New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-02-18
DIFFERENCES HARD TO SETTLE.
REASONS WHY ELLIOTT T. SHEPARD AND T. b
sHAFER DO NOT AGREE.

sHAFER 30 NOT AGREF.
Aldermen Hyatt, Stewart and Keenan, con-
stitutiug the Law Committee Of the Board OF Aldermen
met Yesterday 10 hear statements from Elliott +.
Shepard and T. T. Shafer the commissioners appointed
to codify The city ordnance regarding tie differences
between Them and the reasons why they had not agreed
upon a reuort Mr. Shepard said there was no way 10
tell what the municipal laws OF the city were.
The matter had been still further cohpnca'ou
by the passage Of new laws relauus !"
tho city, creating new commissions aho IAN
ing away the larger part Of the powers OF the
Board OF Aldermen. Hc said it was Impossible 10 pro
cure copies of oil existing ordinances mat he paid $50
for copy OF the ordinances OF 1866 aud that those OF
1877 were not III print He thought the only way 10 VT
range the differences between himself ana BIZ 0hc'
would be for Mr.. Shafer to resign
Mr. shafcr sad he was tho first TO originate this cod
ja.aton bv a suggestion sent to the Board OF Alder
men, Francis L. Stctson and Elliott F. shepard were
appointed commissioners March Is, 1873 but in Jan
uary ST, they had made no report, when one was
called for hy the Board Of Aldermen. Two reports 'heh
we're TN and Mr. StctSou soon pec""
he could not agree with bis associate lie (Mr' Sh"oj
was then appointed by Mayor Ely ana soon AFTER III
connection with Mr.. Shepard, hired a room in iiIE
TRIBUNE building h. could not Ect IN. 0lcPhiu I"
attend any Of the duties Of the Office bl Ct En- -
agree how the work shonld be done; ihtn vi. 9a'cr
went on and completed It, lie worked hara foT seven
months, and then waited long u0i' Tor NJ oH'iI
10 review the work with him. hut c'hd hol 81 iidt
gentleman 10 do so Finally, at call from members
OF The Council. he sent III his report 49,.
He asserted that Mr.. Shepard was anxious Tor me
honor Of coiviug the laws. hut did no work; ond IN
order to e. rIt "I the honor tid IcGufST Sr1 =
The Board did not consent, hui gave NJ. sh'Pa1
umc 10 send In another report. which he ui
after a long e These two reports were thCD referred
10 the commissioners for Hgrcctu. nj. Nh shepard
the oTors Of he cod nation. ord or rn- Kim ~ ooo,
and aitcIw I'd 5000 If lie would resign, winch Nr
wouldn't lie claimed that Mr. shepard had ncNcTtucut
five DAYS woIk on The codihcaton, uut dcosaou il All
toa clerk ...., ..-... ,,....... -, ~
sacnasds face. ANA accused him Of being no htA';t
mun" MI -. pari mad. short reply. @iainf l".. DC
ciatc. IACn The committee adjourned
STRENGTH or THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE.
The subcommittee appointed by the As
se,nhy Committee on Commerce 10 take testimony IN
regard TO tho El-t River Bidge continued its hearing
yesterday The original plan OF tho bridge, copy OF
tie one sontt the Var Department, was shown Tne
evidence related mainly 10 the obstruction 20 the nay!
cation cf the uycr, ana TO the strength and snfety
the bridge the conclusion OF the hearing the COM
mittce adjourned 10 one week from to-day.
Henry C. Murphy, president Of tho bridge trustees,
submitted statement Of the assessments paid toward
the construction OF the bridge, and the original estimate
of It's made by John A. Rocblng He sand that in
his testimony GU Saturday he had not included in the
fna cost of the completed work the Of tho no
tive power necessary carry the bridge,
which would add about 500 900 $4,000 10 the cost.
He corrected his estimate OF Tho revenue 10 Ne de-
rived from the rental of the stores under the bridge
approaches, which re thought on further consideration
wuull bc about 100000 year.
Phiip r. Low, II riceer by lIadc testified that from
the measurement OF TIE mj,ts Of large number OF
shp> he Was of the opinion that a vessels no! exec d
SO tons burden could pass adcn under the bridge at
any point Whchii IL elevated l3iicc' above tho water
hal-tide. The eragp variation OF Inc tides about
OK feet the highest variation would he not over rne
feet. Nj Low explained ri some length, Ivy tf'fa
model the operation Of housing topm3sts Oh board vi
vessels II would not be prudent, in ms opinion Tor
than two large vessels To under the bridge G
time TO or the Hypothetical questions asked by
the chairman, the witness replied laughinGly that
an extraordinary question.