New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-03

MEMORIAL or THE COMMISSIONERS.
POINTING OUT TO THE LEGISLATURE THE NEED
OF EARLY AcTIoN-COMpLEX PROB

POINTING OUT 10 THE LEGISLATURE HE Ni'ND
OF EARLY AcrIoN-coMpLEX PROB
LENS STUDIED.
s,ocial messenger Yesterday carried 10 the
! Legislature memorial from the Greater new"
York Commission showing that In the ias' i've
wears the Commissioners have given H'uVh '''
! and attention 10 the task assigned theh' II 10
shown that in the total vote on consolidation !"
! New York. Kings Queens and Richmond couhues
and tho towns of East Chester. West Chester ana
Pelham there was a majority OF HISS IN FAVOR vi
consolidation In considering the question: IN
Commissioners had many complex AFFAIRS 10 s'""''
such as the amount Of State taxes oil each cum
munity the population. percentage oil asSeSsV" W
actual value as shown by state Assessors ioi
,eo9 the assessed value OF real estate for 1898 the
assessed value of personal estate the area ana ihe
debt of each 80
The memorial says in part AS things now are
counties towns. Incorporated villages sch"o' "''
tricts officers and boards. with their VaIeu Po"V
and duties wheels within wheels. issue 'he,'
mandates contract debts devise and execute each
its own plans. Were this coinphca'eu 'o""'
confined to the preservation OF order anu pea
and TO affairs not involving physical uhue' 'dNss'
the untoward consequences might pass away Wv"
the lapse of time, leaving no traces o'ne' IMAM
great expense and discomfort. When ho"e'e'' "
comes about that the numerous agencies enipio'eu
IN this confused condition are applied TO- ana ACT
upon material works ii will readily De seen ''a'
the results becoming fixed. are projected iii'o Wv
future with continuous cost ana dscoiiiio'. "
succeeding generations. To fuse these muit,i''ou'
movers duties and Notwithstanding, as they uo'
-, or,oriences the necessities the nearest in
,orasts ~ three millions Of people-into unit Oh
governmental care and control is a task OF 10
ordinary dimensions The suspension or ois'u'o
ance OF the varied machinery OF ADMINISTRATOR
now operating within the area to be uAi'ca ui'i
other agencies are provided will Inevitably Drins
and
ing consequences. To provide then, the methods
and means for the transfer from existing cohul-
TONS complicated they are, TO those more SIM
pie and direct without shock or injustice or INJURY
to persons or property. there may well be employer
the utmost forecast the widest experience ana the
most conscientious and panstaking application
DETAILS TO BE WORKED OUT LATER
While the Commissioners would gladly see TINS
transition promptly effected they are Of the opin-
ion that the details involved in the transfer so far
as they affect the tenure OF existing officials their
emoluments and the scope OF their duties shouiu
be left to be worked out without disturbance as
time brings fitting opportunity as the Legislature
may direct and as considerations OF prudence ana
prot lection of public and private interests dictate
What is at present proposed is the enactment OF
simple declaration by the law-making au'hor'S
that the territory concerned. It's people ana i's
property shall thereafter be one city uhder one
government with one destiny and the Dill mere
with submitted to the legislature IL i'"i'eN j."
consonance with these views
That the administration Of the affairs OF the
enlarged city should be continued under the same
corporate name THE Mayor. Aldermen ana COM
monalty of the City OF New-York. seems TOO ciear
TO admit OF serious discussion
The Indebtedness Of the divisions proposed 10 De
united differs widely as does the rate Of taxation
and the percentage that the valuation for taxation
bears to actual value. In the city OF Sew oiA,
the debt of the city and county are pracueaiIy me
md ]
maturity and rate Of interest II Is one dep. anu
rate OF taxation and one standard for valuation IN
Brooklyn is very different There are some IoIS
odd rates Of taxation each higher than that OF New
ynrlt and there exist both county and a city
debt Compared with the simpler CONDITION OF ..ew
York this Is confusing; and II would seem that the
sooner that situation is simplihed, the better 1t
would be. :, {, 70 ,ar,, ohv,ous
,hat tbe existing diversity in the financial affairs
of the various municipalities cannot at once be re-
Il also must be left be adjusted by time and the
equitable provisions OF future egsaoh ana anl ~
the greater city but one standard OF v1luauon icr
taxation one equal rate Of taxation ana one oeo'-
contracting authority only. shall exist
NO INsURMOUNTABLE OBSTACLE
There appears to be no insurmountable obstacle
to the vivifying of the framework OF the proposed
| unidcaton by the immediate setting In motion OF
| the executive departments Of Police and Health
| The appropriate functions Of these two bodies
which are to be exercised in the common field are
admittedly essential for ALL and, in the interest Oh
| all can be neglected in Should your hon
| orable body deem it wise TO put these particular
! of Comnissioners of Police and OF Health. with
Jurisdiction the whole Of the greater cry
Mayors of the two principal cities. with the pro
vision that such OF the suhordinetes OF ihess com
cities should for the present be made upon the
nomination of the. existing authorities of these
II is perhaps as well 10 call TO mind the fact that
I the Commission that has for nearly five been
| devOf a
of the home-rule idea The state the parent OF al
Commission the state Engineer and Surveyor and
a representation Of six members appoin, 81 by the
has its represenatve designated by their respective
| Mayors; and the counties OF Kings Queens Rich
designated by their respective boards of SUPER
| visors so that the Commission IL distinctly repre-
sentative of the various localities.
BASIS OF LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT
The Commissioners are also Of the opinion = at
| among the earliest and most essential movements
for administration of the contemplated unicn 81 oud
be the constituting Of elective local legislative
body with ADEQUATE powers and sway to give to i
and only permanent basis Of local seif-government-
| In this body the elected representatives Of each
locality should have large voice in the determine
ton Of the improvements to be made ana ana th'
preserving local influence Win ultimate Iasa eeni IA
ministrative details when its intervention is no
necessary and the local representatives, lntrustec
with such duties as they can conveniently aus
charge care being taken to respect the natura
desire of the citizens OF various localities for th
preservation of memorials OF historic achievement
and local traditions Every year that passes bring
with it Complications. fixes those existing NOR
firmly greatly Increasing the obstacles 70 union
while rendering its desirabty more manifest
The work Of consolidation by the London authorl
ties is explained With the memorial was the bii
introduced by Senator Lexow yesterday
TALK WITH ANDREW H. GREEN.
Andrew II. Green. the president OF the Create
New-York Commission. was seen yesterday aiter