New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-20
LEXOW AND HIS TROUBLES.
pp1rsH GETS OUT THE FIRST REPORT
ON CONSOLIDATION.
rur NyAcK SENATOR SETTING DOWN HIS PER
soNAL VIEWS AND HOPING TO COME IN SEC
oND-A DISPOSITION IN THE I.EGlsLAT-
URE TO REJECT HIS PLATT STATE
COMMISSION SCHEMES.
rpy TELEGRAPH TO THE TKIBuNE.1

~ the head Of the mighty Lexow. Behlnu the
shade he s buslly debating to typewriter his
views concerning the consolidation OF New-YorK
and Brooklyn. He has not been requested py
his fellow members Of the Greater New-1orK
Committee to write any report the result Of
their investigation but has coolly set himseil
down and begun to compose one. all the same
II will be a Lexow report entirely.
But there are other reports. Senator Brush
vho Is also member Of the committee. thought,
IN view of Lexows proceeding. that he, too, could
nrepare a report. He made his report public TO-
day.
There are rumors tnat Lexow will recommend
the establishment of bipartisan commissions 10
govern the Police Department. the Department.
OF Public Works. the Fire Department ana 'he
Health Department Of Greater New-forK uh'ii
its charter has been prepared win TWO T'"''
Republicans and two Tammany Hall Democrats
IN charge OF the Police Department OF New oih'
n ts needless TO say Lexow's happiness and that
Of Edward LauterbaCh and Thomas Z. ria''
would surpass description If the same sort ol
b,partisan control OF the Fire Department. the
Health Department and the Department OF fuohc
Works could be established these seh'ie"'eh
,.,u,d think that political millennium had come.
II 10 vet TO be proved. however. that the Legis-
,.,ure has surrendered It's powers wholly to
L. L.
favored BY him and done other things desired by
,,, hi, q. ,s not vet plain that 1t Will adopt
oyar, intentions bill that he may wish 1t 10 pass.
,rha rees,ahlishment Of State commissions 10
ru,s New-York after the discredit into whlch
,,,s system fell between 1857 and 1871. Will be
fought by many Republicans who remember the
harm that came to their party from supPoi'4"e
such schemes While the Legislature may pass
the bill of the Greater New-York Commission, de-
claring that at some time IN the future New
York and Brooklyn shall be consolidated II VIII
not be easily persuaded TO permit Mr.. flat' 10
seize control Of four or FIVE Of the great depart
ments Of New-York. Brooklyn ana Long lsiaiu
City.
SENATOR BRUSHS REPORT.
Senator Brush's minority report Is as foiio"s'
The minority of sub-committee on eites ap
pc!nted to consider the question OF consohdaton@ @ Ul
New-York. Brooklyn. Long Island Cl'y yarren, anu
rounding territory under one lnunlcpai eo'ei"''e"''
The committee, after organization. proceeaea 10
the city OF Brooklyn and spent four days IN s,ehs ing
70 srcuments for and against the proposition LOT
consoiidatoa AS fair hearing was given o,1 10 IT'S
citizens as It was P,t PosGe % 3 gundeTtakng to obtain
the sentiments Of million people on 80 We tSs,
question in such way was So1I to both sides Of
the question. and SO far as coHd De d boh had
about an even dvis3n S S' wsre TO them. con-
cusve We have also held two hearings M ~ ~, bear
and Orein Wy X,
u @ ohe he,nn 70 learn the sentiments Of the people
interested g. S Sdss BODY % ns Which we
desires fuii knowledge Of this sentiment and we
contend that the only possible way 10 form The
Contention that in 1894 the people by small major @
i,y settled the question OF tne NV ar we We 10 know
what the sentiment Of this people Is TO-DAY ~ w.
were 70 admit ior Inf the wishes Of tbs people the
iAsslature wfo authorizes the VOC anu ioi "1 au
emfdance II was obtained expired without cohIiii ~.
v.ta "
Office: It did not settle. nor was IL lnte'e ~ ,nion
any InW ~ under which il was taken says The bal
lots cast in each said election district except M IA
fbe city Of New-York. shall be deemed as , an o eX
uress,on of The voter in favor OF or against con
ssoidatlon with the city Of New-York OF the cry
on counoy, and sha be deemed and taken as an ex-
nression of the voter in favor OF consoidaoh oi Ie
territory mentioned under one ihuhc'p@' govern"
The only body vested with power to ; act finally IN
tnis IN ct the result Of the thus authorized.
S;.5s.e @ 3f ahsy a q8 reject It, and that sn'ua
Another point which should be considered Is the
TACT that the Constitution Of the state has been
materially changed by the adoption Of the amended
Constitution The debt conTafnS M pqweT 9i me
futon 10 10 per Of the value Of her real estate
if takes place S PTopSsse % Snce l m d % %
per cent The question whether the LIABILITY to to
an na saa e in 0 iSa
the adoption Of the present Cons'i;ution so.o.o-
,oTce The Vote of 1894 had expended upon the
legislature that followed and cannot with any rea-
aonahie nr fair construction be carried over 70 the
present or succeeding Legislatures. elected under the
provision Of the revised o. The 'mg Wishes
the people OF Brooklyn we call their attention 10 the
last election an aanas n e q 'ns ThsrG
known to favor another vote on ths question IN some
'''"" LEXOW's BILL CRITICISED.
We have considered the three bills referred TO us
on the subject of consolidation With regard 10 the
one known as the Lexow bill and prepared as we
understand 1t, by the Consolidation Commission. we
sse nothing In II that should be favored by thought
,,, men having the welfare OF our great munich
nalites at heart 1t presents for consideration
the question OF consolidation. leaving tho matter OF
plan for the government, Of the great cities which
r creates to the future work Of the Consolidation
Commission. 10 be presented to the Legislature By
them in the form OF bills II holds out an alluring
bait to Brooklyntes and others when II says:
Among these bills shall be one for the attaining an
equal and uniform rate OF taxation and valuation. "
Eut this is left 10 future legislative action. and
therefore may never be adopted. while actual con-
sodaOn !. a. Unce whsn st The bill be-
II the Bill submitted represents the results OF
consoid,tion Commission, when the waiting and
anxious Brooklyn taxpayers 70 receive the at
We can imagine plan which involves the merg-
posed TO consolidate and It's subdivision in such
way as to preserve the local governments of each
scope central body selected from the local gov
ernnents which should be charged with the great
works ard Improvements OF the whole district
Some such plan, II seems 10 US. which includes all
selfish consideration of political advantages ard
power and does no violence to the principles Of
home rule looking only TO the welfare OF the peo-
pie Is the only one worthy Of consideration We
look upon the consolidation bill as now presented
leap in the dark. with lnnumerable political
pitfalls and preclp!ces lying beyond. We do not
therefore. think the bill worthy Of serious consld-
Grafton and respectfully enter our protest against II
We have also considered the bl which asks for
resubmission OF this question to the people OF
districts most interested. Various Arguments have
been presented by those who have come before us
against this on the ground that the vote of 1894 wa
ANAL. and that resubmission is subversiye of the
principles OF our government and revolutionary
gentlemen who MAKE this nj contention inconsls
Quent and vehement In making this argument be-