New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-01-23
SUGGESTIONS TO THE COMMITTEE.


CORPORATION COUNSEL SCOTT WRITES TO StlNA-
TOR LEXoW.
Cornoraton Counsel Scott addressed an important
letter Yesterday to Senator Clarence Lexow' chaf-
man Of the joint committee which is considering
Tho Greater New-York question. 1t was under
stood that In this letter the Corporation CouAsei
has given voice to the sentiments OF Mayor NUons
on the matters of moment which MT. Scot' u''
cusses. After giving reasons for writing 10
Senator Iexow. the Corporation Couhsei p'u"se'
into the gst of the subject. and says:
The proposition touching the proposed !eglsiaton
is to consolidate into one munclpaiN(y az The
city of brooklyn. Long Island CITY kic fnr,a1n
on;Ss towns and parts Of towns Long Island
adjacent TO the present city Of BrookIyn shall
bs ocoHnsoidated into and hereafter shall form one
city apparently simple ana to- to treat all
portlons Of the proposed consolidated city fapy
equab will REQUIRE the sH boz 1l by
your committee acting in its ofclaI Gapass s' TO
You are doubtless aware the existent munic-
pal inIS ane corporation differ widely each
other to the amount Of rhe ssns bonds under
the nroysions of the Constitution as to their rev
enreos as Of taxation and their propoTton to the
actual value of the property assessed as 10 tne
rae d oi "a he present state OF efficiency of the sew
s Of %unic eli has at the
fe oani time margin Of debi-issung capacity un-
9er the limitation aSed by the Constitution amount
The real estate this city is currently repoT ye
age rate not much exceeding 60 per cent OF ~ re a
value in the market tpon TINS asn below per
cent and the city has, by virtue OF IT'S anf sror
charters and for other reasons aIes or abou; ST.
COO 600 per annum. r. r;rs tho c,.v of
As If am correctly informed. has pretty
nasrlv # not quite reached its debssuing capac
nS:es of Of taxation at an rate approachin,s
very nearly and in many eases nDon this Valuation
the average rate is aboyt per cent f smaer
cnmparative valuation: and the city of Brooklyn as
am Informed. has no considerable source oi xo
nue. other than that which is derived from TAXA
apprehend similar mel s would DE
found to exist if careful examination were ddo oS
of the financial condition and resources OF eaen vi
the Sther WIN into this large city
The arguments and discussions which your com
es a n9w HgaE 20 tn io
be- and doubtless will be- instructive TO some extent
those two cities upon this important question; but
after you shall have ascertaned those WISHES anu anu
desires If YOU deem II proper TO proceed WIN me
subject and recommend consolida ton. you VIII ma
10 ssouG be made as to the
tion OF present Indebtedness of the several exsuhg
municpaiities OF the disposition hereafter TO be
made Of such revenues as each municipality may
row have, and Of the disposition hereafter OF the
The suggestion that l desire make to you is
that your committee should IS soon as practlcaDle,
ADDRESS a circular letter 10 the proper officers of
each of the municipalities proposed to be Included IN
the consolidation. asking for formal ana accurae
statements as to the condition of each Of such
municipalities in the particulars to which have re-
ferred and in such other particulars as VIII douDt-
less occur to your committee upon consideration OF
the question. -,
II will probably take little time for the
preparation of these statements and 1t would there
fore seem that the sooner such request IS nlaue lhe
sooner vii. your committee be in position TO con-
slider the matter with that full comprehension which
am sure you desire to possess.
I
ycur committee because 1t Is very difficult 10 OBJ
tain this information except in some manner such
as | have suggested. Some time ago / made an
effort to obtain this information myseN ana folnd
that so far concerns certain localities, 1t was i'm
possible obtain satisfactory statement OF their
financial condition.
Without at present expressing any opinion 10
the desirability of consolidating the cities of New
York Brooklyn and Long Island City. may noi
beg your committee 10 take into very serious con-
at the outset eliminate that portion of the PROPOSE
ton which contemplates the inclusion OF Richmond
County in this consolidated city? That county; as
New-York Bay, many miles distant from the pres
ent city of New York too far 10 ever permit of the
erection of a bridge between the two and while
not so far from the city of Brooklyn. yet separated
from II by the ship channel, which itself Will prob
ably render the erection of bridge impracticabl'
for many years to come.
The county is for the most part sparsoly settled
there being considerable towns or villages upor
IT, and It's inclusion into the consolidated city would
necessitate the attempt 10 apply meropoilta,
methods and appliances to large territory which
is now purely country. which will be separated from
the other parts of the city by water which will BIZ
accessible otherwise than by water transportation
only by going through an adjacent state. ant
which has no geographical or logical reason FOL
AS you will recollect. the Legislature of last yea
annexed to this city small piece OF territory Tor
merly comprising part OF WESTMINSTER county
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