New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-22

as whole without regard to the advantage OF
any strictly political or partisan neres mpendns
domination Of this or the other party orsahiz4tioi
Opposition has been stimulated by Appeals 70
prejudice. founded upon sucA eaten WORDS as the
destruction of Brooklyn. the "effacement OF me
city the extinction Of her charter until 1t would
be strange indeed for the average citizen TO be-
lieve that consolidation meant anything more or
less than impending disaster OF some occult ciai-
acter including the total denial OF self-government
1t seems obvious that. were consolidation not az
abiding consciousness on the part Of na1oriy on
the people OF Brooklyn such aggressive opposition as
II has encountered would nave completely
any movement less deep-seated To sum this brancn
Of the subject up il Gems T. US na upon mnd ,ne
gone no change except IN favor o. ~
on the sixth point this would Involve the adHnS-
sion that municipal government Is coi,i h, nh
fore made are justiha9le 1t is unnecessary 10 con-
slider this objection in detail
REFERENDUM WOULD MEAN REJECTION.
The final point of the resubmssonists is in line
with that made by the referendlsts. but presumably
for the Numerically opposite purpose. We have
reached the conclusion that resubmission is sought
with hope thereby to defeat consolidation and OBJ
viously unless for such purpose II would be worse
than useless and unnecessary.
We consider a referendum Of the terms and con-
d.tions "A municipal charter more Objectionable
than d resubmisson of the main proposition. We
are convinced that those who desire a referendum
apart from resubmission are earnestly in favor oil
consolidation but We are equally convinced that
the method proposed would be more perious 10 con
sol!dation than would resuhmission. In the llrst
place il must be assumed that every resubmisson-
ist DESTROYS of defeating consolidation would vote
against any charter or laws synopsis Of laws that
might be framed by human ingenuity Ihel. again
!nasmuch as every scheme of local or general gov
eminent embodies and is largely composed OF sys-
TEN of rules which prescribe such limitations upon
personal liberty as experience has demonstrated
TO be necessary for the citizen in his daily vocation
and in his relation to his tellow-citizen ana tae
municipality at large from the street vender up 10
the man of wealth, il follows that in vote upon
charter personal consideration, opposition 10 per
sonal limitations hostility TO intrenchments upon
traffic
in the determination OF the great question az ISSUE
disabilities which the law whether of local or gen
eral government imposes upon them ana any sys-
tenn of laws outlined. which fairly treats the ques-
lions referred to- would be rejected by vote OF the
people if submitted TO them H..
1t Is very that the situation OF the city
of brooklyn imperatively demands municipal uni
fcaton. Inasmuch as, under the terms OF the pres
emf bill such union consolidation shall not take
effect until the lst day of January, lSs. II Is not
necessary to consider In this preliminary report any
plan to be recommended for the government OF the
greater city We are confident that the Legislature
will surely guard the interests of the representative
localities.
WHAT BROOKLYN MIGHT GAIN.
1t seems to your committee that the interests OF
Brooklyn are served by consolidation TO a greater
degree even than are the interests Of that city which
will give name and prestige TO the greater metropo-
lis BROOKLYN occupies TO that part Of the city oil
New-York which lies south of Fourteenth-st' reid-
lively the same position the remainder OF 'he
city Of New-York lying 10 the norm OF four'eeii'i
eence and thrift TO building up the enormous TAX
able values which are to be found south OF Four
feminist on Manhattan Island To the east am
north are the homes Of those who create me prong
ious wealth located in the business part OF us ~
Both sections have the same right 10 share IN me
prosperity they have Jointly created As !. ~ ID, -.
procure that interchange OF persons and property
which is necessary 20 her ideal Development ENen
the front IS not her own ana lne coi''i,eit
Of the word under the because Of
facill
action and possession would bring; +, .,o, as -
The financial condition Of Brooklyn IL such as 10
warrant the conclusion that the work OF IeVeIoi.
rlent must soon be brought TO a close iter Desl
limit has been reached: her present coniracturai en-
gagements are in excess Of the unit OF consul
tional bond issue: her people are gToanihg uiuei .
severity on the owner ana the occupant Coinpeu-
ton between the distinct municipalities IL turning
of New York toward the New-Jersey shore ana the
only remedy seems TO be consolidation. During s III
ant!-consolldaton sentiment disclosed Nsef;
The question Of taxation Is one 20 ne careIuy COT
sidered in Its relation 10 each LOCALITY ana 20 inu
whole greater municipality Even nose VINO ,ay
ton did not contend thai me s W. VI 90
greater city "A whole. or the city OF New DIX az
an integral part Of that city, would be oppressive
or unduly increased. The contention made that
upon a plan of equal taxation New YORK Clty "ouiu
be constrained bear the whole burden or equhl-
zation-that, If done at once ana now nd
able amount OF tax would be added to me ci,y DUG
stimulus and impetus given TO progress IN each OF
the ANNEXED 3caics Nv YAH 10 Us iarref fac
| tiles its greater commercial energies It's higher
Developments its increased opportunities, and me
feSuit, o tan into account the value OF undis-
puted commercial supremacy and the concentration
of larger business opportunities and greater
financial resources within the boundaries or the
greater city. all of which Will c9opera,e TO
citizen They fail finally TO estimate me feuucuoh
which always proceeds from concentration anu ths
results that will now from unity OF action between
local % is ncrfecnd The people OF that
Ia rfltf
manifest destiny with due regard TO the rights OF
the individual
LEGAL QUESTIONS CONSIDERED.
In conclusion we will consider the objections OF a
legal character that have been urged upon the at
,ention Of the committee. 1t was contended last
year before the Legislature that the Consolidation
| bin was unconstitutional because no provision was
made for the election Of Board OF Supervisors in
| the county Of New-York. whose revival, 1t was
claimed, became necessary under the provisions OF
Article III, Section % OF the revised Constitution.
| Apparently now this contention OF unconstituton-
aty has been wholly abandoned, and INCONVENIENCE
| and undesirabty are the objective phrases that
have been substituted in the place OF unconstlu-
The possibility Of the resurrection Of The b B01Th %,
SuPeryiSois IN ,ne c9u'y sr Ui nd an unanswer,
able barrier to the creation OF the greater meIoPo-
superabe bar to any legislation whatever until the
Constitution could be amended II Is IA sufflcient
there is ample time PRIOR to iss to provide The
contingency referred TO, second tnat II the GUY 10
revive Board OF Supervisors thereafter should be
cast upon the Legislature by the enactment OF the
CONSOLIDATE lion bill. the failure to perform that
duty would not leave the communities OF New YORK
ana Kings deprived of an instrument essential 10
| the execution of the governmental powers now
! vested in their Common Councils and Boards OF
Supervisors. These powers Will BE- presumed to eh-
list where now lodged and TO continue for al essen
| tial purposes until some rev agency has been ex-
| pressly substituted.
| Then il was objected that the bill. II passed,
would permit not only the greater city but eaGn OF
edness up 10 the constitutional limit. 1t seems 10
US that this constitute no valid objection If,
| for the sake OF argument, assume the PROPOSE
| ton TO be true, there IL adequate power In the
| Legislature 10y proper limitation TO forestall any
such predicted abuse.
Another objection has been founded upon the con-
stitutional necessity for the continuance OF The
county officers as prescribed in Article 10 Section
Of The revised Constitution. The point of any such
objection is not easily inteiligib.e when directed