New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-20
cOySOLJDATIOy CONTINGENCIES.

No one familiar with the course OF events III
Albany during the present session can entertain
any doubt as to the passage OF the Greater new
York bill by the Assembly. This Is ABOUT as
certain as ANYTHING in the future can De- b"'
affirmative action by the lower house, 1oho"'hs
similar action by the Senate, will by no means
imnly the carving into effect OF the c0nsolidaioh
nroicct. nor even the final enactment OF the
nendng bill After the passage of the measure
by the Assembly it must be submitted 10 the
Mayors Of the cities Of New-lork, brooklyn anu
Long Island City for their approval or disap-
proyal. Under the Constitution as revised III
1894 this course must be taken with all SPECIAL
city laws, which are laws that relate 10 IL
"single city, or to less than all the citics or IL
"class" 1t was said at one time that the Hrea'-
or Ncw-York bill would not be laid before the
Mayors interested, but no one who has read inc
Constitution can claim that 1t Is general city
law such laws being defined as those when
relate to all the cities OF one OF more Grasses
As a special city act this bill must BE- submitted
70 the Mayors just as it would need to be pre-
scented to Mayor in case 1t related to only
single city.
That MAYORS Strong, Wurster and Gleason
will all approve 1t we regard as highly lmproD-
able Mr.. Wurster. in fact. has put himself on
record as favorlng resuDmission or a refcren-
dum. and il would justly cause establishment
II he should be persuaded TO atiix his signature
TO a bill which he knows Is opposed by large
mn iortv of his fellow citizens. If either Of the
,hrcc Mayors fails to approve the BILL !: must
be again passed by the Legislature before being
laid before the Governor for his action. Thus
il is apparcnt that there are several obstacles
.l,, e
law. The whip ofIthe Boss has been effectively
applled. and will. we presume be sufficient TO
force its passage for once; but we question
whether the Senator's and Asscmblymc Will
meekly bow before it second time. Then too.
II is not certain that after all, Governor Morton
will sign the bill He has been told that 10y So
doing he will esrange the Republicans of Brook
lyn from their party, while 1t Is plainly to his
interest to retain their loyal support
Let us grant, however. that the bill viii NJ
length be enacted into law. In that event The
League of Loyal Citizens has declared lis pur-
| nose of fighting consolidation In the courts just
as far and as long as possible, and II will spare
| no expense to make the fight successful one.
Should II fail, the contingencies would not then
be exhausted The charter which the commits
sion provided for by the bill Is TO draw up must
he submitted TO the Legislature Of 1897. Should
Il be passed by both houses, It would have To
run the gantlet OF the Mayors. and II not ac-
ceptcd by all, would then have 10 be passed a
second time prior 10 It's submission 20 the Gov
crnor to be elected next fall. Who can predict
how that offical-and no one can tell 10 when
| party lie will belong-will act when the qu"s
ton Is presented TO him: by the pending bill
an election for city officers i 10 be held In
Greater New-Yorli in November, 1891 II Is
scarcely likely that the legal questions that may
be raised by the opponents Of forcible consolidn-
ton will all be disposed Of by that time, and
so tina, election may be set down as decidedly
remote contingency.
II IS thus apparent that the course Of the con
soidation scheme Is not likely 10 he n smooth
and easy one. There too many snags and
pitfalls in the way. The sum total OF contin
gences Is large. 1t Will be truly remarkable
thing If all Of them are successfully encountered
In view Of the determined character of the op
| poetion