New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-12

conditions and on fair terms consolidation OF me
municipalities referred &c IL this bill may De OF
eided benefit but he Objects 10 rne sssential to
the well being OF the city OF Brooklyn anar smed
rrespective of terms and condItions that under the
terms Of this bill i IS possible perhaps pnmnirte
instrument. but that consolidation may be enesteo
If at all. by series OF separate DIS that IN.
ment of Board Of Supervisors in the county Of
Kings that 1T would be most disastrous 10 me IN.
Board and the cd forms OF county government, re-
stored TO lie and because 1t contains no Tow
to be submitted to tho people. : ~,
The Mayor Of New-York. in returning the p!i,.
says that the commercial Interests Of New-fork
dema nd consolidation the geographical location OF
the city and its natural facilities as commerce
point mark IL the metropolis of this continent.
its commercial and manufacturing interests Will es-
tabllsh II such. but the very fact OF municipality
so largely increased in population and in boundaries
will OF Itself advance the value OF property, invite
capital, enlarge commerce and in innumerabe otAer
ways Increase the potential power inherent IN 50
large a community. but he suggests that 1t Is re-
versal % the logical steps 10 be taken 20 hrst ue-
clare. in the present bill. the consolidation OF the
territory named. ana leave 1t 10 the future 10 Drg
about the methods of such consolidation lie
points out that. in his Judgment the provision Tor
commission to frame charter and report 10 the
Legislature of 1897 does not provide sufficient length
further suggests that the Legislature win probably
be called upon to grant an extension Of time for the
to the establishment OF commissions for the tenn
porary government of the new city. He does not
popular vote. but thinks that consoldation should
not be decreed until the Legislature adopts char
Greater New-York He regards consolidation as in
evable. and objects only to the method Of efecting
1t contemplated by this bill The three cities named
the only municipality affected to which the Con-
s,itution requires submission OF the pending hlll.
1t may be properly assumed that charter pre-
pared b. the Commission will provide fair terms TO
all the localities affected and as the Mayors OF the
three cities are to be members OF the commission
their suggestions will have great weight in framing
a charter upon conditions favorable TO their re-
spective cities.
NO CHANGE TILL. THE CHARTER COMES.
"A localities affected will be heard and all inter
ests win be considered by the Commission. and I'M
III a charter or plan Of government which may be
prepared shall be approved by the Legislature there
can be change OF existing conditions. In my an
nual essage TO the Legislature OF 1898. attention
called TO this subject and then suggested that
II would he the duty OF the Legislature 10 take
such further steps as are necessary 10 carry INTO
effect the wishes Of the people as expressed by me
vote taken in 1894. ] also suggested that "A commits
sion be at created composed of the most capa,
chafged with the power and duty to frame char
teT hut no action was taken by that Legisat to
2gan called attention to the matter. and suggested
hst 1T deeply concerns the interests and wishes OF
more than one-haf of the population or the state:
,omprised In several contiguous municipalities and
recommended that earnest and careful considera-
elusive action be taken REGARDING It at that session
is the appointment of Commission to consider the
proper Charter To the Commission provided by the
bill the pending problems concerning cons0hdation
for the time being transferred. and have no
hesitation in expressing the conviction that 1t VIII
be able TO devise scheme OF municipal government
Interests Sas Of the State State anu LEVI NORTON
AN APOLOGETIC DOCUMENT.
II cannot be said that this statement gives rea-
sons for the Governors action. 1t merely hints
ut them 1t is apologize in tone. The Governor
admits the force cf the argument made by Will
lam c. Redfeld Seth Low, the Rev. Richard s
Storrs and others. that until the State Constitu-
ton itself is amended by saying that the autono-
my of the counties of Kings. New-York, Queens
and Richmond must be preserved until changed
by constitutional amendment. boards of super
yisors must be re-establ;shed In the counties Of
Kings and New-YOrk and the board already ex-
listing in the county Of Richmond must be re-
tanned" There thus, according to his own state
ment will be dual government in Greater New
York: the territory will be partly under the ad-
ministration of the Greater New-York munich
panty and partly under the administration OF
county officials
1t would seem that the Greater New-York act.
upon the Governors own confession. would eetab-
lish government Of conflicting powers over, the
Greater New-York territory But he appears to
think that the Greater New-York Commission
will itself have small powers. that 1t will merely
consider "fhe questions connected with the prep
aration of "a proper charter" and make report
10 the Legislature. AS 10 what the Legislature
will do with the Greater New-York charter he
does not hint Al that he seems 10 see in the bill
IS the creations o; another Greater Eew-York
Commission whose members will consider the
same questions that have already been thought
about for several years by the old Greater New
York Commission.
The Governor will not appoint the members OF
the Greater New-York Commission for two OF
three weeks" said Colonel Ashley w. Cole, the
Governors private secretary. late this afternoon
for he desires to take great care in making the
selection.
TEXT OF THE LAW.
The following is the Greater New-York bill:
An act consolidating the local governments Of tht
Territory within the city and county or New YORK
the counties of Kings and Richmond, ana Iona
Island City and the towns of Newtown. flushni
and Jamaica, and part Of the town OF Hempstead
In the county OF Queens, ana providing for IN
prepara ton OF bills Tor enactment into laws Tor th
government thereof VI, ..o-,
The peop.e OF the State OF New-Iork, representeN
In Senate and Assembly, do enact as foilows
Section /. Al the municipal CORPORATIONS an