New-York tribune., 1896-04-03
PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED.

longer an independent Rsookn the proud mistress @
Of its own destnies. There ought 10 De no suO'
break in Brooklyns munclpal history
PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED.
1sav nothing Of the dangers TO all the cities from
all this interval of underlined relationship but DO
say that the problems to be solved In combining
into one municipality the three cities ana the couh
try districts that united By the Dill Tor the
Greater New-York problems that call lot the
best wisdom of all the communities concerned
They cannot be solved out OF hand and the at
tempt ought not TO be made TO solve them 1t
may be taken for granted, think. that consolida-
ton Is the desire of vast majority OF the totai
population concerned. but that does not imply that
consolidation is wanted al every cost 1t may well
be believed that when the people voted In favor OF
consolidation two years ago they did 50 under the
impression that the Legislature OF the State OF
New-York could be trusted to deal with the prob
lem in a statesmanlke fashion. The proper order
u very simple: First the charter. then the discus
sion of the charter before the people. Just as when
the United States Government was formed 1t was
first the Constitution. then the discussion Of the
Constitution before the people. that. when adop-
ton of the charter follows discussion consolidation
will take place naturally and hopefully.
Mr. Mayor when one is called upon TO take action
that may vally affect the destiny of three millions
ana that is to do the right as God gives you to see
the right; Would you agree for yourself to 90 into
diyiduals and corporations on January !. 1898.
Th0us wsu s @ @ rca G Q, n
Character of the material Interests TO be affected
without first arranging for the orderly transfer Of
duties from those at present conducting the various
upon to conduct them? II you would not do these
things on the small scale upon wsch the interests
of ndiviiua.s. however great these interests may
be. stand in comparison with the Interests Of these
Consideration can Justify such a leap in the dark
sSS si,S Of Se"S0rh upon the bill that is no" before
William + PoCers was the next sneaker and
while he was holding the attention of Mayor
Strong there appeared in the chamber the i'm
posing form of Mayor Patrick Gleason, of Long
Island City. Mayor Strong apparently did not
know the other Mayor and kept his back turned
to him. after he had been escorted to the plat
FORM until Mr.. Rogers finished long speech.
THE VOTE NOT A BINDING EXPRESSION.
Mr. Rogers said he represented the Union
League Club. and he read resolutions which had
been passed by the club in opposition to the bill
under consideration. He reviewed the history
of the bill and argued that the vote consolida-
ton two years ago was nothing more than
expression OF willingness to have a union of the
two great cities. and that the vote was not a
binding expression of the peoples will the
subject Mr.. Rogers went into the question of
taxation and assessment. and declared that the
scheme Of equalization as proposed by the Dill
would mean that the Brooklyn tax rate would
be lower while expenditures would be higher
James C.. Carter spoke on behalf Of the City
Club He said that what was needed was more
light on the subject This city must not take a
nying leap In the dark. The multiplied diff
cuities Of government should be studied out.
stated and then submitted to the people. leap
IN the dark like this he said, was piece OF
LEGISLATION that had no precedent. ard. in view
Of the general ignorance prevailing upon the
aubtect of the results OF the annexation and Its
material effects the Mayor should refuse to
approve the bill Mr.. Carter ccrtended that
during the interregnum that elapses between
the enactment OF the measure and January /.
1aes there was the suggestion In the bill that
the State could step in and control the city
through a commission This usurration shouid
h. fought to the bitter end, he said as being
contrary TO the principles Of home rule The
measure on its face. Mr.. Carter said, showed
rreat chances Of political chcanery and double