New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-11-18
TIE BROORLYN COMMISSIONS.


TIE BROOKLYN COMMISSIONS
IN the lato political contest in Brooklyn
there vas no issue more clearly drawn than
that of opposition to the system of Special
Commissions in the City Government. The
experiences of nearly q decade had convinced
Brooklyn taxpayers that the reckless ex-
penditure of money which had increased the
public debt to s39,0OO,OOO, tho high rate of
taxation (the highest of any city OF the
Union), and the slow increase in value of the
taxable property, were evils directly trace
able to the Special Commissions authorized
by the Legislature against tho wishes
Of the people. 1t was also recognized
that TO these baeful influences must be at
tributed the scandalous corruption OF the
judiciary and the courts, the venality OF
Brooklyn's legislative representatives,, and the
violations of the election laws. To express
that conviction and to labor for the reform OF
these abuses two great Reform Associations
had been organized, and a charter abOlishing
the Commissions was framed and sent to Al
bany. Treachery turned this Reform charter
into o means of continuing the Commissions
and strengthening the Ring which they
opposition TO the Commissions and make the
issue at the last election more distinct.
And 10 decision of that election was more
positively pronounced than that these Com
missions ought to be abolished. John w.
Hunter, the anti-Rlng candidate for Mayor,
denOuncng all Commissions rs irresponsible,
and demanding local government in the
hands of officers responsible to the people, was
supported by the Reformers irrespective of
party affiliations, and elected by q large major
ity, and he ran On the city proper only twenty
four hundred votes ahead Of bis ticket. John
G.. Perry. the agent of the Commissions, who
had permitted them to make the Reform char
ter Ring instrument, was defeated by 1900
votes in district he had previously carried
by 1867 majority. The Committee of Fifty, at
its last session, appointed Il subcommittee OF
fourteen members to examine the charter and
suggest such changes as will tend to reform
tho present Commissions out of existence; and
resolutions against the Commissions have also
been passed by the Committee of One Hundred.
Ii must be confessed that this is going to
work promptly, but it is none too soon. Not
only will these Commissions fight hard for
their lives, but every Ring of contractors and
sinecurists who live by them will contribute
time and money to prevent THEN dissolution.
The appeal for their abolition has to be made
TO Legislature unacquainted with the abuses
of the Commissions and indifferent to the
wrongs Of Brooklyn, because absorbed in the
affairs of other parts Of the State. Remem-
bering by what expenditure Of money and
corruption of legislators the Commissions have
prevailed in the past, it cannot be doubted that
they will make desperate struggle now for
existence. The difficulties of the work of re-
form are, therefore, not to be moderated.
But II Ia clear that it must be undertaken if
BROOKLYN wishes 20 be rid Of the Contractors
Ring, the Bridge Ring, tho Wallabout Ring,
the Reservoir Ring, and the countless corrupt
concerns which are connected with the De-
partments.
There are five Of these Commissions mis-
managing the local affairs of Brooklyn, all of
them political machines and most of them
corrupt. They are the Police, Park, Fire, and
Health Departments, and the Board of City
Works. All of them are independent of the
Mayor and responsible to no power, not even
that of the Legislature which created them.
They are constantly disputing about their re-
fict; aud there is no authority to compel
unity of action. The consequence is, naturally
enough, an inharmonious and expensive Gov
ernment as well as an inefficient ono. One
Commission alone in two years has spent
$4,000 in lawyers fees to enforce its author
ity against citizens in very doubtful proceedings.
The Board OF City Works under Its present
form and previous name has been constantly
in litigation growing out of its efforts to pave
the streets against the protests Of citizens
with costly patent pavements, whereby not
less than S2,5c0,0OO was literally wasted III
three or four years. This same Board, as we
have had occasion to show, has awarded n
single contract amounting to S1,2oO.OOO for tho
Hampstead Reservoir to William C. Kingsley,
the head Of tho Contractors and Bridge Ring,
although IN older Weather, and more re-
sponsible contractor offered TO do the work
for $4,000 loss. 1t has laid many miles Of