New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-03-09
FOR NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
ppooKLYN MEN ARGUE FOR CONSOLlDA
TON
REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS URGE THE LEGIs
LATURE TO ALLOW THE PEOPLE TO VOTE
ON THE QUESTION.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE IRIBUSE.l

IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE
A,hanv March s.-Not since the time when the
ueope OF Brooklyn sent the delegation OF several
hundred representative citizens up here TO ask the
legislature to pass the bill allowing the construction
~ another bridge the East River have there
h.sn so many men Of that city in Albany there
vere to-day. A year ago they came here to ask the
LEGISLATURE to unite the two cities by bridge. but
today they TO ask re Legislature TO allow the
reope Of the two cities. well those OF the out
wing towns In Kings ard Queens Counties. to say
vhether or not they want to become part OF the
metropolis, the Greater NewYork
special train brought the men who came to argue
for the extension Of the lines Of the city OF New
York 10 take In Brooklyn, part OF Kings and Queens
Counties and westchester County. They on
their breasts large blue badges which told what they
vsre after. In order that the ground would not
have to be gone over twice. the two Committees on
cities those OF the Senate and the Assembly, decided
N sit together to hear the arguments at the same
lime The hearing Eas had IN the Senate Chamber,
and large is that handsome room. 1t was not
large enough to accommodate all who hand,
dther to be heard or to hear Andrew II. Green.
the president Of the Consolidation Commission, the
first speaker. lie said In part:
1 shall wish any detailed comment upon the al
ntaae material and sentimental that combine 70 render
this subject the important that is today before the
State and. there others from various localities
interested who will have somewhat to say. l shall oc.
emmy but few moments with brief review Of the
measure and upon chief profits Of bill. In 1873
on act was passed add three towns-Fordham, West
Farms and MOrrisana-to the city of NewYork 1t was
admitted OF the people Of both the city and
towns and adopted within the area o. those
towns has heard after twenty years experience OF
the accruing benefits TO question It's wisdom. At that
time proposed to comprehend In the greater city
substantially the same area that described in the
nrs section Of the bill before the joint committee Some
few large property in tie OF Westchestcr
objected, and the Bronx River. marrow. sinuous and
shallow stream, made the eastery limit Of
the city a most absurd and indefensible boundary.
The commissio whose bill is before YOU was ap
pointed by authority OF oct passed In that year
IL was made up tic popular home'rue principe'
Every municipality has its representative on IT, New
York has one member appointed by the Mayor OF that
city Brooklyn member appointed by its Mayor.
Kings Queens Westchester and Richmond counties have
each one member. The State OF New.York has four
members appointed by Governor and confirmed by the
Senate and the Martin Schenck, the State Engineer
and Surveyor is BY the law made member, and very
intelligent useful member he has been and Is The
commission has been work for nearly three years. All
sides and all interests are fully represented
william ]. Gaynor followed Mr.. Green. lie SAID
In part:
The delegation with which come before you repre-
sents large majority Of the people OF Brooklyn say
this without hesitation, and call upon you now to witness
that leave event, in the future 70 verify It,
d. not wish dispel the illusion 10 the contrary which
sems 10 exist In few individuals in Brooklyn who stand
only and dishonest government there and LOT inc
tase principle Of running public affairs for private gam
FIRST the public veal second-f indeed inc a''ef
motive tc ever them AZ all Putsrch tells
MS of that Asiatc monarch Who when he from his
camp the approaching army Of the Roman general sac
In that they too many for Ambassadors put
TOO for soldiers. AS his vanity was only dipeieo
IN the shock Of battle, willing that 1t shall DC
with those who now make light OF the number and
moral strength OF people in brooklyn who demand
intelligent honest prudent local government and at
the same tire and for like reasons favor this DILL
The people Of Brooklyn demand not only the position
they are entitled and parcel oil the great pcpu
leon which Nations gateway, but also their
Just share public and advantages derived
from the and conditions which they help TO create
The union OF the cities a uniform system OF TAX
alton would make just distribution Of the expenses oil
would make the yoke of government easy
and its burden light. In Brooklyn now they are poth
railing in the Taxation in Brooklyn Is much
more than double what IL is In Newly CITY. When
erss said this in Brooklyn newspapers there were
disposed question It's accuracy but they had 10 become
silent the topic in ohe face OF the actual hsues' "
the actual figures bills speak In New-forK
as is well known improved real estate is valued for
taxation at not to exceed so per cent
of its sale value. 1t has been Oh
fcially established and announced by the State
Board OF that IL is valued at only az pei
cent but desiring follow the rule OF never oversta'he
ones own side OF an argument undertaking the
pose side, place 1t at so cent The rate OF taNa
ton in New-York City is only 81 30 In the huhurei
BROOKLYN. other hand, DOth inc
the much higher Improved real estate there Is
valued at 20 pcG value. and the average
rate Of taxation Is - II the hundred or let us say
g. Is for convenience in figuring. The result Of 'heSe
figures in actual tax bills is easily obtained IL Is
mere matter OF multiplication. Take any piece OF I'M
proved zeal estate In City worth 10000, and
any improved parcel Of equal value in brooklyn 80 That
could be evenly exchanged for the other. In
NewYork city the assessing officers place piece OF tho'
value on the rolls at $1,000 namely. at 30 pea
cent OF its sale value The rate decimal OF taxation
being only 81 S. the simple process OF multiplying
value by the rate makes the tax az o. In
Brooklyn the place piece OF the same value
on the tax rolls $1,000 that is 10 sly, no
20 per cent Of the sale value. The sGte
being 81 49, the tax Is s192 so against the NewYok
tax Of only s92 50-an exces. Of 800. New
York for the current tax year has upon it'
rolls valued for Il give the round
ngure 81 500 600 and personal estate valued at
e323 00O 600 while Brooklyn has only s6G 1000 IN
and ell 900 COO in personal estate. To sum.
marize the total taxable valuation is III S0OOOOC0 IN
NewYork City, but ely s377 900 900 in Brooklyn That
say aggregate valuation in NcwYork City on the
basis Of 80 per OF sale values which have mentioned
BEFORE is about four times the aggregate valuation Ia
Brooklyn like basis Of 20 per cent. And let II be
noted that these figures do not Include the m1ny millions
worth Of dock property owned BY the city OF Newly orS
nom which she derives several millions annually In
rentals TO 60 further in the contrast even on their
unequal basis Of fixing taxable values municipal debt
Of 100000 900 In NewYork City would be relatively
about the OF 3JO,OVoOVO IN bioohi!h. H"u
when great OF improved real estate In New
York Is considered including that which the city itee
is deult fgnre out that Brooklyn debt 'i
only s25 900 900 would be large. relatively as New
York debt 1900 o00o0o each being based on actual
values. In fact however the actual debt Of New-Yok
City Is not than double that OF Brooklyn, they
being respectively round figures sos 10000 and $40
100000 deducting the sinking fund In each case Each
city prohibited by the state Constitution from mourning
Indebtedness exceeding 10 per cent of its assessed vaua
tons excont for water s,ppy. Brooklyn Its valuation
10 Der cent is within IL 100000 Of the limit In the
ease Of New. York on q valuation OF so per cent the
limit sight In prospect; II Is not wi'hln
$4,000 900 Of being reached On ~ per ccht VALUATION
II 10 not within 500, 000.0 COO
At the risk Of the adverse criticism OF every one In
Brooklyn who does think. only thinks little and
yet thinks thinks much, and OF every one binded
b The propensity snail not call local patriotism.
mt do.ir IN say snuarcX that the Is.