The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-06-06
BROOKLYN BRIDGE.
The Cost Discussed Before the
Board Of Apportionment.
EFFORTS TO STOP THE WORK.
Arguments For and Against an Add
tionaI Appropriation.

thu BOARD OF Apportionment held special meeting
Yesterday Ia tho Mayors ofics Tor the purpose OF
giving the opponsn and advocates OF the Brooklyn
Bridge an opportunity OF beng heard. The Socisy
OF Political Reform and the Brooklyn Bridge trustees
were represented by several OF their members
Acting Mayor Roberts, Comptroller Kelly and TAI
Com missioner Wheeler were present.
OPPOSING THE STRUCTURE
ExJudge SIBERIAN made the Arst speech In oppo-
son 10 the construction OF the bridge. In opening
his speech ne asked how much had been paid by the
city OF New YORK toward the work.
me COMPTROLLER answered that the full one-third
OF IS 600 900 had already been paid.
Judge SHERMAN continued by stating that there
no evidence OF what had been done with the money
excep; inierentally the old stockholders mad been
pad up aud corporation started. Neither was
il known how much had been paid Tor the old stock.
Reouisi,ions had been made tor $500,000 per year
unln tie amount reached $s.OO0.oO0 There was no
evidence that the bridge would shsriiy DO COM
petcd The trustees called Tor an add
t.ouai 100000 This comparatively small
sum- but II became duty OF The Board
10 pause. The bridge, according TO present ugu.ing
cost nearly So 600 000 and would probably cost the
same amount over again before completion. Brook
lyn had already paid out about $4,000, COO. the
speaker present ed diagrams oil tue Brooklyn ana
other bridges. He alluded TO tho srucu re at Lewis
which Was ,O4o Iett long. lueTe pToUao'y ueScE
was better pult bidec The September gales
rolled Il up ike hammock aud away IL weni. The
Brooklyn Bridge, Judge Sherman contended, was
much more unsafe than the Lewiston structure.
There was danger OF its hyng away. but u would
begin 70 pc n Sa srst severe aas ~ .as au
tumn-no longer. Every ION put upon u increased
us rum. Tue rebound 10 osciat'ng must 90 the
work aud the bridge would undoubtedly Ia
time alter completion tumoe INTO
The East River. He should remind ms
hatt hAu nnp In
before crossing the bridge IN November or Docem0er
he formed opinions alter MY years lnvesti-
CATION OF bridges aud their mode Of construction.
INC Brooaiyn Bridge might be crossed nity times
with a long tram OF Pullman palace cars, ana on the
ly-nr i time The cars would tumble into the river
bridge ana all The more the cables gore strength
en- ed The more unsafe The bridge Disaster must
earsn Ise speaker further contended that three
structures similar 10 tho Brooklyn briuge ever Out Ia
iulS country were now IN existence de was however.
OF he opinion that the bridge woud probably iass iot
Dr. HALL urustee,-ll Is question OF dollars and
Judge sHsRMAx--It would cost moro. Of course. "a
gus Il properly. Ii wants to be sufficiently stayed
Unless you can hold II still II viii die OF lis own
weight II sufficiently suysd u will be sale.
Legal IMPLEMENTS.
Mr. John II. STkAHAN asked the attention OIL the
Hoard 10 Two legal points He went narrate the
Different statutes uuder which tho work was pro.
press.d aiter il mad been made public undertaking.
No souteoaed that he bridge, under these laws.
limitation. That was the maximum amount
York a and Brooklyn ro rha. point should be nrst
determined. Until further power was conferred i
to ISSUE iurtner bonds Tor such work. he asked
Mr. Murphy, the presiuent Of the Board or Trustees
y 40 a TAYpAYER's DIRECTIONS.
Mr. c. r. PoCrER urged that u was me duty OF the
Board 70 seo ina, 10, 00 osrx cleared as
thouS LIT and expsus" OF pAyiug the
sa awaad any
more moneys ceased wncn was convinced that tue
pridge could not be compctcd Tor THIS specihed
the Gentleman then argued that the DISTRACTIONS
com merce in sufficient 20 condemn the
bridge He reiterated Inc many objections frequently
'Ha0' - ras COUNCIL or POLITICAL ssyoRx
Mr. w. II. Webb, irom the Council vi POLITICAL Re-
form, presented lengthy paper, emDodying Inc OBJ
iections that organization. rms document set Iotn
al Inc prominent points frequently urged to OPPOSE
TON 10 The wurk-lnjury 10 commerce IN oostructng
pa 10 vessels through the East RIVER Increase ot
unnecessary taxation; depreca.ion OF uo.k pIopo,y
hons ol dollars; unsaieness OF the structure
nsef rs explained In tho remarks Of Judge sherman:
a wholly expcrim work, being the highest aud
longest IN the world. The document iurtnsr con-
demned the unseemy haste OF the trustees 10 pur-
iarly oil the New ork side The OF building tho
New FORK viauuct would also be several millions OF
dollars. Inc dcmouon oil part Of tho CITY Han Fark
the points OF objection introduced by Mr.. Strahan
were also included IN the paper.
Mr.. CAMPBELL stated that nc could mol now cnaftef
n v.sse 10 calcutta without paying an extra charge
for passing the Brooklyn bridge. This item Was in'
serted ~ the charter party.
PREslsgSr MURPHY DEFENDS rnr BRIDGE
Mr. HENRY u MURPHY, prcsident oil tue boaru Q!
Trustees. spoke IN advocacy oil tho bridge De said
hat the arsumentsjust uttcrsd " scntomen opposed
10 the bridge not new he considered ~ 10.
necessary 10 addr the Board OF Apportonment as
10 IA movers In appropria,ing New York's money.
| He thought tho Board had nothing 70 do with Tue
| questions brought up for tncir consideration He
c,ed the sections Of the Law OF 1876, which made the
/ br,dg. d pubic work. The whole scope aud meaning
OF these provisions were the two CONF
HAD luru "a
,ecs These gentlemen we're the solo agents Tor tho
completion. Of Inc bridge No one ESQ mad
amy control IN the matter. As 10 the poins
raised by Mr.. StrshaD, that $4,000. 900
was the MAXIMUM amount to be paid, Mr.. Murphy
held IL clear that tho sum ntepued to be appro.
pria,ea was 600 0O0 independent OF what mad been
paid previous TO the act 1875 Tho appropriation
should stop provided the bridge was completed within
the "a. 100000. II Mr.. Stranan's obJection were 70
Old good, the objection should have oeen
board OF ApporlIon ncns had nothing Whatever de
with tho supJect otncr than furnishing the money.
The Board Of Aldermen had already passed an osai'
| nance Authorizing the Comptroller TO borrow tha
| amount Of 81 500, 500 66-New York's share OF the
APPROPRIATED. Where, then, did the Board OF Appor.
onment get tho power 70 oppose this ordnsncer Inc
expedieucy necessity oil issuing bonds lay alone
wltn he Board OF Trustees Why should not New
YORK pay the money! II was authorized BY 40 act o.
| the gsiaiure-tne supreme law Of the land. The
passed The Legislature with only two dissenting
votes -
The controversy might atop there Tar ~ no (slr.
Murphy was concerned, nut he would take up tns
points vi oblecton raised IN the document Just read
he would, however. state that sucn paper was I'm
periinentiy before tho Board. IL mad nothing what
ever 70 do win tue question at Issue. As matter o
courtesy, however, no would undertake TO retute tne
arguments therein used. In this connection Mr.
Murphy road tho opinion Of Judge Johnson, IN III,
suit ommcnccd by A. b. Miller, 10 enJon the building
OF the bridge. Authorizes were cited IN this opinion
10 prove tho law OF Congress was paramount ~
determining regulations Is commerce on rvcri
over winch bridges are built In the case OF the
Brooklyn Bridge, Congress mad passed law Tor tho
government OF its construction. Judge Johnson mad
decided that the bridge not m obstruction undo
the law.
MUNICIPAL SCARS.
Colonel RoBERrs--You did not consult Judge Hack
EFT, Mr.. Murphy, on obstructiors. did your
Mir. Murphy laughed at the interrogatory, but dit
not answer II. Ho continued his argument No 10 Oh
structoDs and cononded that OF the L. 700 SCH
registered At Loyds there are only two that could
pass unacr the bridge. There were few ships o
steamships could not also pass without lowcrn
their opIails ntmasta This work could be done II
the space oil nve or ten minutes Were such Sigh
obstructions to interfere with so great work