New-York tribune., 1895-01-07
MOUNT VERNON LOVE FOR AUTONOMY.

THE OPINIONS OF A DEVOTED AID LOYAL EN-
THUsIAsT FOR SUBURBAN LIFE.
TO the Editor cf The Tribune.
sir: 1t is threatened by the leaders OF tho An
heXation League, whose efforts 10 carry the vote
on "Consolidation with the Greater New-York
were so wOefully beaten by vote of about loo
against about 500. that they intend to bob up
sereneiy when the Legislature meets. In other
words, these whose work for annexation
was controlled solely by selfish motives assume
that 1t is honorable and proper to get the Legis-
lature to do what the people have declared should
not be done-deprive them of the right to control
their own affairs. and force them to be gov
crned by the municipal officials Of New-York
City. with the centre of government sixteen miles
away Sixteen miles to travel each way TO do
jury duty when drawn upon the panel; sixteen
miles each way. thirty-two miles in all, to
travel to pay their taxes. Every argument made
by the annexationsts during the campaign-that
is. lower taxes. lower insurance rates. lower
borrowing rates. better police service. better fire
service. better school system. etc.-was refuted
absolutely by the anti-annexatonists.
Who the leaders In the annexation party?
The principal one is man who has been in every
section of the political Kaleidoscope. excepting the
Prohibitionsts and Socialistc Labor lie
a stanch Republican a few years ago: then he
became a Mugwump; next Democrat. and Is
at present Free Trade Democrat He is an
aspirant for Park Commissioner or civil Jus
tice. under the Greater NewYork" government.
Another strong anncXatonist is principal OF II
Ncw-NOrk school who fears that the ordinance
forbiddng any one to be employed I'm the public
schools of New-York unless he or she Is an actual
resident Of the city will be enforced within the
few months There from dozen TO
sixteen others employed principals or teachers
in New-York city schools who live In Mount
Vernon and who are earnest advocates OF an
neXation. There are few others who have pur-
chased and improved lands for speculative pur-
poses and they feel that if these lots could be
advertised being situated In New-York city
they would bring higher prices. Others are Off
Of Insurance companies or OF banking institu-
tons in New-YOrk City. who think that the
restrictions relative TO loaning money on property
outside OF the city itself affects them. and that
by making Mount Vernon and lonkers a part
OF the Greater Ncw-Y York they would be financially
benefited.
The opponents OF annexation those who
believe that Mount Vernon should preserve It's
autonomy: that II does not need TO go outside
of its limits TO find men who will give II honest
and perfect administrations that the improvements
being made in the avenues and streets OF the
city ought not to be stopped. as was the case
In MerOsc MOrriSana and other parts or the
Annexed District for many years, that tne
money raised by taxation in Mount Vernon should
be used there rather than for building the Harlem
Speedway. the new CIty Hall. and making I'M
provements New-York City water fronts Ihey
are people who love their suburban home life. ana
they outnumber the other class by two TO one.
fact which the Legislature should not lose sight
Of MOI nj NERNoNIIE.
Mount Vernon. y. Y. Dec. 81. 1894.