New-York tribune., 1885-07-08
THE HARLEM RIVER BRIDGE.

THE LAW PRONOUNCED MANDAToRY-wHATh hAfoh
GRACE ADVISES.
CORPORATION Counsel Lacombe holds tna1 tno
act aIthorzng tns 10 anpont commits
slouers to construct bridge over the Harlem hlVer
at One-hundred and deighty-hrstrst; ls manua,E;y' ;y
He cites several authorities to f0rtlfy MS opIuioh
and saws that lands were acquired for the bridge
in 1876, and assessments have been imposea pm
adjacent property to the extent Oh aoHue %sc;aIs
The power conferred upon the appointing onclais,
therefore, not only concerns public interests pu'
also affects private rights.
Mayor Grace said yesterday:
There is restriction as to the expense wnicn may
Public Parks which had adopted plans for this work
PoT e be shs Oh this to lie
have no donbt II s,ns amount Sv w NC
In the latter it viii add to the taI levy
in each Of the three years In either case &
advance of any needs Of its population. the ,ths
city will derive no aavantase como. po the Sresest and
the Immediate benefit will accrue 10 tho properly on 'e
WssaSoS sas Sf ins Msfn FOR
passed In conflict between the interests OF ina,va v
ally suffer at the hands of the legislature This Is
striking instance in point as was also the ac' wtn
millions OF dollars from the city treasury for the benen
of spectators in the Twenty-third and Twenyton,tn
%ssivo, s but the opinion Of the oorpoTa,S,U1
the must be named. The officers desig-
mated appoint therefore act under IT, athough
penditure. think the whole matter ought 10 DC SUB
mtted to the courts. ,..
think OF the present condition OF the nnances
OF the city that 1t would be prudent to delay action IN
the interest Of the city no matter how IL may anecI pr
The Constitutional Amendment adopted in 1884 pro-
vdcs that city whose present Indebtedness exceeds
STATE subject to taxation shall be allowed 10 become
in sS Ss a'
VsnaloS Ts of Of 70 real estate sn'd Ier the n'
Assessments the Board OF Aldermen yesterday to be
Sll654is.l37 of which 10 per cent conium wonia pc
3oh of June sl2s'o7i $50 TO- We are sli927,576 10
IN of the constitutional limit The bonds or lnis
Se s qnnE axac tcTefa The S al in
centum this year the 10 be raised is s3i ssh
per contum II 10 this ia to be adied any part OF the
expense OF tic new parks and of this bridge be-
sides moneys amounting to 81 100000 per annum TO
improve docks. which must now go In the tax levy,
to build new armories for which 50 900 more has
been asked the burdens OF the taxpayers VIII ne heaNy
which enables owners Of land 10 up judgment
against the city within four months after IN" condclld-
ton OF their lands the taxpayers H to be called
upon TO sustain very heavy burden for the
next few years In the payment OF sum nat less tnAh
twelve millions of dollars, and probably approaching
am not Wiling II help 1T, to add to this burden
tn tn eS S"s ana n this hGs pS %at
ought to be used for the benefit OF the city.
costly than estimated by Park Department The act
authorizes the commissioners TO provide all necessary
materials and employ such persons as they may aevi
H. their coinpen saton" There Is here no limit 20 eN
pendture TO number OF employees or 10 manner OF pnr
Chasing materials The wise safeguards contained in
the city charter which have been thrown around me
purchasing OF supplies and hiring OF employees by the
heads Of departments have utterly disregard
cd The result be that gross abuses III inc cohsuc
tion OF this bridge viii arise.