New-York tribune., 1896-01-31

3. L. WOol'fi'l Sf>
teres,s IN order 10 have efficient cooperation and
large development. This law is universal; II ap-
plies equally 10 the city as 10 the Individual My
Judgment is that material and sentimental con-
eiderations will finally settle the question Of con-
soldation: the material side. however. is the one
that dominates now.
SIGNIFICANT FIGURES.
eft s>ans 70 me- impossible that the richest city
OF It's size in the world owning In her own right
over $50. OonO If available assets. the market
value Of whose property. in addition 10 the above.
was estimated in 1898 by the New-York State
Commission al over s5.oOO.OcO,Oo0 a city whose
YEARLY increase ~ wealth is at leas, from
s75 900 900 10 100000 900. whose annual Income.
aside from taxation. is about N2,0oo.Gpo. and
whose present debt. according 70 values. could be
Increased threefold; a city which owns wellnigh
everything for income" IN sight. and Is "lthlh
epeaking dis;ance # poorer city. however
ropulous can long overshadow the latter WITH
out stunting its growth or compelling consollda-
t,on. Remember that NewYork markets nearly
all the securities created In American that even
the Nationai Government Itself looks 10 New
York for protection and relief. Remember too
that B-ooklvn's debt is half that Of New-York'
while her wealth is less than one-sixth as great.
How significant the fact that city Of million
tenth Of our population work in New-York and
are heapjng VI riches for the greater city! Yes.
consolidation IS inevitable; the trend Of things
Is that way"
"Do you think then that Brooklyn will be un-
able to carry forward rs projected improvements
Including the proposed extension Of its water
system
BROOKLYN NOT ON THE WAY TO THE POOR
HOUSE.
"or tho contrary, believe that she will be
sb,s with economy and honesty. to do all 1eces-
sarv things for years 10 come. have greas
confidence in the statements OF Commissioner
Alfred r White made TO the legislative com
rni,tee upon these matters. ! cannot beieVe.
however that Brooklyn. without consohdauoh'
will be able TO cooperate with New-fork In the
building OF the bridges and other improvements
which are already imperatveV requ'F+o III
order 10 insure Brooklyn's prolonged prosperity
do not think as some 40 tha' hi"'"''" "
On the way TO the poorhouse faT from IT, We
oan live many years without cohso"oa''o" "u
havs fair prosperity but consolidation Shou''
ha an evolu,ion taking years for ITS hnai iro''-
ses and consummation. Haste IN 80 V''a'
matter would be unseernIy'
prAaoNs FOR 4 REFERENDUM.
"Nbv do you favor referendum:
"F;rst for Rrooklyn's welfare; second " II
BrookIvn's right third, TO my thoueht IL IN
N. only absolutely impregnahie POSITION
RrookIvn voted for consolidation: aoihi' It,
II did not vote upon the terms Oh co"9o''""''O
II was not asked 10 DO that IL - no" "'' no
:. -. ,,,r Tho terns-her inherent mora
right. To deny this Is 70 ny IN the i"0e
history and degrade the reason o' "'o"
me illustrate: Delegates were rec'"''' 49,
N revise the Constitution or our "'"''
Senternber 29 1894 their WORK "as co'''P -
their movers were also exhausted. " i'"' ."
On November G. 1894 the people Vo'eu ~ "N''
the supgcstions OF their agents 10y '""' "
the revised Constitution became 'he ''P
law Of the State. Till then II was 'ope -
sand Upon the first page OF 'ha'
ton we read: We the people OF the "'"'
New-york grateful TO Almighty God for our
freedom In order to secure lts o''''"
.s,.huob ,h,s Constitution Read the woro
Brooklyn for 'New-York and charter TOT w"
stitution' and you have my argument for d
referendum When Brooklyn SAID. / dssne ,oht
soldation sbe In no wise abandoned he' ''o
10 control the terms OF consolidation
THE LETTER. not THE SPIRIT
"Ru, has not the Legislature the legal r'gh'
IN las Won saw extinguish Brooklyn's corporate
life without submitting the terms to BROOKLYN
'In purely technical sense that - true. -
Is one OF the States reserved rights IL ooen
not. however apply 10 this case The ie''er "
the law undoubtedly gives 1t that right even "a
the case Of brooklyn, but, in keeping the lettei'
the Iogislat ture would break the spirit or the t
law beyond repair Brooklyn Is at peace VIII VIII
the State and at peace with herself sne heeuo ..r
not the corrective hand Of the State for her own WI
or for the States veal She is conspicuous IoI
we'll doing among all the cities OF the lana; ,, an
example OF good for sixty-two years; her popu- p-
lation RUNNERS one-sixth that Of the entire state
OF New-York Shall the corporate life OF sucn
a citv be destroyed upon conditions and terms
upon which IL has not set lts<seal OF approVai
bv vote OF the people? II Ia industrious TO argue
tbst tho a~chfects OF the Constitution OF our
hat Instrument To be invoked