New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-03-20
CONTROL OF THE BRIDGE.
DISCUSSIONS OF THE TRUSTEES.

DISCUSSIONS OF THE TRUST EES.
DECIDING TO TAKE NO ACTION AT PREsENT-A wID1
DIvERGENCE IN VIEWS.
The Brooklyn Bridge trustees held special
meeting yesterday to receive and act on tue report
of q committee. composed OF Mayors Edison and Low
and Controllers Campbell and Brinkerhoff. which
was appointed to consider tho question Of the fu.
ture control Of the bridge which is expected to be
finished in les, than three months. The committee.
through Mayor Low, reported the draft OF u bill
providing for the management and control OF the
bridge to be presented to tho Legislature 1t pro-
vides that after date in this year lett blank. thd
control and man agemsnt OF the bridge shall bs
vested in the Mayors and Controllers Of New York
and Brooklyn, with the full powers now vested IN
tho trustees; that they shall have control OF the
books and records relating to the bridge, ana power
to provide for tho maintenance and proper repair OF
the structure the imposition and collection of tolls.
and the operation of railroad railroads thereon
and that they shall make the appointment OF of1cer
aud employees and lease such parts OF privileges
the bridge as shall increase the revenues wthoa,
detrment 10 the public uses The bill also providos
for the payment of the receipts ater paying the ex
peuses) to the two cities at least once year, and
that monthly reports be made to the Common
Council OF each city OF the gross receipts. ana an
annual report of receipts and expenses aud That tho
bridge shall be forever free from al taxes
Mayor Low spoke briefly OF the work of the COM
mittee and moved the adoption Of the report. j.
Adrlance Bush said that there was no need OF mme-
date action. 1t would be some months before the
bridge would be entirely completed. lie moved as
an amendment that the committee be contlnued
with power to bring bill before the Legislature OF
1884. and that the consideration Of the matter be
suspended for the present. Mr.. Stranahan
seconded this motion.
GENERAL sLOCUM's PROPOSITION.
General Slocum said that at time could the
trustees leave the work with much credit IS at
the time heu the bridge would be ready for use.
He did not favor makng the permanent officers OF
the two cities the custodians OF the bridge and
moved for adoption bull providing for turning over
the bridge after July TO three trustees TWO rest
gents of Brooklyn and one or New-lork; ono
Brooklyn trustee To be appointed by the Mayor OF
rrooklyn and To hold office Tor one year from July
!, 1Se B. and the other to be appointed by The Oov-
ernOr of the State aud to hold office for TWO years
from July 4, 1888; the New-fOrk trustee tn De APP
pointed by the Mayor and TO hold Office for three
years from July A. 1888; their successors 10 nold
office Tor three years each and TO be appointed by the
same power ten days before the expiration OF tne
terms of office. The bill further provided that the
trustees should each take an oath OF Office ana slVo
a bond for $20,0U0 with two suretles; that tnoy
should meet once q week publicly and should ap.
point treasurer, superintendent an engineer anu
ether necessary officers for the bridge, ara should
report once year to the Mayor anu Controlei. lbe
other provisions we're similar to the bill drafted by
the committee.
TRUSTEES DIVIDED IN OPINION
II.
not retire until the work entirely done. He
urged waiting until the next Legislature before
asking for authority to turn the work over To
others md spoke In favor OF Mr.. Bushs motion as
fair COMPROMISE. Mr. Bush said that he had
thought that soon after the completion or the Ordgo
the railroads would try to gob6le II up sunnaruy'
lie did not want the matter left to any lour men.
The whole body of trustees should pass upon tno
ou, stlon of tie use of the brige by railroad COM
panies. 80 II.
| be vi ven TO whoever had control OF the bridge to-
manage it, He thought that II the Mayors and
| Controllers had the power the people, TO whom
4 they were responsible would be best satisfied Inc
dare of Tho transfer of the bridge to the permanent
control should be as soon as che structure was oPee
for traffic. and the comm tee had left 1t blank fUf
| the trustees 20 determine. - =. ,
William Marshall stated that on the New,forK
side the elevated road had put ITS foot already on
| the bridge Ihe L0hg Island Railroad Company
| had proposed IL pay certain amount or lnteress
tor the of the bridge TO benefit the railroad COM
pany and Queens and Suffolk counties. lie wai
| opposed to any railroad controlling the mouth q
| the bridge and to putting the bridge In the hands
| Of any four men. The brldCe would not he come
pcted until August or September, and tbe trustees
| should not out until 10 was entirely hnishel.
Controller Campbell favored the bill presented by
the committee. He was opposed 20 outside COM
missions he said. The committee had IN mlnu All
the Mavors and Controllers of the two cities Tor the
future when drafting the bill. IL was not wise "a
continue tho trustees IN power until me last nau
WAS Dir yen the completion OF the St0reh0ures ana
other works could he safely left to tho new Board
|
| pose November | as the time for the new Board 10
| begin work. ,. A.. ....,. ..
tees would 20 out Of ohce on june - ana 10 diu hot
| think they could take any action tor the futnre
trustees therefore he would oppose the report oi
| tha cOIqmlttee.
| RAILROADS AND THE BRIDGE.
| Mr. Bush declared that New-York railroad coz
poration had made "A strong reach for the bri iga,
and the officers said that they would have contro'
| Of it six thS after omen.
| Controller Campbell dId not think that twenty
men would bs Trustworthy than four men;
lie surprised to hear the talk about raliroa9
kings IN New-York and brooklyn trying 60 controI
| the bridge Ii il iD the hands of the Two Mayors
| and two Controllers.
Mayor ow said that the committees bill gave the
new Board no new powers. On tue bridge was
railroad not come ted at either end, aud no bodJ
| of men would give to any railroad company er
elusive privileges upon the bridge. Inc question
was whether there shonld Oe hroken passage oVei
| the bridge or continuous passage.
| w. &. Kingsley opposed the bill as too hastv sno
d.courteous to the older trustees lie Thought ths!
the first wOrKing> of the bridge should he under thS
care uf tho men who have bullt it. " hen the wors
/ was all done perhaps by the end OF TINS year--m
would be- as willing as any Que 10 retire from sus
| work ,.,.
vote of is to . the affirmative votes being given ~
| General Slocum and Mr. Van Schaick a vote was
| then taken upon the amendment OF Mr Busn'
| which was adopted by the following vote: Aflrnis
atiye. Kingsley Marshall. Stranahan, Agnew.
| Cmusen, Tnurber Bush. Barnes, Swan, Wlttd
| Howell and Brinkerhot-l2 negative, Edison, Low
Campbell SloCum and Van SenaickMIo. I-I;,. r.n,h.;,
| from The Grand Army of the Republic, called on
| Mayor Edison yesterday and asked that IN case tne
| BROOKLYN Bridge is open for travel, the Grand army
procession be allowed 70 pass over ID on Decoration
| nnv The Mayor said he would refer the matter u
| the bridge trustees.