New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-11-15
CONSULTATIONS PLANS.

CONSOLIDATION PLANS.
President Andrew H. Green's explanations OF
the work 10 be undertaken by the Greater New
York Commission are characterized by wise
conservatism. He does not undcrratc the tech
meal difficulties of uniting many governments
now existing under divers conditions but he
indicates the general method by when coh-
solidation NAV be effected with dcliberation
and with comparatively little disturbance. ne
outlines a skeleton act by which municipalities
and towns may be declared to constitute one
city. with a single executive head ana Nero
politan legislative body representing every as
trict and armed with jurisdiction over the whole
area When the unit or system OF representa-
ton is once obtained. this portion OF the pan
will present few difficulties. Upon a ground
work Of that kind President Green would base
all structural arrangements for unncatloh oil
administration, beginning with the fohce ana
Health departments. and retaining all eXistlhG
forms of government until the machinery can
be supplied for the extension OF jurisdiction
over the whole area.
The objection may he raised that under such
n dcclaratorv act Greater New-Iork would ne
mainly a geographical expression for unihca-
ton 10 be worked out tentatively by process
of evolution. Even so ii would not De more
anomalous than London with It's population OF
j. 100000 and its area Of 100 square mics OK
tending into four counties. The only part "l
London which has coherent and logical system
of government is an inncrmost circle OF one
square mile with a sleeping population OF
! 10000 That little city in the heart OF "ha'
NAV well be described as the nation of London
has its Lord Mayor its three corporate assem-
blies its courts. its own police ana IA dcilhl'civ
organized government. Outside that narrow
circle confusion regns and government Is anon
alous The metropolitan police is under the
direct control Of the Home Secretary. but lis
jurisdiction does not correspond In area To 'hat
of the Board of Works elected by tie vestrlcs
and district boards nor 10 that OF the LONDON
! School Board nor ~ that Of the Asylulns Board
| London to-day is hardly more than a geograph-
| zeal expression. and even then not an accurate
| one since the area Of the metropolis Is dher-
emily defined in successive acts Of Parliament.
The anomalies of London government. clearly
recognized in England as an intolerable evil.
will not Justify their reproduction In the govern
mcnt of Greater New-York COnsodatiOnistS
| here have the privilege Of beginning where
municipal reformers there aspire some day To end
their work If they start with a definite metro
nolitan area a Mayor and Il single legislative
body. Greater Ncw-Yorl will not be geo
/ graphical expression. but municipal entity
| with unity Of organization unknown in Greater
/ London. Il they succeed in extending over the
whole area the jurisdiction of homogeneous pc
| lice health. public works, fire dock. school and
financial administration. they will accomplish
what has not yet been done in Greater London
with the exception Of public works and schools.
/ The magnitude of the work is immense, but
when The great departments Of administration
T have been united and the common municipal
/ legislature established. all that remains is sim
ply a matter of time and detail The existing
arrangements for county government, shoriis.
/ registers srlrrogatcs and courts would not have
/ 10 he changed apart from legislation for the
/ abolition Of fees and pcrquiSitcS Of lucrative
Offices and the revision Of the salary lists.
/ II is not our purpose 10 minimize the diff
culics Of constellation nor to approve in al
/ vance and in the dark The plans which the Com
/ mission is now preparing for submission 10 the
/ LEGISLATURE. We only desire 10 commend the
conservative spirit displayed by President
Green. and to bcspcak for the projected schcm"
of legislation tolerant criticism and enlightened
public Judgment The metropolitan districts.
with a few minor exceptions. have voted 'cnia
lively for consolidation. some by large and
others by small ma ioriics. The project has
received popular sanction AZ broad gcncraliza-
ton. and the Commission is now entitled to
have fair field for celebrating the scheme in
detail The most pcrplcxing and difficult prob
lem which it will be called upon to solv" Is
that of the financial administration. involving
as it will necessarily unfcation OF public in
dcb,cdrcss and redistribution Of taxpayers ha
bilitcS II is AT that point that the 'ommis-
sion may expect 10 encounter the greatest re-
sis,ancc to any scheme Of legislation for Greater
/ New-York