New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-12
FOR CONSOLIDATION.

In signing the Greater New York bill Governor
Morton has done what there has never been
any good reason for supposng that he would
decline to do, and thereby has given validity
to the most extraordinary transpoSition OF cart
and horse recorded in the history of legislation.
Perhaps il is not inappropriate that the Gov
ernor should accompany his signature OF such
an act with a memorandum equally remarkable
for its topsy-trvy character. Nobody can read
this document without wondering whether the
announcement that the bill has been approved
is not erroneous In great part II has the quail
ity Of an argument in justification Of veto and
would be in most respects an excellent piece of
work If that were its purpose. Following such
an exposition of the state Of municipal affairs
which the bill produces, the Executive sanction
has all the effect Of genuine Gilbertian non
seOuitur The Governor seems to say: Here 10
a guarantee of chaos; let us see how we Ike IT,"
If Governor Morton held an opinion concern
ing this consolidation scheme similar to that
which he EXPRESSED with reference to that monu-
mental conundrlm the Liquor Tax law. regard
ing il as clear and concise" as well as highly
practicable and beneficent his approval would
not be so strange In that case he might per-
haps have been expected. even in view OF the
circumstances of its passa &c and the demonstra
tion of bitter hostility which It has evoked. 10
find some satisfaction in appendng his name
and verifying the confident prediction OF the
political machine to which he has committed his
fortunes But when we see him pointing straight
AT the fundamental faults of the consolidation
bill describing with accuracy and force the
darkness and confusion which il will produce,
rerountlng the enormous magnitude Of the task
which II imposes and the uncertainties which no
sagacity can avert. we are bewildered by the
knowledge that all this is the explanation not
| of veto. but of a signature
| In reality, of course the bill which the Gov
! ernor has made law does not bring about con
solidation It's only absolute and immediate
| consequence will be the creation Of commission
| of fifteen members, which must report to the
LEGISLATURE Of 1897 not later than February
| a plan of government for the projected munic-
ipality Whether or not Greater NewYork will
| actually be born on January /. 1S0S. in accord
| ance with this present proclamation, remains
| to be seen; and the conditions under which 1t
will come into existence, If it comes at all, are
| still more predetermined The Senate holds over
and may possibly be ready to pass without ques-
| ton whatever bills the commission shall pro-
pose But there will be new Assembly upon
! which no calculations can now be based, and
| there will be new Governor who may have
| ideas Of his own. Moreover, supposing that the
| commissions bills are passed, they must then
be sent to the Mayors Of NewYork, Brooklyn
and Long Island City, and, in case Of single
veto, be repassed by the Legislature. and then
run the risk of veto rejecting strong local
| sentiment II the not extremely remote posi-
bilty thus brought into view should be realized,
| the municipal situation thereafter would be more
than strange. II would be grotesque. The act
Just signed provides for the election In 1897 OF
officials to rule the Greater New-YOrk. If we
assume that the Governor is right in supposnG
that the existing order of administration would
In that case remain practically unchanged, the
people of the various communities concerned
would nevertheless on January l. 1888, become
members not indeed Of civic organism but OF
q geographical eXpresson-tO use phrase moi
more fantastic than the reality itself. But VIC
are not prepared to admit that the conditions OF
government would remain to all intents anC
purposes the same. On the contrary 1t seems
to us that the mere fact Of consolidation, how
ever empty otherwise. would necessarily under
the Constitution be followed by the complicated
and contradictory jurisdiction incident to thu
re-establishment Of Boards OF Supervisors II
New York and Kings counties
These contingencies are not suggested In thu
belief that they will certainly or even probabl!
occur but for the purpose Of indicating the com
plete lack of sense and logic in the plan nov
finally adopted for the carrying out Of grea
and originally honorable proposition. The onl!
hope of avoiding disgrace and misfortune, and o
ultimately recOnciling the people whose welfar
has been put in jeopardy for the beneht OF pc
lical tricksters to conditions Of existence which
they dread lies in the commission Of which tn
Governor is empowered to name majority. III
can do much to weaken the prevalent expecta
ton of evil and feeling Of resentment by select
{ ing TO perform task Of extraordinary dlfficult.
men Of unblemished character and proved sa
gacity, who are known to be incapable of com
E plicity in any personal or political job, ant
: whose appointment would be bitter dose TO
!. the authors Of this arbitrary scheme to swallow