New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-24
A CRISIS FOR BROOKLYN.
HER FATE IN THE HANDS OF THE CITIES
COMMITTEE.
WILL. THAT CITY OF A MILLION PEOPLE HAVE
CHANCE. AFTER ALI. TO DETERMINE
ITS MUNICIPAL FUTURE? - GEN
ERAL TRACY'S TALK WITH
TIE GOVERNOR.
TnY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.]


Albany. Feb 2S.-Rarely have the Committees
on Cities of the Senate and the Assembly had
more responsible duty than will be imposed on
them on Tuesday next, when Senator LeXow ana
his colleagues of the subcommittee having
charge of tie Greater New-York bill Will make
their report upon that important measure
Senator Stranahan the chairman Of the Sen
ate Committee on Cities said recently that when
the Lexow report should be submitted the COM
mittee would consider the bill as though IL had
Just come before them. since the majority or the
members would not have previously taken the
question Of the consolidation of New-York and
Brooklyn under serious consideration II this
policy Is followed out there will be hearings be-
fore the Committee on Cities on what Is prac-
tically a new Greater New-York bill submitted
by the Lexow committee. 1t not only creates
new Greater New-York Commission, the char
acter Of whose membership may be rightly
matter for debate but 1t also changes the boun-
daries Of the territory formerly inc!iosed WITHIN
the lines Of Greater New-York.
There is a suspicion here that Senator Strana-
han has received a request from Governor Nor
TON IN Ego slow" with the Greater NewYork
hill and that Mr. Morton has been greatly I'M
pressed by the tremendous Republican opposi-
ton manifested In Brooklyn to the forcible con-
solidation Of that city with New-York. People
remark that General Benjamin F. Tracy. for
merly Secretary Of the Navy has been in AL
bany frequently of late. General Tracy Is one
Of the members Of that group Of prominent
Republican politicians OF this State who are IN
consultation with Mr.. Morton about his candi-
dacy for the Presidency. General Tracy. also,
for many years of his life lived in Brooklyn.
He is we'll acquainted with its leading citizens.
Democrats as we'll as Republicans Probably no
man In the State Is better aware Of what are
likely to be the political consequences to the Re-
publican party at the fall eection in 1896 II the
citizens Of Brooklyn are not permitted to vote on
the Greater New-York charter.
1t may easily have happened. therefore, that
General Tracy has sharply warned the Gov
ernor OF the political danger involved in refus-
ing the request of the citizens Of Brooklyn for
vote upon the Greater New-York plan. Mr..
Morton would pay close attention to any
such advice from General Tracy. II Repub-
lcan politicians here are correct in their sur
mise that the Governor intends to be a candi-
date for denomination as Governor If he should
fail to secure the nomination for President AS
q possible candidate for Governor he would see
the great danger involved in offending beyond
all pardon tens Of thousands Of Republican voters
In Brooklyn.
The Republican members Of the Legislature
ming to perceive that the Republicans Of Brook
lyn demand to be consulted about the union Of
their city with New-York. and that they
will be amazed II a Republican Legislature
PAYS no attention to their demand for q
vote on tine charter under which they to
live. Senator Chahoon. OF Clinton County. for
instance strolled in to see Controller Roberts
few days ago. In the course Of a conversation
which followed, Senator Chahoon said to the
Controller
what is your opinion Of this Greater New
York question:"
81 have not thought much about it, replied
Mr.. Roberts but will give you a little bit Of
evidence concerning it. L was In Brooklyn a
few weeks ago. dining at a banquet given by
the Logan Club. You know they are all active
Republican workers. Warner Miller was one OF
the speakers and he said in the course OF his
spee.h that Brooklyn would soon be united with
New-York There were about two hundred peo-
ME present should imagine. and when Mr. Mil
Ter made this remark about one hundred and
ninetv-eight OF them instantly jumped up ana
shouted. NO. no! ..,,o
The Greater New-York Commission PROVIDED
for in the Lexow bill. even II the bill should be
rushed through the Legislature without consld-
eratlon for the wishes of the Brooklyn Repup-
Ncans can hardly be organized now before the
end ~ March, 1t will take at least week 10
nut the bill through the Legislature and then
Mavors Strong, Wurster and Gleason would
have ten DAYS In which to consider IT,. Mayor
Strong and Mayor Wurster will probably veto
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