New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-21
p1ATTS PLAN ANNOUNCED.
,rs OF THE LExow GREATER NEW
YORK BILL.

,r COMMISSION CREATED AND TIE Gov
,.op TO NAME MAJORITY oE ITS MEM
prRs-rr WILL HAVE POWER TO REPORT
pr.rr.s STATE COMMISSION BILLS
GRADY DIscLosEs TAMMANY's
FRIENDI.INEss 40 THE PLOT.
tny TELEGRAPH 70 THE TRIBUlE.]
,r,, Feb 20-Thomas c. Plat took his first
.tan to-day toward the seizure OF most or the
.-,ents Of Greater New-York--the Police
,Hanortn,ent. the Department Of Public Works,
~. Health Department and the Fire Depart
-,ar.-au the patronage" departments, in fact'
,nrouch his chief lieutenant III the Legislature
senator Lexow, he made it known that he pro-
n,ses TO eupersede the present Greater New-forH
commission with one the majority OF whose
members will be appointed by Governor Morton
and the State Senate. There is TO be small III
fusion of city officials. The Mayors OF New
York Brooklyn and Long island City are 10 DC
members of the new commission. but they WIZ
hova o,,v three votes out Of fifteen in the Board
If Greater New-York Commissioners. and they
will practically have no influence in IT,
Mr. P,att gives this new Greater New-foik
Commission authority from time to time 10 III
troduce bills The bill says "Sucn poaru s"a'i
from, time to time report to the Legislature i'S
n,osress and its recommendations, and shall pre-
mare and submit to the Legislature oiiH9 ii
nroper form for enactment. embodying such
enactments" This part of the bill. OF course Is
the pasis for the Introduction Of measures Great
ing alleged Temporary State commissions TO RUE
over the consolidated police departments de-
nartnents of public works. health departments
and ara denartments Of New-YoTk, Brooklyn
and Long Island City.
Politicians expect that the new Greater New
York bill will be rushed through the Legislature
md supplementary bills be at once presented p'
the members of the Greater New-forK Comiii's-
sion legslating out of office the officers al the
head of the city departments mentioned ana
,,y,,c authority TO Governor Morton and the
LEGISLATURE to appoint their successors Mr.
pIatt of course, stands ready. as he has In the
case OF most Of the offices filed by Governor
Morton 10 name Platt Republicans FOR the
naces on the Greater New-York Commission,
and also 10 name men to head the State COM
missions 70 be sent TO rule over Greater New
York
LEXOw REPEATS HIMSELF.
Senator Lexow's part in the political con-
spracy referred TO is only repetition Of the
role he played a year ago. 1t will be remem-
bered that he then. with pretended friendship TO
the Greater New-York Commission introduced
its BILL perpetuatng it and connding to 1t the
duty Of drawing up the Greater New-York char
ter. Then, after fondiing the bill for month,
he suddenly substituted another for it. creating
& commission OF fifteen persons, and leaving on
the Greater New-York Commission only OF
its old members, Andrew II. Green. He has fol-
lowed precisely the same plan this year. He
once more introduced the bill favored by the
Greater New-York Commission. and once more
he has thrust 1t to side and substituted
political measure of his own.
This announcement he made AT a meeting OF
the subcommittee Of the Committee Cities
OF the Senate and Assembly at a meeting held
this afternoon. This subcommittee, IL will be
remembered. conducted for month a sham in
vestgation in New-York. Brooklyn and Albany
as to the wisdom or unwisdom of uniting New
York and Brooklyn. Every foresaw the
nature Of the report to be made as soon as the
alleged investigation was started. 1t is prob
able that the bill which Senator Lexow pre-
sented to the committee to-day was then in
his possession
Mr. Lexow also submitted to his fellow mem
bers of the committee a report of Is, 900 words
chiefly words 1T was really eloquent" said
Senator Grady one of the members OF the sub
committee, afterward, and Grady certainly is
a good Judge of the kind of rhetoric affected
by Lexow Grady charmed with Lexow 8
notion Of substituting Plat.-Tamnany Greater
New-York Commission for the one now in ex-
istence. Il was highly pleased" he said after
ward to The Tribune correspondent. with that
candor which is his chief adornment with the
idea advanced by Senator Lexow IN his report
that a non-partisan Greater New-York Com
mission should be established in Albany to
draw up a charter for Greater New-York.
had thought OF putting In dissenting report
before Senator Lexow read his report. but now
have decided. in view Of its merit. to suppress
my own"
TAMMANY PLATTs PARTNER
Senator Grady, by showing this friendship for
Lexow's creation Of new Greater New York
Commission, discloses distinctly Mr.. Patts ALI
ance with Tammany Hail. Clearly Tammany
Hall Is to have It's share OF the nine controlling
members Of the Greater New-York Commission
and also its share Of the spoils In the departments
OF the big city.
why do you favor the abolition Of the Old
Greater New-York Commission?" asked The
Tribune correspondent.
II regard Il as moribund." replied Mr.. Grady
But are you not afraid that the new Greater
New-York Commission Will contain men VINO
will introduce bills unfavorabc to Tammany
IIal?'
no. an. not afraid OF that said Senator
Grady. smiling. 'for l have coH"tcnce In Sen
ator Lexow's pledge that ihs nc~ Commission
shall be nom n-part!ssa.
Senator Car,or, ire ,.as.. OF the Tammany
Hall Democrats. amCsee ever one tonight by
assuming an air o. scat hjxt:,.:y to the Lexow
measure and declaring ia; 1t was paipaby a
political bill intended to glt, Ny Pa,t posses
sion OF the principal Offices II Greater New YORK
Senator Gradys attitude 80. statement, how
ever. disclose the actual pcait'on OF the leaders
OF Tammany Hail toward the Lexow bill. The
Tsnmany Senator's under Senator Cantors lead.
will probably make speeches against 1t and en-
leaYnr 10 cnnceai fheir real friendshln for the