New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-06-16
PROTECTING MUYICIP4L INTERESTS.

THE OBJECTIONS OF THE MAYOR AND CONTROLLER
TO CERTAIN BILLS NOW AWAITING TIE GOV
ERNOR'S SIGNATURE.
Mayor Grace and Controller Campbell have
sent to Governor Cornell joint letter with reference to
the various bills affecting New York City which were
passed the closing nours of the Legislature and which
he now has before him for consideration. In regard to
the elevated railroad tax bill they say 1--WE feel that
we cannot strongly urge upon you the fact that in
this bin great and irreparable wrong is sought to be
perpetrated upon every taxpayer in this city well
upon the municipality SUCH" AS to the general rail
road act they cOncede the dosrabty and necessity Of
general law upon this subject, but do not consider that
this bill properly guards the rights of municipalities
"a franchise or grant of the exclusive right to construct
and operate street railroad in the City OF New York"
they say sis exceedingly valuable and should not be
dsposed Of except auction to the highest bidder for
the benefit of the city The fact that this bill does not
require such public competition is, in our opinion,
than sufficient why 1t ought not to become
law. We have to believe that there are CAPT
taists who would give several hundred thousand dollars
more than the sum named by the bill "a satisfactory
price for a franchise in Broadway AS the bill now
stands franchise could be disposed OF for the min
imum sum of $4,000 without competition. And in
the case other projected roads, the franchises for
which are covered by this bin, have personal and Of
fetal knowledge that very large Of money might be
secured by the city payment for rights which this bill
would permit to be disposed of without dollar OF
compensation"
The bill providing for matrOns in police stations is OBJ
posed because i'll precincts they are not needed
while this provides for all and would entail useless ex-
any any public records become mutated, oblter-
ated unfit for public service they shall be
copied and copies shall for all purposes take the
place OF the original records is objected TO- The May
Qnd Controller say If there is any necessity FOR such
law as this should be very carefully considered and
greater safeguards should be thrown around the exc
the ground that the pension system as regards tne cV
directly against their spirit. The salaries already paid
are LIBERAL and fixed at present III view of the
fact that pensions paid aud 10 enable their re-
pen 10 provide for themselves by saving against the
day of their retirement" Exception is made however,
in the of policemen and remen because the funds
which they paid are made up OF sums taken out
OF pay OF the respective forces the members OF
which are entitled to the oenet ana 1rom mes penal
and rewards The police and fire pensions are thus
only return in another form of moneys originally
derived ron the respective FORCES ana Involve no ad-
ditlOnal burden TO the taxpayers
The bill TO provide means to complete the Brooklyn
Bridge Is thus spoken OF: While TITS undoubtedly true
that the Brooklyn Bridge has already cost sum far
larger than was anticipated or tIat would nave aye
| necessity tor its expenditure been foreseen,
and while may be reasonably assumed that the bene
fits to be derived from the use OF the bridge VIII not ne
commensurate with lis great cost, nevertheless AT ms
stage OF the work there be no prOprey Ia refusing
to eNpend the amount necessary 10 complete IT. We are
therefore, compelled TO upon you tie approval OF
apprOprates VIII De sufficient" The bill 10 reimburse
Surrogate Calvin the amount expended by hi III deter
the ground that would offer premium for litigation Of
this sort The bill providing that the Commissioner OF
Jurors shall be allowed the expenses OF his Oce,
other than his salary, the sum of $4,000 per an
nun instead OF $4,000 the amount 10 which he Is now
restricted by Law, criticised Tor the reason That the
amount il deemed excessive.
With reference the bill 10 provide for the erection OF
q new Hall of Records the letter says: " This bill
should have been amended as 10 restrict the amount
of the expenditure and carefully TO define aud limit the
poWcTs of the Commissioners whom II names" The
letter concludes follows: Pending the wiring OF
this letter, tbs Mayor has received from MI W. H. WI,
ltfa HE % ". n
offer to the city million dollars III cash for the
privilege OF operating hOrseTarOad III broadway In
view of this fact 10 repeat that the socaed
General k4rOad bill should not become law, uasmucl
as IL ias TO compel the local authorities dispose Of
the Broadway franchise TO the highest ie and would
permit to be disposed OF for at least 500 900 less than
tue city could get for IL al public auction"