New-York tribune., 1873-05-24
REFORM IN BROOKLYN.
THE PEOPLE AROUSED.

s,oNsDuGsTONEIsS--vIEWS OF TAXPAYERS.
The revelations published in THE TRIBUNE
a, the secret purpose Of the Bridge Directors in asking
tn Tosture to consolidate instead Of fOrfetlng their
,ra,d stoek; the exposures OF the street-cpening
n IN she pepartnent OF Parks, and the impOsitlons
anon tax-payers practeed by the Board Of CITY Works
M compelling the unnecessary illiug of sunken
hots, and forcing useless patent water
soek upon every householder, have created
great interest in all circles in Brooklyn. and have
Awakened an opposition among those upon whom these
tmpositions heaviest which already promises prao-
tca reform. The change OF sentiment relative TO the
bridge management was sc marked as to defeat tne
scheme Of the Directors IN the Common Council by al
almost unanimous vote, as noticed ON Tuesday. In the
executive session OF the Committee OF Hundred.
Monday night the action Of the Board OF City Works IN
ordering sunken lots 10 be led at Immense and need
les cost to property owners roandy condemned;
and everywhere the street opening charges ana the
watereOck frauds we're severely denounced.
The amendment Controller SchrOeder's bill consoh-
dating the Bridge stock noticed IN Tuesdays ltuH
generally denounced by citizens with whom re-
poruers conversed. The suggestion was mace tn'e '
amendment retiring the present Directory ana iehl'
entity returning them they had invested gave
Mayor Powell the right 90 appoint the ten directors
who are 70 represent Brooklyn and thuS the PreSn ~
powerful Ring would still be able TO dictate 10 nm
who these ten directors shall be- A te" cohcedea
that it was better trust 20 the uncertain iuture' hols
that pupc sentiment would compel the Mayor TO act IN
tic public rather than the Ring interest than to 90 for
ward with the present Directory, in which all confidence
is lost Te signal failure OF the Aldermen to ndOrse
the directors although personally urged thereto by
Hugh Mclaughlin. the Leading member of the political
Ring who controls the primaries absolutely ever
ever Tweed did those OF Tammannv, was accepted gen
orally as rHc final rout Of the bridge management
Az OPPRESSIVE LAW DESOUNCED.
In discussion of the conduct OF the Board OF City
Works IN compelling property-oEners TO in their suuken
rrrr Tprn Mt
cited ana heartily approved by the Committee
Of One Hundred. In Chapter S5S, Section OF
the Laws OF 1871, it is provided that the Common
Council may devolyc upon the Board Of Water ana
Sewerage Commissioners tnOw the Board OF City Works.
duty 1hng any sunken lots declared by them
TO be a nuisance necessary % De filed in" Il
is also provided that previo1s act which
stated that properly should be assessed for any
huing any Improvement FOR more than
onehalfits value. should he repealed. Il stated IN
the Committee that under this act property had been
ordered be filed at rmuOus cost 70 propcrtvOwners
in some cases the expense of filing amounting to four
times The value OF the land and that for n
ing lois were given 10 political friends and lavOrites
merely for the sake OF obtaining political influence at
the polls A p<oDOsiton offered that the Legisa-
ture be empowered frame law providing that the
Health Board should hereafter decide whether the
Isteuce OF any sunken lot detrimental 70 public
health and that shall become duty hereafter
commend 70 Che Common Council the filing or such lots
may be seemed necessary whereupon the proper
legislation shall follow
A TRIBUNE reporter yesterday called upon prominent
citizens aud large taxpayers OF Brooklyn 10 ascertain
their views regard the exposures which have been
concerning the operations Of the Ring The senti
ment unanimous 10 favor OF THE TRmUSEs past
action ana the hope expressed that IL would CON
unue in the work Of exposure.
CONSERVATIVE CITIZENS vIEws.
AFR. Henry ~. Needhaui. large property-owner. said
Tie causes of our taxation are numerous:
First: Our growth during the past 30 years has
rapid ana the expenses FOR Sreesewers and
expenses have generally been larger than lir cost
have no doubt bdt perhaps the same rule M these DAYS
o. aggraud zsneIt aud fraud VIII apply cities
c9roa n ms gIid more r5 afs of omission man aets
commission on the pars Of the departments having
ensciiy ana knowiee ~ the duties OF the OH ias in
az tue work. than 10 positive ihtontOu OI fraud
bee charitable. Tue eyu arises largely from
elective aud legislative system 81 Commissioners
whereby politicians foised into positions where the
kuowied-e aud ssl OF cxperss alone should oe called
Second Our expenses for parks and other ornamental
works have been too neayy. Wlue brooklyn d the |
thru cy lu lAe Onlu IL Is NANNY CITY Oi residence
for mctUpotans. Tue vast resources OF extended COM
merce not lie here. The wealth OF onr I1ci men Is
mostly ln NtN-loI auu pas t4ISule 20 lIa eAenss,
hence revenue from taxation Of personal property Is
small. Nature MS nue park anu it would nave /
have upou % the present tne aud let It's future
,ersirv TIe enormous cost OF the new reservoir aud
OtueT public expenditures over thai OF contracts
winch COud have been made VIII other lower re- |
sp11abe bidders was. % say the least, "a mis- /
Iase of Judgment much To be ree.et.ed. al !
though authorized by law. Yet we snail nutllve /
all tlls. We have young, active, honest people. |
New-York and BROOKLYN viii grow about I'm DTOp1rtisu
Je growth the country, and the increase in value
estate sd" be IN about the same proper lOu
II expected that rapid growth VIII occur when
quick shall become tdct ana the county towns
miles ia inc whole county. London has Is square miles
Deduct puDhc grounds and allow y4o..lt lot for
every iontl hOast And "n-L al ~ Lst ls Da, % up on
tire tie county viii contain only aoout l,5lOOOJ peO
pe. With quick transit ana low prices Tor ots ~e can
1000 20 @GOOJ a0dl llOni peoie PEI aAAuh III TIC
city, VINO 20 10 New Jersey.
stiu We must have honest, efficient City Govern
ment We must cut down al except necessary eHehss
We should not pave ana grade streets, Du eNefs cut
and d the los OF private owners ia the luteI
est oI cuhtr'trto4a o P'l-ti'-.a' @ ti 't - J3t,i
property Immense amounts Oi foreign capital
are Invested IN and upon the ioe e our real estate our
mistakes have causcG large 10 be WltndraWn from
us. We 0e prudent ana honest 70 retain what we
nave as 10 enable Us " get more IAe people are
now thoroughly aroused this subice, ana they CON
Of last resort Justice, and the best IN
Ia al @ tss ts 49, s,,ii5 5e ncmpesd o d t9en
T. the lowest bidders exert themselves 20 see that
tines Dondsme1 " insure faithful perform
The difficulty seems TO be that such officers are too apt
the tci that they are SIMPLY trustees Of an
expires, trust and 20 that end they should not
pr sent award contracts 70 rIends party agOTes aC
eXOrDit prices but IOr lar amount or 70 the lowest
bidders not Omtiug iusst upon good securities. IL
IL the dnty having jurisdiction In such
ters 10 get work lowest possible prices,
performance whereof secured Dy gOOd bOudsncu and
afterwards 10 enforce the performance of the WORK or
in default thereof 10 collect tie amount from tine
THE PARK COMMISSION CRITICISED.
j. W Hunter another large prOpertyOwner In Brook
lyn Treasurer OF the Dime savings Bank, and leading
member Of the Reform Committed, said:
I've beard remarked to-day by many persons that
TIlg Tribune is doing remarkably good WORK. If
succeeds IA breaking up the Rng' aud exposing MS
machnatOns, VIII perform "a when never could be
hoped from the efforts local papers OF Brook
lyn TAG greatest burdens Which Brooklyn has Deen
called upon 20 bear have been saddled upon by the
4. II