New-York tribune., 1922-04-26

facts as arc required in order to sus-
tain claim that consolidation should
/ take place.
"The burden Of sustaining such a
claim rests upon it's supporters. To
succeed they must present for review
such facts as show that public cor
vcnencc and necessity demand that \
consolidation take place. II has been
said the principal argument thst has
been used by those who hive favored
consolidation, is that It will be an ~
to be nurturcd by Tammany politicians
to annex the lower portion of the
county to New York City.
THAT argument comes to this; The
state desires TO fabricate new part
of its governmental machinery, in the
form Of the City Of Westchester, to
prevent improper action Of another part
Of it's machinery in the form Of the
City Of New York. The statement Of
the argument is it's refutRtion. Correct
tho action of the New York part Of the
machinery. and tho proposed new part
is unnecessary.
Plan Open to Injustices
Cancellations often result in In
justice. Examples Of it may easily be
imagined. II will work hard ship, for
instance, where some of the cities and
villages nre largely IN debt and other.
owe nothing, as the residents in tho
non indebted villages must neces sarily
submit to increased burdens in conse-
quoncc of the indebtedness Of their
associates. Hardships may also be
suffered by the villages which embrace
within their boundaries the most val
uablc lands. Then, these evils Of mu-
nicipal government arc more apt to
exist in respect Of large cities covering
large areas than In respect of small
communities:
q. Men best fitted by intelligence,
business experience, capacity and moral
character for city governors are not
generally chosen.
2-Those chosen are too apt to
merRe individual conscience In their
sons lose their individual conscience
when incorporated, doesn't it follow
that the danger Of losing 1t IS greater
when entering a public corporation?
%. The administration Of municipal
affairs is too often unwise and cxtrav-
agant.
a. No municipal government will IN
the long run be other than extravagant
and unwise where mem bers Of the gov
erning body have no substantial inter
est in the community,
IS. To insure good governnoe ent there
must be a real identity Of lnterest be-
tween members OF the governing BODY
and the municipality.
"OY late, we have drfted from the
original idea Of the chief function of
government, i. e, simply to preserve
peace and order by clothing the state
with power to accomplish purposes
which can better be left to private en-
terprise And in that connection, leg
islatures have conferred upon cities, a
tho suggestion Of interested persons,
powers foreign to the nature OF those
institutions, and not necessary to en-
able them to discharge the appropriate
functions and duties Of local admins
tration.
The powers OF the state, town, city,
village and borough should not extend
beyond the needs of the public health,
welfare, safety and convenience Of the
inhabitants
"If these powers can be more eff
GENTLY exercised By consolidating all
of the cities, towns, villages, ct cetcra
Of Wcs leicester County into one citv.
let it be done. But before it. is at
tempted the supporters should present
case so strong as 20 leave no reason
sble doubt of the outcome The sub
iect is one Of great delicacy and Diff
Guilty and the decisive facts arc obvious
ly beyond the range Of the vision Of
the few persons whose names have
been connected with 1t in the news
papers"
From now on The Tribune will pub
lish the news of the struggle to change
the form of government in Westchegte-
County as it DEVELOPS