New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-07
AZ LNEONNLRLE PROPONITION y.

4 person writing from Brooklyn on postal
card over the signature Autonomy" makes this
statement and inquiry: 1--WE don't like TO Ice
"swamped by Tammany 1t is doubtful
"whchcr a majority of the citizens ever want
"ed union with Ncw-York. Why should not
"the Governor at once convene the Legislature,
"to repeal the Consolidation act and the charter
"of the Greater New-York and to provide for Il
special election of municipal officers under
present charters:" We suppose that a good
many persons may have entertained the same
thought since the clectio.. not with any cxpcca-
ton that the thing will he done or real desire
that it should be. but with sudden and rather
surprising realization that there is no cOnStitu
tional obstacle in the way. The charter IS GER
tainly legislative act, which the Legislature
with the consent Of the Governor has power 10
repeal at any time. either before or after 1t goes
into operation 1t is equally certain. however,
that the Legislature Will do nothing of the sort
This is not because the consolidation scheme in
general and the new instrument Of government
in particular were heartily approved by a major
ity either Of the people or Of their represent
atiyes at Albany year ago. on the contrary
there Is much reason to believe that neither
throughout the rest of the State nor in tn"
communities Immediately concerned was public
opinion favorable to the Undertaking: while II
Is a matter of absolute knowledge that the Re-
publican majority In the last Legislature would
never have put the business through as IL was
planned except under the imperative orders OF
the boss whose leadership has now turned the
government Of three million people over TO
Tammany Hall for ut least four years
There are. however. several good reasons why
there is not the remoicSt possibility that the
suggestion of a Disguised citizen Of Brooklyn
Will he carried out In the first place The De-
mOcracy of the State is tubilant over the Siiua-
ton which has been arranged for It's benefit.
The Tammany delegation In The last Leg. stature
made show of opposition to the consolidation
scheme. but its hostility was spurious. rs Shee-
han cynically confessed so soon rs it was safe
10 do 50. Tammany members were under IN
structions all the time 10 furnish as many votes
as might be necessary 10 pass the bill and at
several crises their assistance was mdispcn-
sable. Their" would be no Tammany votes FOR
a repeal In the second place. there Is no req
son to suppose that Plat. having been Of such
enormous value To Tammany in the recent clcc-
ton, expects to find his circumstances under
the coming administration less satisfactory than
they have been under the one now drawing To
a close, or would be after such cOnvuSlOn as
Brooklyn inquirer proposes. Nor, indeed. is
1t by any means certain that either at "A special
session prior TO January | AT the regular
session thereafter he could enforce his VIII as
to any important matter upon Republican As
sembymen under whose eyes he has just made
so conclusive an exposition Of himself
But in addition to these direct legislative OBJ
stacles in the way Of the singular proposition
upon which we are commenting must bc rcck-
oned the general indispoSlton of the people and
their representatives 10 make themselves abso-
lutcly ridiculous except under the sterncst ne
ceSsity The whole world has been watching
our exploit Of municipal consolidation and New
York is not going 10 make a confession Of i'm
bccility until it Is compelled 10. For better or
worse. il has been agreed that the communities
surrounding NcwYork Bay shall merge their
corporate lives and civic Interests in one great
municipality. and the m0mentouS experiment
will begin promptly January |.