New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-11
MR.. SAXTON OPPOSED TO 1T.
HE AND DIR sTORRs DENOUNCE FORCE
BILE CONSOLIDATION.

THE BROOKLYN PREACHER AND THE LIEU
TENANT GOVERNOR IN WHICH THE
LATTER SHOWS THE DANGEP AND
FOLLY OF PLATT's GREATER
NEW YORK SCHEME.
Albany. March 10 (spe ciaD.-The Greater New
York bill Of Senator LeXow received singing
lIows to-day at the hands Of IAeutenant-Gov-
error Saxton and the Rev Or. Richard S. Storrs
OF BROOKLYN. each Of whom publishes letter
in opposition to the measure. giving at length
the reasons why II ought not TO become law
They both express fears that refusa al OF the
LEGISLATURE to grant the request Of the Republic
cans of Brooklyn at least for referendum on
the charter for Greater New-York may bring
disaster upon the Republican party at the polls
in Kings County next fall. They agree
that the charter for Greater New-fo rk
should be drawn up first ana then' II
it is acceptable to the cities concerned. con-
so,dation should. be decreed First the charter
end then consolidation by the enactment of the
charter-that is the logical order OF events, says
Mr.. Saxton.
Mr. SaXton also says: In constructing the
Greater New-York ! fear we will also construct
the Greater Tammany. and that the beneiicent
government now intrenched In Brooklyn VIII be
exchanged for something even worse than your
city suffered under during the reign or the
Willoughby-st. dictator. As TO the effect the
nending measure will have upon the Republican
vote in Brooklyn the coming fall, am not III
position to form anything like an accurate judg-
ment but must confess TO very grave apprehen-
sions"
DIR STORRS'S LETTER.
Lieutenant Governor Saxtons letter was evoked
by that of the Rev. Dr. Storrs. who wrote under
date of March I. follows
Nv DEER Mr. Saxton: Ny only apology for writ
ing this note must be found the facts that have
held you In high esteem for several years ana re-
toward placing you in your present Office; that this
is a critical time In the history OF the Guy WIN
s Mnc hat haS onr ofes were
he glad 10 have you write to me as irahKF az
In very large class OF our ci,izens-among whom,
are those wei triined. law abiding prnic-spri "a
dgnation at the attitude Of the Legislature toward
the municipal life Of this city, the second IN me
years and has contributed It's fair share TO the
public prosperity 1t is believed 10 be the purpose
legislature terminate the separate unicpal nc
Of bT0chyn by mersng iHny apS Sn "a do his
without allowing opportunity To our i.lp"" peopl"
TO express assent or dissent toward measure OF
city and themselves.
This presents Itself to absolute tyranny. and
relieved by the papably fictitious prctence that
decisive vote on ,he vast question was taken here
constituted by different organic Jaw A. mat
ter Of factas YOU. OF course. are aw1re-no vote
on any legislative proposal was ever thus allowed
taken. our people were simply permitted 10 ex-
press their vague wishes In regard TO future IN.
suggestion in the air and even concerning ms they
were carefully adnoni,A-I lhr W.. sN a ,
To say that A plurality Of wishes 80 expressed
exer md
Of 81 out OF voting list o. iAW-"as popu.ar
decision In favor 81 consodaon As now ean ZEN,
similar expression. BY 9ne-scventh OF per cen,
indorse subsequent plan 10 sell the city Hall ana
abolish the po..ce or that such an EXPRESSION Tor
BAR, 10 submit our-eves 10 a military dctaiorsh'n
To base the present proposed msasi Of -cSi-'a,
IRE not then in exist 81 on that ,o-cali"l yo,c
third OF registered citizens TOOK no part wh';,
ever-this appears TO us either nagrhnt political
trick or a startling exhibition - the unbrd.cd .n-
science OF power Give The city a. II !, io.iay a
question and by the result VIII ABIDE. Do not
gpae5ake to '[sS Se rsnk Of ga beG @
STATE COMMISSIONS FEARED
Another matter is not TO be forgotten The for
mutation OF suitable charter for the inst AMI wise
government Of more than three millions OF people
not hitherto municipality combined and scattered
OF 80 square miles Is a work which
cannot he done In hurry 10y even the ablest and
most exper, legislators. Ii must occupy period Of
several ycars-as long. perhaps. as your State Cap
itol has taken building. II IL understood here 10
lie in the plans OF those who managing lcgisa
ton at Albany TO have the chief affairs OF these
cities administered In the time. not by their
elected officers. but by State commissions, APP
pointed at the Capitol. In naming which We. OF
course shall have no voice. We have certain
knowledge the subject. though the conviction ex
lists In many minds that In one way or another,
directly or Indirectly this result "a TO be
cured lf this prove to be true there VII undoubt-
nothing can Withstand. We have had such com
missions in the past. and We know what they mean.
interval which must elapse before suitable
charter can be framed. published and accepted. am
OF the river do not become as furnace seven times
heated. 1t will be plain political atrocity to re-
tnuance Of our own civic life II further to
be treated not entitled to govern ourselves. the
H certaniy have BEEN r"ached and ,He conse
qrences Will no, be for IA alone.
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN PERIL
do not know whether the people in authority ut
Albany know or what is TO be the effect OF this
high handed and dangerous scheme on existing po-
litica parties. but that seems 10 me matter de-
serving more or less thought | have myself been a
steadfast and an earnest Republican In National
and State politics the party began be- forty
years ago | have hoped that II would continue to
be Influential. II not dominant. in this city for
to come az II has been in the recent past II the
scheme OF cons9 ldauoh now rroposeu ~ pashe'l
without our popular ana corporate consent by Re
publican Legislature. and IL approved by Repub-
lican Governor. my absolute conviction Is that there
will not be left here Republican party strong
enough to exert the smallest influence either
local genera. politics IN time To come.
The feeling among NC toward this OdiOus plan for
sitting the general voice Of Brooklyn for wlp.ng 1t
from The list Of American cities without It's consent.
and sinking IL amid the turbulent surges OF New
YOrk-it Il not n mild dissent OF judgment 1t ~ not
a transient and superficial stir Of sentiment IL has
in il the element OF determined. consclentous un-
yielding resistance. the element indeed. OF righteous
passion which no party leaders can safely ignore
or defy. Thu Republican party. becoming respon-
sble for the plan Will be thereafter In this city
and county ] am utterly certain. las n rolling
thing before the whirl Wind and any person emil
nent that party who -xpects effective assistance
here In effort for the Presidency or for other
high Office may well begin at once building else
where his ladders to the moon The brutal and
greedy domination of Tammany Hall viii DE
more tolerable 10 because imposed by the craft
q In h..Ia h4d Ill.