New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-28
4 VICTORY THAT PRESAGES DEFEAT.

Democratic votes were necessary TO pass inc
Greater New-Yorll bill in the Assembly Inc
fact that they were Needed and Obtained ana
that twenty-five of them were cast by Iammah!
Assemblymen, is highly significant as 10 'ne
character of the measure and the expectations
which have been formed concerning It, Al the
same time it was a mistaken policy for 30 many
sanguine Tammany men to so on recoru III us
favor. unless indeed the leaders had been uhaoie
TO ascertain how many Republicans would one!
orders. and feared to take any chances. II
mn ioritv OF the Tammany Assemblymen hau
voted against the bill, its passage would never
theless have been secured, and its indignant
opponents in Brooklyn and elsewhere would nave
had n still stronger incentive to rebukc the ke-
publican machine at the polls.
The bill has passed. but that il Will pass again
when IT has been returned to the Legislature Is
nv no means certain A good deal may depend
unon the number Of municipal vetoes it receives
Mayor Gleasons orbit is eccentric. and noDou!
can 81 fely predict where he will be found nj any
o,ven moment. though we believe he has an
nounced his intention not only 10 approve the
hill but TO be elected first Mayor of the con-
solidated city. Mayor Strong and Mayor Wurs-
ter properly refuse to proclaim In advance ther
must act iudlclally. but the latter Is supposed
to be irrevocably on record as favorihs resuD
mission or a referendum. and is confidently e1-
pected to interpose his veto. Mayor Strong mas
been reticent throughout the discussion, and
perhaps nobody else knows what his present
opinion is. or whether II is likely to be modified
by the public hearing for which he Is arranging
and which he promises shall be thorough; though
xrith
to the Corporation that Staten Island, at any
rate ought not to be included in the scheme.
In case no one of the three Mayors should veto
the bill, it may be taken for granted that Gov
ernor Morton would sign it as part OF the ma
chine programme, and possibly with less mis-
giving than he felt In the case Of the Liquor
Tax bill. If 1t should be vetoed by municlpal-
itv and repassed by the Legislature, we surnise
that for the same reason his signature would not
be lacking to complete the operation. But Is Its
| ronossooa n certainty? We think not. The
vote on Thursday IS at least suggestive Of dis
aster to the machine If another vote should DC
necessary. Thirty six Republican Assemblymcn
refused to be made parties to the compulsory
effacement of Brooklyn, and their number is far
more likely to be increased than diminished in
case the Legislature is required to put itself on
| record n second time. That many members
should have been willing to transfer the respon
sibility temporarily to the municipalities con
ccrned is not unnatura-is certainly far less
unnatural than that they should persist IN ex
tng,lishing tho existence OF great city In fhf
face of overwhelming local opposition. 1t Is oul
opinion that the stupid and obstinate machine
which has decreed consolidation without regard
to present popular sentiment is more afraid OF
defeat to-day than it has ever been before ant
that 1t has ample cause for apprehension.