New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-12
GREATER NEW-YORK A FACT.
COY. MORTON SIGNS THE BILL.
THE vETOEs OF MAYORS STRONG AND
wURsTER DIsREGARDED.
A MEMORANDUM FROM THE GOVERNOR EXPLAIN
ING THE REASONS FOR HIS ACrIoN-THE
COMMISSION TO BE APPOINTED
IN FEW DAYS.


IN FEW DAYS.
[FRoMrKE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRiBcSMJ
Albany, May 11.-Governor Morton signed the
Greater New-York act at p. m. to-day In the
inner room of the Executive Chambers. 1t may
be remarked that 1t was in this room that Mayor
Wurster, Of Brooklyn. last week made his hnal
argument against the measure. 1t was also IN
this ROOM doubtless that Governor Morton reao
the letter from Mayor Strong OF New-fork'
vetoing the act. With the vetoes Of Mayor Wurs-
ter and Mayor Strong. Mayors Of the two largest
cities in the State, before him. and with the
knowledge that the Republican members OF tho
Legislature voted for it only at the dictation
Of a political boss, Mr.. Morton yet signed the
bill History will tell whether the people OF the
State eventually justify the Governor inthus dis-
regarding the actual will OF the Legislature ana
the official protests OF the Republican Mayors OK
New-York and Brooklyn History also VIII tell
whether or not the Republican Legislature, IN
passing the bill over the vetoes of Mayors Strong
and Wurster under the compulsion OF
boss" acted credtaby or discreditaby.
THE GOVERNORS MEMORANDUM.
Mr.. Morton made public with the news OF his
having signed the bill a memorandum containing
some remarks on the subject 1t Is as follows:
THE State of New-York. Executive Chamber.
Albany. May IL. 1894
Memorandum filed with Senate bill No SIS. en-
titled An act consolidating the local governments
OF the territory within the city and county OF NewS
York the counties OF Kings and Richmond, ana LongN
Island City, and the towns Of Newtown, f'usnhg
and Jamaica, and part OF the town OF HempSte@
In the county Of Queens and providing for the preps-
ration OF bills for enactment into laws for the gov
ernment thereof. approved
This bill as It's title indicates, is to provide tns
basis for a consolidation Of the counties OK new
York. Kings and Richmond, and part OF queens
into one great city The territory embraced N
the area OF the proposed city aggregates nearly sn
square miles and contains over SOooo OF ihhao'-
tants The municipalities TO be included In the pro-
posed consolidation have attained their present COZ"
diton through many years OF graduai growth anu
each has acquired individuality incident 70 its
location its peculiar social. business and pontical
condition and the different characteristics OF the
people who have made It what II is The growth oe-
yelopment and expansion OF great city IN the o'o
nary way by the gradual accretions OF wealth. 'e'
ritory and population, excite no special attention. e1
cept by comparisons between different perods' ous
the consolidation Of great municipalities like those
,ncluded in this bill by an act Of the Legislature
presents many complex questions
ITO effect a proper consolidation OF this territory
with its divergent interests into one municipality
there must be provided a harmonious government
an equitable system OF taxation. fair adjustments
OF the several existing municipal debts and homo"
eeneous ARRANGEMENT OF executive. judicial and ad-
mnisrative functions.
| THINGS THAT MUST STAY AS THEY ARE
..Many OF the existing functions cannot be consti'
! tut,onally amalgamated disturbed by any at
tempted consolidation, The autonomy OF the coun-
ties must be preserved, until IL is changed by con-
| sttuona amendment. Boards OF Supervisors must
be re-established In the counties Of Kings and New
| York and the Board already existing in the county
| OF Richmond must be retained.
"The PARTS of the consolidated territory lying In
the county Of Queens will still remain In that county
unless annexed to other counties, but cuch annexa-
ton cannot affect existing Senate, Assembly or
Judicial districts
THE constitutional offices provided for each coun-
! ~ including certain judicial tribunals, must con-
! tinue. Certain police and administrative functions
cannot be wholly destroyed or made subordinate
TO city supervision and throughout the consolidated
! city there must continue 10 be a dual government.
partly the creature of the Constitution under con-
! sttutional limits and restrictions and beyond the
control Of the city and partly the Great
ure OF statutes providing for municipal government
| How far the Legislature may go In amalgamat-
ing city and county governments will be one OF tho
! important problems for the consideration OF the
| Commission provided by the bill. The bill declares
! I'm substance that consolidation shall become COM
plete on January l. 1895, but this declaration evil
! IDENTIFY cannot have the full force which Its terms
would indicate. because provision Is made for
the government Of the consolidated territory ana
Il IA expressly provided by Section that for all
nurposes the local administration and government
OF the territories in Section of this act enumerateo
shall remain in and be performed and exercised oy
the respective bodies polite and corporate 70 WHICH
,bev are now intrrsted and except so far as here-
after changed by authority Of law ana for such pur
noses and until such time. and except 10 such eA-
tent the said bodies polite and corporate snaii con-
tinue TO exist. and 10 possess the same rights prop
critics privileges and franchises and to exercise the
sar,a mowers and discharge the same duties and be
subject to the same liabilities. and the various o-
cers thereof shall be elected appointed In the
same manner as heretofore
THE LEGISLATURE MUST ACT.
"By the terms the bill there can be no disturb
ance Of existing conditions until the Legislature hss
made further provision for the government OF the
new city Practically. the only effective provision
In the bill is found in the third section wh'ch pro-
vides for the appointment OF Commission 20 pre-
mare and submit TO the next Legislature 'olis for
the government OF the municipal corporation the
Mayor Aldermen and Commonalty OF the city ot
New-York by this act enlarged
THE Commission will be charged with the per-
formance OF difficult task. and It Is urged Una.
IL cannot within the brief time given by the Din
prepare charter for this great munlepaty wnrcaa ana
viii be satisfactory to the next Leslsa.arue e a ha
oser ots peope Of the State who necessarily feel
deep interest IN this subject .umc,.nt nh
This possibility, however Is not sutnS.xvn' ny.
yIan FOR the proposed consolidation began 10 taks
definite shape in 1880 When by Chapter ps9saed i Vu 70 m
nnire i into the expediency OF consodatlns me
various municipalities in the state OF r e% Hev
occmnvng the several islands In the haroor OF New
Work ana to report from time to time tneir con-
c,usions 70 the Legislature with such recomnehdass
tons as thew may deem proper for adoption. ana
their reasons therefor . .... ,,u .ra c.r.-
,,,, cnns daratIon with the result that new city
vas proposed including the territory already inoi-
caied' namely the counties OF New.York. Kings:
Richmond and parts OF the county OF Queens ~
CHAPTER "a OF Laws OF 1894 the question OF tns
nrnnpsad consolidation was submitted TO vote OF
the people Of the territory included In the Plan az
then outlined which vote was TO be IN fact taken
~ The General election in November 1894 Upon
This vote comes a majority Of Alss in favor OF con.
..rhe Commission appointed by the law Of isse
.aan,aJ renort 10 the Legislature Of 1885. set.