The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-05-12
Governor Morton filed the following
memorandum:
he State of New York,
Executive Chamber,

Executive CHdIllDeT,
Albany May IL, 1896.
Memorandum filed with senate bill
| No, 825, entitled, An act consolidating
| the local governments Of the territory
within the city and county of New
York, the counties of Kings and Rich
mond and Long Island City, and the
towns of Newtown, Flushing and ia
maica and part of the town of Hemp
stead In the county of Queens, and pro-
viding for the preparation of bills for
enactment into laws for the government
thereof approved.
This bill, as it's title indicates, Is to
provide the basis for a consolidation of
the counties of New York, Kings and
Richmond and part Of Queens into one
great city. The territory embraced in
the area of the proposed city aggregates
nearly 31S square miles and contains
over 100000 of inhabitants. The mu-
inequalities to be included in the pro-
prosed consolidation have attained their
present condition through many years
of gradual growth, and each has ac-
| quired an individuality incident to its
/ location, It's peculiar social, business
and political condition and the different
characteristics of the people who have
made it what it is. The growth, devel-
| opment and expansion Of a great city
in the ordinary way by the gradual
accretions of wealth, territory and pop
ulation, excite no special attention eX-
| cept by comparisons between different
! periods; but the consolidation of great
municipalities like those included in this
bill, by an act of the legislature, pre-
sents many complex questions
ITO effect proper consolidation of
this territory with it's divergent inter-
ests into one municipality there must
be provided harmonious government,
an equitable system of taxation, fair
adjustment of the several existing mu-
nicipal debts and a homogeneous ar
rangement of executive, judicial, and
administrative functions.
Many of the existing functions can
not be constitutionally amalgamated or
disturbed by any attempted consolida-
ton. The autonomy of the counties
must be preserved until tits changed by
constitutional 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 terri
| tory lying in the county of Queens will
still remain in that county, unless an
nexed to other counties, but such an
nexatjon cannot effect existing senate,
assembly or judicial districts.
"The Greater New York bill provides
for the consolidation Of New York city,
Kings county. Richmond county
] Staten Island), Long Island City, New
| town, Flushing and Jamaica, and that
part of the town of Hampstead which
is westerly of a straight line drawn
from the southeasterly part of the town
of Flushing through the middle of the
channel between Rockaway Beach and
Shelder Island to the Atlantic ocean.
THE local administration and gov
eminent of the territories in question
shall remain In and be performed by the
respective bodies, polite and corporate
with which they are now intrusted, I'M
til hereafter changed by authority OF
law
There shall be commission to pre-
pare bills or charter for the govern
ment of the consolidated territory This
commission shall consist of Andrew III
Green, Mayor Strong of New York
Mayor Wurster of Brooklyn, Mayor
Gleason of Long Island City, State En-
gineer Campbell w. Adams Attorney
General Theodore E. Hancock, and nine
other persons to be appointed by the
governor, by and with the consent OF
the senate. These nine commissioners
must be residents of the territory thus
enlarged. They must make their fna
report on or before February l, 1897
The report or charter must provide fol
an equal and uniform rate of taxation
throughout the whole Of the territory
The commission shall cease to exist or
March l, 1897.
The bill was vetoed by Mayor Strong
and Mayor Wurster and repassed ir
both houses over the vetoes.
81