New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-13
a NTT-ANNEXATIONISTJ HOPE.
SENATORS BRUSH AND WRAY ARE EN-
Outraged BY THE MAYORS VETOES.

Outraged BY THE MAYORS VETOES.
OFFICIAL DIsAPPRovAL EXPECTED TO WEIGH
MORE WITH THE LEGISLATURE THAN LEN
ows APPRovAL-THE OPPOSITION
STRONG IN THE ASSEMBLY AND
GROWING IN THE SENATE.
Broaklyn's two ant!-consolidation Senator'S,
DR.. George W. Brush and Albert A. Wray. who
have led the fight at Albany against Senator Lex
ow's Greater New-York bill. were seen at their
Brooklyn homes on Saturday by Tribune re-
porter. and both said they were greatly en-
couraged by the vetoes Of Mayors Wurster and
Strong = believe that consolidation will be de-
ted this year Senators Brush and Wray
have fought hard and long against the forcing
of consolidation upon Brooklyn, and have never
lost courage despite the strong opposition arrayed
against them. While they had confidently ex-
pected that Mayor Wurster would veto the bill.
they were uncertain to Mayor Strongs att-
tude upon the measure. and they said yesterday
that the attack which had been made upon the
bill would, in all probability, prove fatal 10 it.
Dr. Brush said that the shock caused at Al
bany by the two vetoes had been 50 great that
the ultimate effect could not be clearly foretold
at present. He added:
senator LeXOW sui declares tndt tHe OIL VIII
become a Law. and is consong himself with the
belief that it will be passed over the vetoes and
signed by the Governor. In my opinion, how
ever, the weight of the double disapproval Of the
two Mayors will be greater than Lexow's ap-
prevail. When the bill was discussed In the Sen
ate and Assembly the legislators from the upper
part Of the state had formal and official
opinion regarding 1t upon which TO base their
haor I'd nts for
1t from NEWCOMERS and Brooklynites. and were
left in considerable doubt Us TO the real feeling
In the two cities. But now they have before
them messages Of disapprcval from the Official
heads Of the two city governments.
THOUGHT 1T A PARTY MEASURE
Most Of them looked upon Lexow's bill as an
organization measure which they should support
because 1t was approved by most Of the party
leaders. and they favored the bill because all
the rest Of their party colleagues were favoring
it. In the Legislature as everywhere else. men
do not like to be exceptional They prefer to
move with the crowd. / think that many OF
them cast their votes against their Judgment
but the opposition to the bill has now been set
before them so forcihly and unmistakably that
l confidently believe they will refuse to support
il longer One Senator has told within a
day or two that he had changed his mind about
the measure and would cast his vote against 1t
when It comes up again. although he had pre-
viously supported 1t. | have not made can
vass Of the members. but am convinced that
many of them will pursue the same course
The Republican Senators and Assemblymen
have had their eyes opened by the fact that
two Republican Mayors. both Of whom are
consolidatonists under the right conditions.
have disapproved the bill while the only mes
sage OF approval came from the Democratic
Mayor Of Long Island City. This they Will
look upon as 4 very significant point They
have also seen that they could not have passed
ii through the Assembly without Democratic
votes
The bill which / presented on Friday has
been in my desk for two months / brought II
out at this time 10 strengthen Mayor Wurstc!'s
veto. The bill embodies my ideas more nearly
than any other yet presented as 10 what should
be done on this question OF municipal govern
ment-one OF the stupendous questions
now before wise Civil Service measure.
judiciously administered. will do great deal
toward the settlement of that question. When
can get the idea Of spoils out Of political life
we shall elevate the whole tone and character
Of politics. and we shall get better class OF
men to take an interest in IT and TO hold
political positions. The amended Constitution.
as adopted by the people In 1894 has really
committed the State to the Civi Service Idea
Is inimical to the operation Of a Civil Service
law. he might as we'll accept the fact that 1t has
come to stay.
LEXOWS HAND
"Lexow will do what he can 20 have the bill
passed over the vetoes. Such passage OF the
measure. l am convinced, would portend dis
aster to the Republican party. | consider that
the measure which / have introduced Is the
best for the purpose which we all seeking.
The bill gives a metropolitan commission a
chance to investigate. 1t Is the intention to
have the territory treated Of divided into dis
tricts. each Of which Is to have its local
government A central council would have
building and the like. but the details are 20
be worked out by the Commission.
II carnot say what the future course OF ac
ton on the consolidation bills will be- The
vetoes will be read Monday night. but no
one can tell what will happen then.
Senator Wray says that he Is convinced that
Lexow's bill will be beaten when 1t is brought
up again. 1T may get through the Senate"
he said. but in the Assembly the opposition
is too strong. Opposition has. however. grown
In the Senate. as well as In the Assembly. be
ors have been issued. and these declarations
have something behind them. ! asked Chair
man Hackett yesterday whether Lexows bill
would again be presented. He replied that II
would not only be presented, but would be
passed Still. | believe that the measure has
grown extremely unpopular and that It's pro-
moters will be deserted by many OF those who
have hitherto favored it. Senator Brush's bill
is good one, and founded upon the right
IDEAS His provision that any change in mu
niciraI government should be referred to the
people for approval or d!sapproval is one that
the voters have right TO demand, and one that
we shall attempt to secure for them.