New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-11

consolidation should be forced upon the people vi
brooklyn other existing mnncipa.y one
have her Identity destroyed without her Own c on
sent The vote of 1894 may have expresseo in, uie
popular sentiment upon this question at that INN
although 1t certainly WAS 80 f1 hindD o force in any
way The only reason for taking II was INA, INA cne
Legislature might be advised as to ho% the fn
UPON the subject But It Is evident that the rea,
Wbat the people wanted in 1884, but what they want
now; and / am convinced from many All man
CITIZENS naf 1e Of BROOKLYN want consolidation: large
majority object to hayns Il imp 9o b pRo' ''e'
This is a very large question. There are many
difficult and delicate problems to be solved IN coi
nection with It, The creation of the second larsest
city in the world calls for the exercise Of very
high degree of patriotism and staesmansnp
that will operate successfully IN SO great CIV n
Certainly the ambitions Of individuals ana me oe
tests Of factions should not enter INTO such "a dnei
ton II seems to that the first thing 70 90 Is
character to construct scheme OF soVernmens io1
this vast municipality and that me a com
yoved in consolidation and frame comprehensive
Then the people of the various localities viii have
some conception OF the situation. ana the hesis-
lature can act upon the ma, nso w which Should
influence Its Judgment 800 $4,000, ..,o.,o,.
The to 2xb the d R a6op'f From o.
them infer that the idea Of governing me grea,ss
city by commissions created Dy the No.
been abandoned. hope I am not drawin =. a
wrong inference for. in my opinion would PEI Se a
and Brooklyn OF OF their powers during th sa
respective terms OF office. There Is no reason ior
such action and no excuse for H. me Ior,ed
I Dtent Ho Of placing IN his hands for nat period
the powers conferred upon Mayors OF their city
bv kissing laws They will not ,amey submit TO
have him stripped of the most important Of these
powers. nor VIII they consent without q vigorous
protest 10 a scheme which distinctly violates every
principle OF home rule Any action OF the KIND on
the part OF the Legislature would arouse ire
mendous feeling. and probably bring about the
most serious results.
BROOKIYN'S JUST DEMAND
! understand tho position taken by vast num-
Der OF Brooklyn people IS that they have right
To know what kind OF municipal government Is to
b. given them under consolidation. before Trey
consent 10 Yield up that which they now have
That desire seems to be entirely reasonable on
their part II seems TO me shat the plan ought TO
Doe worked out In its details before the union is
contaminated II would be far safer and more
satisfactory. In the end II the pending bill could
DE stripped Of everything except tho provision for
a commission to frame charter. First the char
ter and then consolidation by the enactment OF
me charter provided It shall prove TO be salts
factory 10 the people. That IL the logical order
81 events what h the necessity for haste.
pecally since assured that there are to be
no commissioner Nothing can be gained by merely
must surely be nothing hut word until tho
chincry be provided for carving II into effect
SO far rs the political asDects of the case are con
cerncl. agree With you that consolation upon the
r',n proposed viii 40 q serious injury to tn
Republican party. In constructing tho Greater New
York fear We viii aso construct the greater
Tammary AMI mat the bcnehcent government now
intrenrhsi IN brooklyn will be exchanged for some
thing oven wnrsc than city suffered under
during tho reign Of the Willoughby-st dictator As to
'hc effect the pending measure win have upon the
Republican vote IN brooklyn the coming fall. am
not IN a position 10 form anything Ike accurate
Judgment but must confess 10 grave appre-
a.. tnt. 4
future ~ the Renubran party should be entitled 10
little consideration But am not yet salts
Interests Of N" people who are 10 be affected by IT,
II looks very much II the Lexow bin will pass.
although II j. POSSIBLE and probable that. in
the event OF dlsapprovai by the MAYORS of New
Brook yn alone the Legislature will look upon the
matter In different light. have but little know
impressed with the belief that the Senate is much
above the average In ability and character The
I!ficul,y with the position taken by the ant-con-
sol Ia tlonlsts H. that most Of the Senators are
firmly convinced that by passing consolidation bI..
they are carrying into effect the ~ S9i they
think they ought 10 DO II Is NOT my intention to
ferent view TO the binding effect of tina, vote
unon the present Tegls.aiure. Certainly. II cannot
hc said with that the II 1894 required the
passage OF the bill in question Very truly YOURS:
+ SIT Is hardly necessary for to say that /
earnestly dcprecate any action the part OF
that would be detrimental to the interests OF the
party There are many and controlling reasons why
the Republican marty should succeed this fal.
cia.ly-reasons that ought TO outweigh any action
the part OF the Legislature upon the Greater
New York question. 80 far as the Governor IL con
cerned he Will act In the matter. believe, upon
sequences may be TO himself personally Yours etc.
CHARLES 7. SAXTON.