New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-18
A GREATER NEW-YORK BILL
CONSOLIDATION APPARENTLY TO BE
RUSHED THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE.

lrh'M Iht OF THE TRIBUNE j
Albany Nov. l7-Several of the Republican
senators-elect and Assemblymen-elect who have
been here within the last two or three days have
expressed their astonishment over the agreement
OF Thomas c. Platt and James W. Hinkley. the
chairman Of the Democratic State Committee,
regarding the Greater New-YorS charter 1t is
rare that two political personages belonging to
two different political parties have the same
thought concerning such 4 great measure of leg
islation. one might suspect that they had had
a chat on the subject and that what is some
times termed a deal" had been perfected be-
tween them.
Mr. Platt predicts that the Republican Legls-
lature Of 1896 VIII "dc what the last failed to
do" The last Legislature failed to pass a bill
creating a Greater York Commission to
draw u2 charter for the municipalities it is pro-
posed to consolidate in the metropolitan district,
along the shores Of New-York HarbOr and the
East and North rivers. Mr. Plat then goes on
to say. Yelling his definite plans: II am not In
position to hazard a guess as to just what this
action will be- but that it will be a great stride
forward have no doubt.
MIR HINKLEY'S COOL ASSERTIONS.
Mr.. Hlnkley Is franker. He says: THE char
ter that is to be submitted to the next Legislat-
uie II ALREADY Dclng III Ofbe thd' IL "'"1
be ready at the opening Of the next Legislative
session, so that no time need be lost IN introduc-
ing it. 1t is my opinion that the charter will be
quickly passed"
Mr. Hlnkleys declaration is highly interesting
from one point of view With only fourteen
Democrats out Of fifty members in the Senate,
and with only forty-eight Assemblymen out Of
ore-hundred and fifty members in the Assembly,
ha cpollV talk "A charter for
Greater New-Yor Mr.. HinSley must be think
ing OF making an alliance with certain lRepubli-
cans on this matter. What votes can he give in
aid Of such an alliance, If one exists? Certainly
not any one Of the five votes the Democratic
party has from Long Island. for every one of
these Senator'S Is opposed to a Greater New
York charter unless the people living in the ter
rtory affected by the charter permitted to
vote upon the question Of IT'S acceptance or re-
lection Mr.. Ilnkey. therefore. has no votes
left at his disposal but the nine votes which will
be cast by the Tammany Hall Senator's from
New-York. Not Democratic Senator was
elected north Of the Harlem River.
MIGHT SUSPECT TREACHERY.
II Mr. Hinkley does cast the nine Tammany
Hall votes in the Senate for Greater New
York charter politicians will think there is good
ground for the suspicion that the alleged Rcpub
lican organization ir New-York City controlled
by Edward Lauterbach did not Loyalty support
the Republican candidates at the late election.
but permitted Tammany Hall t. win; and that
Tammany Hall now pays for this aid by casting
its vote in the Senate for the Greater New-York
enactment. in which Mr. Lauterbach has shown
such passionate interest
Politicians suspect that Mr.. Platt intends 10
smuggle into the Greater NewYork bill the COM
ing year some provision oustng Theodore Roose
welt and ali the other members of the present
Board If Police OF New-York and substituting for
the Board OF Police Of New-York and the Brook
lyn Police Commission ? metropolitan Board Of
Police" as a first step toward the consolidation
# the ;wo cities In 1898. Mr. Platts aim in this
respect would be to strengthen his control Of the
machinery Of the Republican party in NewYork
and increase whatever political strength he has
in Brooklyn
THE REFERENDUM CLAUSE.
1t is already apparent that the main struggle
n the Legislature over the Greater NewYork
nil will be whether 1t shall contain a referendum
dause, authorizing the voters Of New-York.
BROOKLYN Long Island City and the remainder OF
the territory included in the proposed Greater
New York to vote upon the question Of accepting
u rejecting the proposed Greater New York char-
erendum, and as consequence the bill was
beaten This year he once more refuses 10 give
his consent to referendum. There is no rea-
SON" he said few days ago, why another vote
should be taken on the question. The people
have already voted OF IT, and that should be
sufficient"
CHANGED CONDITIONS SINCE ELECTION.
Mr. Platt does not seem to consider that an
election has taken place since the Legislature Of
1925 was in session. and that Tammany Hall has
returned to power in NewYork while Brooklyn
has elected a Republican Mayor and other Re
publican city officers. The Republican Senators
and Assemblymen therefore are likely TO consider
the wisdom of submergins the Republican votes
of Brooklyn in the ocean Of Tammany votes in
New York. The Republican taxpayers of Brook
lyn also. in view Of the return OF Tammany Hall
t. the control Of the government Of New-Y ork
with ali its eXtravagant spirit. are likely to pro
test before the Legislature against the c0nsoiida-
tion Of Brooklyn and NewYOrk
The Tammany Hall Senators in the Legislature
= the present year would have favored Greater
bill without referendum. as Mr.
Plat desired but for the necessity. in their point
NJ view. Of getting the votes Of the Brooklyn Dem
ocrats against the New-York Police Reorganiza-
tlon bill.
LAST YEARS VOTE N THE SENATE.
The main contest was in the Senate. Many OF
the Republican Senators were reluctant to vote
for the bill without a referendum amendment.
The referendum was rejected on May 9. 1895, by
the following vote:
Ayes-Ahearn. Bradley. Cantor. Coney. Collins.
Guy. Mcmahon. o Donnel. O'Sullivan. owens. Par
kcr. Reynolds. Rice. sullivan Wolf Wolfert-l6.
Nays-Chiis Coggeshar. Donaldson Higgins
Kiburn. IAmy Lcxow. Muiln. OConnor. Parsons,
Persons. Pound Rdines. Robertson. Smezer, Staple
ton -l6
The Senate then came To vote on the bill and
1cfeate il by Il vote az follows;
Ayes-Chiids. coggeshall. Donaldson. Higgins.
kilburn. LcXow. Mullin, OConnor, Parsons Pound,
Ralnes Robertson. Smcizer Stapleton-i4.
Nays -Ahcarn. Bradley. Cantor Coney. Collins.
;uy Mcmahon ODonnel. OSuvan. owens.
ia arlor. Rice Sullivan. Wolf. Wolfert-l5.
/; will be perceived that Democrats ard the
Brooklyn Republicans voted unanimously
against the bill. They did go because il did not
contain the referendum amendment. The two
Buffalo Republican Senator'S neglected 10 vote.
II did not vote" said Senator Persons. one OF
them. because | do not believe that the Repub-
lean city Of Brooklyn should be merged with the
D.mncratic CITY Of Now York" Senator Lamy.