New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-02

said he protested against any action being taken
by the Committee or Legislature on the OASIS OF
the vote of 1894. An expression OF the opinion or
the people Of Brooklyn should not be taken 1or an
expression Of the will OF the people OF brooklyn.
He continued In this strain: Il am opposed 10
the consolidation Of New-York and Br0oklyn /
don't believe that the people OF New YORK when
would have to rule could do justice to the people
Of Brooklyn at arms length. am convinced that
consolidation would not be TO the advantage OF
either city. l speak as merchant Of New-YoTk'
think committee should be appointed 10 IN
vestigate how far the Greater New-York Com
mission has investigated the opinions Of the citi-
zenS Of cewYork and Brooklyn"
ADDRESS OF Mr.. wIMAN.
In beginning the argument in favor Of con-
solidation, Erastus Wiman said that the union
of New-York Brooklyn and Staten Island would
stop the decline Of commerce at this port. slim
ulate manufactures in the great city and make
ii possible for more workingmen to get homes OF
their All this. he said. would be accom-
plished by the development Of staten lsland as
a railway terminus and the connection or the
island with New-York by a tunnel. Then shps
would be loaded directly from at the staten
Island piers and materials for manufacturing
could be taken to the factories more cheaply.
consolidation" added Mr. Wiman. would de-
velop the west shore of Staten Island and make
1t something like West-st. In New-fork. lie
produced statistics which. he said. showed that
New-York lost in commerce in the last three
years sl26. 000 and that other seaports were
gaining II the decline in the export of grain
continued New-York would soon have grain
trade at all. The development Of the water front
of Staten Island. Mr.. Wiman said. would stem
all these evils and accommodate the traffic when
could not be accommodated In New-York. Mt
Wman dwelt long upon the advantages which
Staten Island offered home to the work
ingman. Mr.. Wimans speech was received with
applause.
VIEWS OF EX-GOVERNOR FLOWER.
The next speaker was Ex-Governor Flower.
He said he in favor OF consolidating New
York and Brooklyn. as great advantages would
flow from it under honest government. He
went on in part: There are enough good citizens
in New-York Brooklyn and Long Island City TO
run this great consolidated city as it ought to
be run, and | think when the consolidation does
take place New-York will be the cheapest city
in the State to live in" The Ex-Governor added
that consolidation would be great benefit TO
the tenement house jewellers. II would give
them a chance to scatter and secure homes all
over Greater New-York The commerce OF the
city would also really be improved If the con-
solidation were effected.
George Thomas. who said he was a working
man and represented the woriingmen OF New
York declared that 1t was Impossible for work
ingman TO get decent home in New-iork AT
present The work:rgman was in favor OF con-
sol!dation. Thomas Winston. from the Liberty
Dawn Hackmens Association made speech
in favor Of consolidation. which would be a
blessing he said. to the workingman. me
hackmen," went Oh, ARE unanimously IN
favor of consolidation. and sooner or later II
will come. Why then not give II to us now
and not wait for a generation longer? j. Is.
Kohler Of the Manhattan Single Tax Club,
made an argument in favor or consohdatioh
from a single-taX point OF view.
Edward +. Linton. OF Brooklyn, one OF me
Commissioners Of Greater New-fork. said
there was a vote in favor of consolidation In
1894 He spoke strongly III favor OF the bill
which he thought. would be an advantage to
both cities.
Thomas Cunning. representing the custom
tailors. and John Bogert who is working
mans organizer also made remarks In favor
of the bill. George J. Greenfield who repre-
sented Richmond County. addressed the com
mittee in favor Of taking Staten Island into
the Greater New-York. He declared there was
no real opposition to including hlcnho"I
County Andrew ii. Green filed number oil
letters with the committee III laNof V' 'o'-
solidation.
Chairman Lexow said. in reply TO an argu-
ment which MIR. Green started to advance ua'
as he understood 1t, there was no argument
aeains. political consolidation without eq"ai
taxation and that the latter point couid ana
would be more fully discussed when the con-
soidation bill OF bills were framed.
Police Commissioner Andrew J. Parker argued
in favor Of equality of taxation, according 20
the views expressed by Senator Crazy. ana
added that those against consolidation on such
terms should frame a bill treating every Ihu
nicipality more fairly, and he had no uoupt
that the LEGISLATURE would accept II.
BENJAMIN f. Romaine's request Tor an au-
4ournment for week 10 enable MIN TO pro-
duce arguments against consolidation win
equal taxation, which was denied by the com
rnjttee in an opinion read by Chairman Lexow
that "inasmuch the ground OF Application Ior
Adjournment is confined to the question or tax
eoualization and values. and as ample oppCr-
tunity will be had for tie discussion OF the SUI
iect after the committee makes its report on
the main proposition. ard. inasmuch as the IN
formation required AMI suggested by those ASK
ing for adjournment. will be procured by the
committee without formal postpohemeh, oi isS
honr,no tho application for weeks adjourn
ment will be denied
senator Brush said ne wished TO be placed on
record as dissenting to the ruling OF the 'ha'i'
as he wished to hear every side
The committee then adjourned.