River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1898-01-06
GREATER NEW YORK.
Enthusiastic crowds Celebrate Its
Innnt.n rntInn-nr.iIIian Accnn.


New York, Jan. 1.-The exit of the old
year and the inauguration Of Greater
New York was celebrated fittingly Fri.
day night. One Of the events that
marked the occasion was a grand pa
rade, conducted under the auspices Of
the New York journal and Advertiser.
The scene IN City 1Iall park previous to
the arrival there OF the procession was
spectacular and brilliant. Although
the head of the parade was not expected
10 reach that point much before mid
eight the park was crowded as carly
as eight O'Clock, and the crowd
struggled and iostled for an hour or
more when, ON the arrival of Police
Captain Cross ia command of the small
army OF officers, the park invaders were
driven to the street line, where they
were held in chez by a Gordon of police.
Only those entitled by passes were al
lowed within the park limits.
The passing of Brooklyn as a munici
pality into that Of the Greater New
York was observed with elaborate cere-
mony at the Brooklyn city hall. With
in the building was handsomely dee
Grated The exercises began with re-
ception in the mayors Office. Later
Mayor Wurstcr presided at a meeting
held in the common council chamber.
st. Clair McKelway delivered an ora
ton, From Greater to Greater" This
was followed by the reading of a poem
"rhe Passing OF Brooklyn" by Will
Carlton Rev. j. NJ Farrar then deliv-
cred an address ON Commerce and
Church" after which Rev. Father Syl-
vester Malone pronounced the benedic-
ton During the night about 10000
people attended the reception at the
city han. where at midnight the bell in
the tower rang in tho new year aud the
new city.
Greater New York is now the second city
Of the world and her citizens have entered
upou what is believed to be the greatest
problen OF municipal government ever pre-
scented With the last stroke of the clock
at midnight announcing the advent of the
new year there was born city such as the
emperors and kings Of history would have
deemed great for an empire For SIX
months. until the machinery Of the new
municipality gets into motion, the mayor
of Greater New York has the power of an
autocrat. lie may appoint officials with
salaries running into the thousands with
as lavish hand as ever emperor treated
his favoritcs. The mayor will appoint every
department head in the city except the
comptroller, who IS elected for four years
He will appoint all commissioners, all JUS
tices Of interior criminal courts, all the
members Of the school boards, with the eN-
ceptiou Of tho commissioner of education
the justices Of special sessions and the po-
lice magistrates ana is given the power to
remove any official in New York and APP
point his successor There are five
borouehs in Greater New York, namely:
Manhattan, Brooklyn. Bronx, Queens and
Richmond The municipal legislature con
sists of the council, with Is members, and
board OF aldermen Of go members. The
president of the council was elected by the
people The president Of the board of al
dermen will be chosen by the members OF
that body Mayor Van Wyck Is given
power to veto any ordinance or resolution
of either body of the municipal assembly
unless fve-siXths of the members Of both
houses declare otherwise. Each of the
FIVE boroughs has borough president. but
his principal duty Is TO preside over the va
ri1us local bodies in his borough