The sun., 1895-01-20
THE GREATER NEW YORK.

THE GREATER NEW FORK.
Problems Involved In Preparing n Charter
for the Consolidated city.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir: 1t seems
highly probable that at no distant day Greater
New York will have become accomplished
fact. 1t has been decided upon by the votes OF
majority Of the people. Various questions re-
garding the steps yet to be taken now como to
the front and promise to give active and imme-
diate employment to the best and most ex-
perienced minds among our public men. Ger
tainly prudence and full consideration of all
the questions involved. without reference to
party politics or personal ambitions. are impera-
lively demanded. To govern u city of more
than three millions Of people by popular suf-
frage has never yet been attempted; there is
nothing to guide our steps in any experience of
the Old World and very little in our own history
to enighten our councils.
Among the questions which must have an
early decision is this Shall we go little slow
in the matter or shall we hurry up2 Under the
new Constitution. which requires municipal
officers to be chosen in odd years, 1t is claimed
that Mayor Strong's term of ofilceis three years.
This Is probably correct, and Brooklyn, under
existing laws. will next fall choose Mayor for
two years. with strong indications that Mayor
Schieren will succeed himself. Under these
circumstances new Ork anu brOOklyn Will
have Republican Mayors till January.
1897. II is claimed. also. that official
courtesy will initiate against superseding these
two Mayors till their terms of office shall have
expired; and, even II this claim shall not be al
can Legislature will deprive Republican Mayors
of the two greatest cities of their offices till after
very YER poor politics for them to do SO, and nobody
will claim that there is any such urgency in the
business as TO demand what would seem from
al Ia In "a sO ThRrafnrp
may be safely assumed that Greater New York
will not be a fat dccompli before Jan. l, 1898.
Another question that Is now very prominent
is this: Can existing autonomies be maintained,
and, il SO. to what extentf Prominent citizens
under the possibility that the Roodly name of
that goodly city may be wholly obliterated. Is
pie who voted for consolidation wanted il more in
name than in fact, and believed that the Greater
autonomies, with only few OF their powers
transferred to central city government. II
ordinate % en to Sssee the central 0t city anu authorI
ties there may o, be sundry yosIn mIuniGlpalities
functions NJ ' in a manner more in accordance with
local feeling ahd needs than could be done by a
s IN hePe
politan Police Department was in existence
fourteen or fifteen years, Two of its Commis-
living. living they TeyJJ are j. S. T. stranahan and Thomas
G. Acton. They can tell you, what Is true, that
integrity; yet it was unpopular, even among
Republicans twhose machine 1t was, TO some ex-
tent. and when it went down, as 1t did early in
the 70s, it was
Unwept, unhonored. and unsung.
This fact will admonish the more experienced
be pushed SO rapidly as to provoke reaction
that may have untOward results. Yet the law
existing autonomies can be maintained. while
conceding 10 the central city government all the
y really need to say pohnE Tnrd Of
pality of Manhattan, covering the present city
OF New York below the Harlem River; the mu-
nicipality of FOrdham. covering that part OF the
city OF New York above the Harlem River. and
such portions OF the county OF Westchester as
tora. covering Long Island City and such other
portions of Queens comfy hs may be annexed
ering Brooklyn and Kings county, to which
may be added the municlPaiity OF Richmond; II
for which. however, there seems to be no ade-
European cities offer no practical model upon
can be organized. Paris Is divided into twenty
o ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS each OF which has m % sort OF
9 semi-iudicial character, not unlike our Civil
Justices; Tie IL prnciPal affairs OF thG city are
ficer appointed by the French national Govern
ment; London is divided into one hundred
what diminished OF late. The Police Depart
direct % control cont % OF the Ministry of Of % the British
empire. The genius or our institutions, as well
thing after the manner OF either Paris or T London,
but doubtless the Governor of the State will con-
OF ali cities, not only through the power OF re-
moving Mayors and other city officers for cause,
which the Constitution and laws now confer
thority over the SherftS OF the several counties
over which the consolidated city will extend, to
say nothing OF his command OF the militia. IL
may also be well 10 remind those who are timid
about the preservation OF public order among
such large and heterogeneous population, that
il future Presidents shall follow the precedent
set by Cleveland in the case or the Pullman
strike and Debs's course at Chicago last summer
the regular army OF the United States may DO
called into action on an emergency.
The present Commissioners on the c9nsoll,
dated city, who have successfully conducted
the business 10 Its present stage, VIII claim mo
right To draw up the act OF consolidation to DO
presented 10 the Legislature. Andrew n: Green
once Comptroller OF this city and j: :. I. StTan,
Ahan BrOoklyns first citizen. are the principal
officers Of this Commission. They are ripe "
years, Of large and varied experience, calm anu anu
judicial In temperament, and can have no OBJECT
except TO serve their fellow citizens 10 the very
best OF their capacity. But there are others
is well enough The occasion should call out the
best efforts OF publcists OF all grades Hut the
friends OF consolidation need nave care 0roI OF
posed in some quarters To prepare charler anu
submit IL TO r direct vote OF the people, Now,
simple proposition will object to any charter
that can be drawn, and IL may DO apDrehehueu
that 70 submit charter TO the popnt1r Won
features to find a place In II, as means OF So
curing popular favor, , .t..i., h., |
created TO prepare a charter for the Greater
New York Il shall he = comparatively numerous
body, Ike constitutional c9nhHehion cd9nhHetiuS wor
fully. BE this us IL may, however, narrow, |
partisan spirit must he carefully avolded.
Those who attempt II will he oTerw he lined with |
public indignation, and bring upon themselves
MENBER 0T rus LATE CoSsTITUTIoNAL Con-