New-York tribune., 1878-07-05
NEW. YORK AND BROOKLYN BRIDGE.

THE BOARD OF APPORIIONMENTs NEGLECT TO AP
PROPRIATE MORE MONEY INTENIIONAL-MR.
sTRAHAN's ARGUMENT AGAINST FURTHER PAY
MENTs,
The completion of the Brooklyn Bridge may
be greatly delayed II the Board OF AppOrtiOnment per
sists in its intentional neglect TO appropriate the
$500, 900 now due New-York toward its construc-
ton. Moreover, the State may witness law suit be-
tween the great cities concerning further payments
carried on with bitterness fought to the Court Of
Appeals for decision. In effect, the Board Of AppOr
tonment has said already that II has doubts about the
legality of further appropriations by Newlork for the
bridge enterprise, and would consult with lawyers be-
fore giving another dollar.
Several law points IN opposition to more payments
were stated to the Board OF AppOrtOnment by ]. II.
Straban recently and copy Of them ordered to be
sent TO Henry C. Murphy president Of the Bridge Trus
tees, and an answer requested OF him. Mr..
Murphy has yet sent any As the points of
Mr. strahan have not hitherto been made public
mary of them may be Of interest Mr. strahan disputes
the consttuOnay Of the latest act passed by the Leg
slature authorizing NewYork to furnish money for the
BRIDGE and he asserts that II the act s eOnstu-
trustees not carrying out its commands
that the limit Of expenditure for the bridge
named by the Legislature will not De eE9eeded Until
the trustees clearly show that the cost completing the
bridge Will exceed S13 OO0 he advises the board
TO refuse to appropriate any money for the enter
prise Under the original act OF incorporation Of the
bridge company, passed by the Legislature in 1867
New-York paid Sl,5OO,0O0; Brooklyn, $4,000,
600, and private stockholders S349,S00. IL
1874 the Legislature passed another law by
which the private stockholders to be bought out
and the cities TO become tho sole But the
same year q Constitutional Amendment was adopted
declaring that "No county city, town, village, shall
hereafter give loan s money credit TO in aid OF
any individual association corporation. become
indirectly the OF stock In bonds OF any
citation corporation, shall any such county city,
town, village be allowed 20 incur any Indebtedness
except for county. city, town. or village purposes"
This rendered null the law authorizing SewYOrk 10 buy
the stock OF The New-YoIk Bridge Company"
In the following year, 1870 the Legislature attempted
by unconstitutional method, In MIR. Strahan's Opn-
iOn 70 evade the amendment. The work OF ~ ldng
bridge should not be done by the Cities Of New York and
BroOkln but II might be done by consolidated dis
trict" composed OF the Cities OF Brooklyn and New
York. This avoided constitutional objection but
did not avoid anotler-the command OF the Constitution
that no city shall incur any Indebtedness except for
the purposes of such city" BY the Act OF 1875 the
dertaKng declared 10 be purpose OF the consOi-
dated district. IL clearly, therefore, Mr. Stra~
han argued, not a purpose Of the City OF NewYork.
Mr. srahan also expressed his doubts whether after the
expenditure OF the original eight millions authorized by
the Act Of 1867 tbsCity Of EewYork could be lawfully