New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-28
The News Of Brooklyn
HIS ATTITUDE UNCHANGED.
MAYOR WURsTER WILL NOT DISCUSS
THE CONSOLIDATION BILL.


pArIoNIsrs EXPECT THE cITYs ExEcU-
TIVE TO KEEP HIS ANTE ELECTION
PRoMIsEs-ONLY ONE REPLY TO
SEEKERS FOR INFORMATION.
"Mv attitude in regard to the bill remains I'M
changed" was the significant reply that Mayor
Wurster made TO q Tribune reporter late yester-
day afternoon in reply 10 the question as 10
what he would do with the Consolidation DILL
Throughout the day Mayor Wurster had
kept the strictest silence, and to all queries
he replied merely that he would soon De
obliged to pass upon the bill oihclaiiy'
that he would give public hearings upon
1t. and that it would not be proper for him 10
comment publicly upon 1t before he asks o'her
people to criticise it in his presence HIS later
statement however. that his attitude remains
unchanged doubtless shows his true feeiihg' anu
indicates that the Mayor will stick to his ante
election declaration and refuse TO sign any Dill
like that now before him. which does not pro-
vide for a referendum.
Mayor Wurster al his office for a Few hours
in the morning. despite his heavy cold.
Consolidationists were naturally jubilant over
the passage Of the BILL although Republicans OF
the consolidation persuasion could not force out OF
their thoughts the ur SAINT fact that the DIN lad
received the willing support of the entire ram
many delegation. The advocates of the greater
New York gleefully predicted the speedy cohsuih-
nation of their fond hopes, and expressed cohii-
dence that the Mayor would not oppose the meas
ure Persons who argued thus showed lack or
confidence In the Mayor, which they were unable
to justify by pointing to anything he has SAID
or done since entering office which marks MN as
a man who would knowingly stultify himself by
breaking a promise They can neither show that
hi ,icas in n
nor that he has changed his opinions on the ref
erendum question. The members of the League
of Loyal Citizens. on the other hand. although
they were confessedly disappointed when they
first heard Of the bills passage. put on good
show of confidence yesterday. and swore by the
Mayor a man of his word, VINO would YET Win
the dav for them 1t is universally conceded that
the attitude of BroOklyn's Mayor will have greater
weight with the up-theState Legislators than the
opinion of either New-York's or Long Island CITY
chief executive for the simple reason that BROOK
Ign has so much more at stake in the deal. Op-
ponents OF the bill in Brooklyn and Albany are
practically confident that the bill would be de-
feated in the Assembly If it returned there bear
ing marks of Mayor Wurster's disapprovaL Anti
Consolidationsts thus see. through Mayor Wurs-
ter's refusal to sign the measure. clean and easy
escape from what at first seemed an unpleasant
and annoying predicament
The Mayors statement that he would say
nothing about the bill until he had heard the
arguments presented in the hearings, led one or
two nersons TO inquire whether he would allow
anything he might hear there TO change ms
mind and thus turn him against his ante
election promises The Mayors friends said IN
reply to this. that the law compelled MIN ~
hold the hearings in any case, and that nc
would be manfestly unfair for him 10 give ms
own opinion on case upon WIFI" "c was "'
ing for testimony. - o.,so.,o,
Navor Wurster's copy Of the Consolidation
bill reached his office at 2:3O o'clock, some tine
after ne had started for home. The Mayor VIII
In q short time announce the date for the hrst
~ the hearings. The hearing must be aoVeI.
tised at least two days before 1t takes place, ~
will be held In the Mayors office In the Clt!
Hall early next week, and II is SAID tna'
MAYORS Strong and Wurster will make an ar
ranCement whereby each will be able 10 at.
tan6 The others hearings Mayor Gleason may
no brought into the arrangement. but MS I'M
concealed approval of the bill is considereu ao
an indication that he would not take mucn
trouble TO attend hearings in New-iorh anu
The Officials Of the League of Loyal Citizens
will place their case at the hearings IN tNe
hands of the most powerful champions OF their
cause 1t is said that they will attack the con, con,
stitutionality of the proposed law, but naturahy
enough they are not publishing any OF their di.
puments now and thus disclosing tfeir strongest
weapons 10 the enemy. Robert ID. Benedlct anu
William y Dykman will represent the League
and nrenare il is said, the strongest arguments
vet advanced against the union or the cities.
Mr. BENEDICT is now in Washington wOrKlhg up
on the case His argument will deal manly
with the constitutional phases or the PRONE H.
while Mr. Dykman will give his attention 10
other considerations. Fifteen days Y i'll be al
lowed 10 the Mayors in which TO approve OF ois,
anproye the bill II II is sent Dack dlsdpproNeu
nv any one Of the three Mayors. 1t must De car
ried through the Legislature second tlme Dy
majority votes before it goes to Governor Nor
ton for his signature.