New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-10
THE GREATER NEW-YoRK COMMISSION.

Governor Morton cannot be justly censureu
for want of elaboration in choosing nine men
TO fill out the Greater NewIork Commission
Indeed. there has been some disposition to com
plain that he has waited too long, In view OF
the magnitude Of the task which must be I'M
ished by the 1st Of February; and yet, since
he took so much time. it may be regretted that
he did not take little more. in the hope OF
being able ultimately TO constitute commis
sion of the highest quality.
It would be pleasant to say that the Gov
errors appointments were altogether adniira-
BILE: but with strict regard to truth. that cannot
be said 1t is proper 70 acknowledge that there
NAV be citizens pre-eminently qualified for the
work whose services he was unable TO secure
and that the commission so far as he is re-
sponsiblc for its character, does not realize his
own ideal. For though 1t is not a slight dis
tinction to be selected to assist in framing
charter for Greater New-York, the task is CON
siderably less enviabe than it would be under
other conditions The law which calls the COM
mission into existence was strcnuously OPP
posed by large proportion Of the people whose
interests 1t affects, the order of procedure Is
not natural and sensible, and there Is no assur-
| ance that the labor about to be begun will not
be in vain. If, in obedience to an ovcrwhelm-
| ing sentiment in favor Of consolidation the
commission were instructed to prepare scheme
| of municipal government upon the acceptance
| or rejection Of which the union Of these several
; communities was to depend 1t would enter
! upon its task with more enthusiasm, and more
| highly estimate the privilege Of performing the
public service intrlisted to II. The situation
being what it is those members Of the coiIiinis-
| sion who are best fitted for the work before
| them are sure to reflect with not a little mis-
| giving that it must be compressed into few
| months that by multitude OF citizens II Is not
| svmpatheticaly regarded, and that 1t still has
numerous obstacles to encounter before II can
| be embodied in law.
These considerations made 1t a matter OF the
utmost importance that Governor Mortons Sc
lections should represent the highest type OF
citizenship. Certainly New-York does not wish
| to be enlarged under conditions which VIII
| make good government more difficult of attain
| ment than it now Is nor does 1t wish to annex
| q suspicious and reluctant community. A mem
| Der of q business firm whose partners have
| embarked the Joint interests In large spccula
ton without his consent may justly complain,
Int he Is likely TO be consoed If the investment
proyes lucrative Similarly Brooklyn, though
now anxious and exasperated would be recon
ciled in measure by proofs that questionable
experiment was being conducted with great
care and skill, and might ultimately rejoice In
the success Of an undertaking Of which IT did
not originally approve. 1t was supremely de-
sirable that every member OF the Greater New
York Commission should be, and should be uni
versally known to be- a man incapable or yield
ing q hairs breadth to any sinister influence,
private or political; a man Of broad intelligence,
and q thorough representative Of that civic
VArip aud
Brooklyn into n purer atmosphere in recent
years. In reality the commission is not so con-
stituted as to It's entire membership, though we
hope II may be controlled. 1t contains more
than one man who has been identified with in
terests and ambitions Of which plan OF gov
eminent for the consolidated city ought not to
bear the faintest faint, and whose friends will
be surprised If IN this great affair he does not
descend below the level Of his opportunity and
obligation
We derive no satisfaction from the express
sion Of this belief, but prefer to turn toward
the hopeful features Of the case. The commits
sion comprises enough official experience In adj
ministration, enough familiarity with municipal
| affairs enough discreet zeal and enough legal
sbill to guarantee q creditable performance Of
its task, If those qualities are permitted to d.
rect its labOrs in every detail. We do not as
sumo in advance that the better elements will
be 0verruled, though 1t must be deeply regretted
that in all probability considerable energy
which might otherwise be utilized In cOnstruc-
tive work Will have to be expended In restrain
! ing mschievous tendencies We sincerely hope
. not only that this restraint, II needed will be
effective but also that in the performance OF
a duty so solemn and momentous as that con-
t fronting the commission those Of its members
whose appointment now causes reasonable ap
prehensiOn will make new record Of fidelity