New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-04-24
DISCUSSING THE QUESTION or TOLLS.

NO ACTION YET TAKEN BY Tx BRIDGE TRUSTEES
NEW PO,NI RAISED By NIX. EDsoN
The brooklyn Bridge trustees held SPECIAL meet
Ing yesterday TO consider the question OF TOLLS uPou
ahe completed strnctnra BEFORE this was taken ul
the act 81 of tho Executive Committee IN rrgara ~
the purchase the land for the 6rookiyn approach
" hich the Legislature autboritel Ht cost ~
81 $4,000. was ratified. The use OF the dock ""or,
by the trustees cl0>e to the Brooklyn tower was
leased for one year for the Eric Annex b"ass NJ
So OUO. The special committed on tablets 70 ne
placs on the towers reported Ia favor f giving tne
contract TO 6eorss Fisher IL Son. OF New YORK. toi
ST. 900 for each tablet
Mayor Low then presented che report OF the Toll
Commttee winch contained tho same schedule Oh
rates as beforu The Mayor said that Il the choice
Law now between free bridge aud q toll DriuSe
forever, he would favor the iormer But the mart,
was only temporary one. and ~ folls were exaee
now the time would come when they conld bs aoo,-
Ishod. 10 few years ths bridgr would do madc
free without agitation. la few months Wiser
ratas of toll conld be liked than could DO uo'of-
m nod now. WHAT the trustees, should do was 10 I
snch rites ~ would bring the maximnm Denent =
the peoplo with the maximum income IRON tno
bridge What these rates shVud DO oouid nos
he exactly determined without experience. Tho
committee had Intsntio naily omIttel all reference
10 tickets. believing that matter could lie better 10
teruiined tier tho experience OF few WEEKS sr;
Low n.so advocated the tolls for vehcles propose's
b, the cOmmIttre. lie thon movsd the Adoption oi
tho first section OF tho report In favor OF ireo ioo'
passage. ,.,
Otto WHITE moved "a q substitute for the commit
tees the schedule which has already been gwen ~
substance In The TRIBUNE. He said that ~ won y.
greatly benefit workng men to have the fare IN the
csrs less than five cents, He also spoke tn tavor :"
lower tolls foI vehicles than those recommended "
tie committee.
General Slocum asked for an expression OF 0pin-
ion urvu the question nj free bridge. After soms
remarks he moved that tho bridge be flee Tor All
PURPOSES except the OF cars. Tho motion was
serondod Ivy II. Il. rhurber.
Mayor Edison said that he had como to 1he coac'n-
sion that the tru-ters had no power O. max the
bridge free, even tor foot passeDgers. they only
had power TO fix tolls Corp0' alton Counsei an
drews agreed with him. ANY taxpayer oou'd com
pei the fixing of tolls. There had been little com-
plant by the taxpayers regard to tue large sum
apeut on the briGgp, for il had always been urged
that the bridge would paw for ITSELF The TINE nsd
not vet como for free bridge.
Controller Campbell urged that there were Two
questions for tnt trustees ono as 10 froo DItdRe
and hs other to rates Of tolls " it was not Tree
II had been contemplated from the tmo OF the
origin OF the bridge enterprise be sxc. that tolls
should be collected for its use. 1t had been the
feeling from the beginning that there ~oud Do an
income for the bridge to cover xponses ano 20 prv
the rest OF the Toll Committee in regard to making
foot passage over tho bridge free
Rx-Mayof Howell moved that the question III no
tolls for foot passengers be referred BACK 70 the
committee % determine the legal question Raised oy
Mayor Edison. Mayor Low moved that the whole
a-estion be again referred to the conmittec. III
toll was to be charged fof foot-pssssge It wooiu
monty his views to the amount OF the car fare
This motion adopted.
For tue COMMITTEES on Bridge Opening Mr.. Strana-
han sa,d the published reports GO the date may
24l aud the arrangements tor the opening were SUB
stsntially correct. but the details were not yet
asttled