New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-05-27
BJ,1S THAT SHOULD BE KILLED.


Sound reasons for Withholding his approval
from n number of local bills were furnished to
Governor Hill yesterday by the city authorities.
If he has any real desire to serve the taxpayers,
he will make it known by his action on these
measures. Several Of them were introduced in
the Legislature by Democrats, and were pushed
through despite the exposure of their bad char
acter. In vetOing these bills the Governor may
offend some persons who can be useful TO nm
in getting a Democratic nomination for his
present Office and that is one reason why there
Is doubt as to what he will do. He has already
approved several bills to add to the city's
burdens, and to legalize old claims; but he
should hesitate to go further in that direction.
One of the bills before him provides for the
erection of a bridge over the Harlem River at a
point that would be particularly advantageous
to an estate managed by well-known Demo-
cratic politician AS stated by the Mayor, there
| are other points on the Harlem River, notably
| at Seventh-ave, at which a bridge is needed
much more than the one provided for III this
| bill. The measure is otherwise Objectionable
| in providing that the work is to be done
| by newly created commission, the members OF
which are to serve without pay. But 1t was not
| intended that these commissioners should be
without opportunities to secure compensation.
| They are authorized Sto provide all necessary
materials for the work." at prices to be fixed by
themselves, and to employ such help at such
rates of pay as they may agree upon. No one is
to audit the bills of this wonderful commission.
A bridge built under such loose statute
would probably cost the city So, 600, 900. As the
| Park Department now has all necessary author
| L. iii I.;1 IIar
| is evident that this measure was not designed
for any good purpose.
| The bill to authorize Mr.. Charles T. Harvey
| to experiment, at the expense of the city, with
| his invention for an elevated railroad, is too
| ridiculous to be worthy OF serious attention. II
the patent is a good one private corporations
will. no doubt find it out. At any rate, it is nc
business of the city to engage in such specu-
laton. The bills to increase the salaries OF
clerks in the City Court, and to more than
| double the compensation of inspectors OF
weights and measures, and to increase the pay
of police surgeons and members Of the Fire
Department, are measures for which there Is nc
justification. We pointed them out as vicious
bills when they we're before the Legislature
and the Governor will do well promptly to veto
them. Similar treatment should be accorded
the bills legalizing old claims, such as those OF
John C. Ham and John OCOnnOr. IL claim
ants, after being defeated in the courts, can gel
nav through acts of the Legislature. then the
city might as well cease attempting to defent
itself. The bills making further inroads On the
excise fund for the increase of pensions arr
unjust. The excise money is used to support
charitable institutions. The depletion of tina
fund through pension bills already approved
has placed number of worthy charitable inst!
tutions in sore distress, shown by recen
letters published in THE TRIBUNE. The money
to make up the deficiency will have to come GU
of the city treasury in the end, though tempo
rariy much suffering may be caused. Thi
indirect way of appropriating money for pen
sions is in itself Objectionable. The Governor
ought to have no hesitation in withholding hi
approval from all these bills.