New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-01-06
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAIL

OPPOSED TO THE GREATER NETWORK.
THE DEBT CONTRACTING POWERS OF COUNTIES
CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS REGARDING
BoARIis OF SUPERVISORS.
To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: There are two results which will necessarily
follow the adoption Of the proposition to consolidate
New York and Brooklyn with Richmond County ana
parts of Queens ana Westminster, to which think
public attention has not been sufficiently directed
have said "nocessary'-I mean If the provisions of
the Constitution Of the State arc observed. Those
results are these
! The boards of supervisors will he re-estahshed
in the county of Ncw-York and in Kings County,
ard those boards will have the same powers as to
expenditures the boards Of supervisors in the
other counties Of the State.
2 The power to contract debt which by the con
etituton is limited in New-York and Brooklyn
10 ten per cent of the assessed valuation of the
real estate of each city will then be increased to
twenty per cent.
do not propose to argue whether such results arc
desirable not Any who wish TO have those
boards OF supervisors rc-cstablished. or who wish
have the debt-contracting power doubled. Will.
OF course favor that which will produce those re-
suits; and those who ready to say. What is
little thing like the Constitution between friends?
will not care what the provisions Of the Constitution
in that regard are. But those who do not desire
those results should know that such results will
follow. and ] propose to show by the clear pro-
visions OF the Constitution that they will follow
l. The Constitution. Article III. Section &C. pro-
vdes that there shall be in the several counties.
cept in cities whose boundaries are the same as
those OF a county. a board Of supervisors" and
Section e provides that the Legislature shall. by
general laws. confer the boards OF supervisors
OF the several counties of the State such further
powers OF local legislation and administration the
Legislature may from time 10 time deem expedi-
emit"
II needs no argument TO show that when the city
NJ NoU Yor sha no Or 10
New-York. together with Brooklyn. Richmond
County and part of Queens and Westchester, Its
boundaries will not be the those OF a
county" as long as the counties Of New-York,
Kings and Richmond exist. 1t follows therefore,
either that two of these counties must be abolished
or each of the three must have its board OF super
visors with the powers OF every other board which
powers only be affected by general laws
which shall affect all boards of supervisors
the present Constitution expressly provides
that "the Legislature may abolish the county of
Hamilton" 1t does provide for the abolshing
OF any other county. On the contrary there are
provisions of the Constitution which practically
forbid the abolishng OF any other county. Thus il
is provided that Kings County shall have twenty
one members OF the Assembly and Richmond
County member article III, section 81 that the
First Senate District shall be suffolk and Richmond
article ILL., section 81 that every county hereto
fore established and separately organized. except
the county of Hamilton" shall always be entitled
TO member OF Assembly article III, section %;
that the first judicial department OF the State shall
consist OF the county Of New-York, which shall
have Justices and the rest of the State shall
be divided into three departments. each OF which
shall have five justices (Arcle VI section p; that
'.cerks OF the several counties shall be clerks Of
do not consider it possible under such pro-
visions of the Constitution TO abolish either Rich
tory within the county. OF New-York as we'll as
It follows therefore that if consolidation were
20 take erect there must pc nhuer me SUI
and in the county of New ork also
9, The tenth section Of Article VII Of the Con.
allowed to become indebted for any purpose or in
any manner to an amount which. including exist
Ing Indebtedness. shall exceed 10 per cent OF the
assessed valuation Of the real estate of such city
or county II needs no argument to show mat uil-
der this provision any county and any city may
sn sa MSere To hq IS @ II ana V or
county in city the county and the city may con-
TheTe o%s S the the the following
''Whenever hereafter the boundaries Of any city
shall become the same those of county. the
Cease and it would seem to follow that whenever
those of a county the restriction on the power Of
II the boundaries OF the city of New-York shall be
made to ne not the same as those Of county,
the city will nave the power to contract indebted
1 ness to the OF 10 per cent It's assessed
ts will have the power contract Indebtedness -
the amount of 70 per cent Of its assessed Valuation
result from the consolidation of all that ter
5D iS owe Would be to make of the Greater Sew
York conclomeraiion Of five territories. each Of
whose financial affairs must be governed by a
separate board Of supervisors. with its debt
contracting power. with city government perched
upon the five, with its own debt-contractng power.
Such monstrOsity in municipal government does
not commend itself to me. as citizen DESTROYS
of simplicity and economy in municipal affairs: And
it coInmends Itself still less to me Republican
when l think that the ruling power of that city
government. thus perched the five others. seems
likely TO be Tammany Hall. That there should be
any possibility that such result should he brought
about by the action Of Republican Legislature and
q Republican Governor IS of the wonders
of the time ROBERT u. BENEDICT
No. 6s Wal-st.. Dec q. 1895.