less effective in
New York and Brooklyn than at Albany. 1t
Is a practical question involving the inter-
ests Of everybody in the communities con.
cerned. and it will be decided equitably and
judiciously by popular suffrage. The popu-
lar view will be larger and broader than the
legislative.
The bill ought. therefore. to pass the
Legislature without undue delay. II any
members from this vicinity should under
take to put obstruction In its way. they
would thereby confess that they were afraid
that In their opposition to the scheme they
would exhibit their short-sightedness. for
II the magnificent municipality Of the
Greater New York is formed. the conse-
quence OF every representative Of its dig
nifty and power will be enhanced. and the
political influence Of each and every part Of
the consolidated community will be in
creased and extended. as compared with
what it is now under arbitrary. unnecessary,
Illogical. and Improbable division.