New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-15
THE CONSOLIDATION QUESTION.

The people Of the metropolitan districts We're
asked to express an opinion last November re-
spect.ng the uniticatiOn Of the municipalities
clustered about \ew-York uarDor. There had
been an organized movement in favor Of con
solidation conducted for five years under UNI
favorable conditions. and the electors were final
IL asked TO make known their wishes. They
were required to declare by ye0-and-nay vote
whether or not they wanted to have the cities
united BY a decisive majority of the vote of the
entire METROPOLITAN area consolidation was car
rieG. The Legislature was armed by the electors
OF New-York and Brooklyn with direct man
date from the communities most deeply con
cerned to take up this policy and do something
with it. Fifteen weeks have passed since the
year opened and nothing has been done
In consequence of this naction on the part OF
the Legislature the enemies of consolidation nave
been bestirring themselves in Brooklyn. petitions
against municipal union have been extensively
signed, and there is an arrogant demand thal
nothing shall be done until the electors can have
another chance 10 vote upon the abstract qncs-
ton The referendum principle will be reduced
to absurtiity if direct answer from the people
to a plain and ineligible question be not ac-
cepted as conclusive Until last November II
was an open question whether or not the cities
wanted consolidation When a large majority or
the electors voting upon it said distinctly mat
they favored it, that matter was settled III Is
now too late for loyal leagues and obstruciionsis
in BROOKLYN to assert that the people did not I'M
derstand the question. or that they have changed
their minds There is no longer any question
relating TO the general policy OF constellation
The people have voted upon it and declared IN
mistakably that they want IT, The Legislature
Is under moral obligations to respect what Is
nothing less than popular command to bring
about the union Of the municipalities
II is no longer a question of general policy but
nnlv of WAYS and means method and detail.
Governor Morton in his first message 10 IN"
LEGISLATURE and ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS SaHton In
his opening speech 10 the Senate recognized ana
emphasized the importance Of speedy action upon
this ouestion The Consolidation Commission
introduced a bin providing for setting in opera
| ton the process of consolidation and carrying
| into effect the will Of the people Of the commune
ties vitality interested in the question. There has
| also been presented an alternative scheme pre-
| yiding for new commission and The rc>ubiniS
| sion of the entire question TO the people" lh're
| have been exhaustive hearings before The Sen
| ate committee, the last Of which took place siN
weeks ago. The bills have been hung up In the
committee the session is drawing 10 a close ana
| nothing has been done. The enemies OF conSoh
dalton in Brooklyn are already gloatirg over The
fact that the Greater New-York scheme has been
indefinitely postponed.
Now there Is no good reason for this legislative
inaction and delay There can be no valid excuse
| for neglect TO obey the will Of the people. The
| original bill should be reported at once with an
| amendment charging the Commission, 50 * IL
make it Il thoroughly representative body win
new men in ii TO be appointed by Mayor Strong
| and Mayor Schicrcn. This will be a reasonable
satisfactory compromise. The passage Of the bil
| will bring about consolidation Immediately AZ a
| declaratvc act without disturbing the existing
| arrangements for governing III" metropolitan
| districts All the details for carrying out III,
scheme can then b" reserved for The fulur" action
! Of the enlarged Commission and the Legislature
| This is the only result that can be accomplished
| at the present session. and il will be In direct
| obedience - the definitely stated wishes of The
people who have declared uncquyocally In favor
| Of consolidation.