New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-01-26
MILLIONS FOR A NEW BRIDGE
AN OUTRAGE ON THE TAXPAYERS.
OVER TWO AND HALF MILLIONS TO BE WASTED
ON THE NEW HARLEM RIVER BRIDGs-A MOST

OVER TWO AND HALF MILLIONS TO BE WASTED
ON THE NEW HARLEM RIVER BRrDGE-A MOST
AMAZING CONTRACT.
Never were commissioners charged with car
ryng to completion any public Improvement, real
pretended, clothed with absolute powers
fully relieved Va advance from responsibility for what
ever they might choose to do within the broad limits or
the providing for their appointment than those
pointed by Mayor Grace the Controller aud the Pres
dent OF the Board Of Aldermen to build
new bridge over the Harlem River The
bill under which the taxpayers OF this city said to
be saddled with additional burden OF at least
$26s000O which there s nothing In tho act to prevent
the commissioners from increasing indefinitely at their
own sweet Wills, engineered through the Legis-
latre toward the close of last years session by we'll
known politician noorousy interested In large degree
In property which will be benefited by tho scheme be-
cause 1t lies near the point at which the bridge Is to be
built. This point is about quarter of mile above
High Bridge.
The Legislature passed June IL, 1885, bill which
introduced by Senator Punk providing for the ap
pOntment by the Mayor Controller and President of tho
Bosri Of Aldermen OF three commissioners to construct
proposed bridge The act directed that the commis
soner when appointed should proceed Immediately to
construct the bridge and 1t was TO be completed within
three years the passage OF the act The commission
to receive salary but In the language OF
the act may provide all necessary materials and en-
ploy such persons they deem necessary for the
work OF constructing said bridge and fix their compen-
satlou" Tho to be iron steel or stone
width less than eighty feet aud the grade to be
less than 145 feet above high water mark; the
bridge be free OF passage and to be maintained by the
Department OF Public Works This act also provided
that the Board Of Estimate and AppottonmeDt should
on the requiston Of said commissioners specifying
| the amount needed in any calendar year for
| the work Of constructing said bridge, raise such
| amount by taxation on the real and personal
property liable taxation said city. The Controller
o;t.o balm frop.a
certified by said in form to be approved
by said Controller the cost OF the materials. labor aad
services required in the construction OF said bridge and
| the necessary expenses c. injected herewith"
Thus the bill gave the unlimited discretion to
the commissioners the amount to be expended and
absolute control the work. aud sadded all the cost
| upon the city, THE TRIBUNE denounced the bill as a
schelne the interest of few prOpcrtyOwners upon
the Harlem and declared the prop0sed bridge entirely
unnecessary. But sufficient influence was brought to
| bear at Albany to secure tue passage OF
| the act IL was plain that in the hands
| of Mayor friendly t. the scheme It could
be made the means Of accomplishing OF the greatest
Jobs ever perpetrated at the OF the taxpayers
| OF New-York At that time Mayor Grace was strongly
opposed the project lie asked Corporation Counsel
Laconbe his opinion whether the provision OF the
statute for appointment OF the commissioners was
mandatory or permissive. Mr.. Lacombs said that it
plainly was mandatory and therefore the commissioners
were appointed They jacob Lorillard. OF No. 90
south-st David jaime, King OF NJ. % Wilia-st. and
| Vernon H. Brown agent OF the CGnlri l. ue.
| NO CHECKS or LIMITATIONS
| Tho answers OF Corporation Counsel Lacombe
| to the communications that have been ad-
| dressed to him from time TO time by the com.
| mssioners and the hsyOr relative to the mean
inc OF the act they contain nothing but calm legal
opinion, show sweeping aud Unlimited tls pow
err OF the commission. II the commissioners were in
competent, careless or irresponsible,
| they chose to eIpond ten millions o. dollars
| ID this scheme, all the city could do under
| that act would be to pay their bills. Commissioner
Lorillard letter to the Corporation Couse last
October asking If the commission was bound by any
provisions in e city charter or by any ordinances or
By any OF the CHEEKS usually applied - limit expendi
ure. Mr.. Lacombo was obliged 10 answer mo-; thas
they had right under the disregard charters and
ordinances alike. In answer TO their question as TO
their right 90 ahead and advertise Tor ths submission
OF plans and specifications. and TO act upon tnem ne
arsw.rctI tuat they could do all that in their way
and at their pleasure. He warned them, however
agaust undertaking any expenditures In the cys nane
without getting appropriation. To another com
munlctOn asking II the Board ol Estimate anu Appor-
toument was obliged By the OF the act to furnish
the money they demanded, Mr.. Lacombe replied that
the board comply with the commissioners reqlisi'
| tons.
| The act took effect Immediately upon its passage 80
that the bridge must completed within three years
FROM .ast jane. this bill there OF the usual
safeguards against abuse Of power on the part Of the
agents OF the city. There is no provision for public
call for proposals for precise specifications as to tho
| cost OF labor ana material, for bonds TO DO
given by the contractors, and for obtaining
| the best work at the least cost by giving the
contract TO the responsible bidder Ii is left 10
the commissioners TO say OF what material the bridge
shall constructed. They left free to iAake any
terms they please with any individual or company they
| aiaotn nn1,l
compensation that they may choose to give to the con-
tractor: and to pay labor and material any price
that they may decide upon, without any reference
to the interest OF the taxpaying public at large The
result such loose legislation is seen In the acton
| which the commissioners have privately taken TnE
TRIBUNE has asc rtaue tndt contract has been drawn
up with the Union Bridge Company By which the COM
missloners give away the JOB upon terms most amaI-
| in.y IA tyantageous to the company.
As soon as they were appointed. the commissioners
nttod up and occupied sumptuous offices in the Cotton
Exchange building, appointed Wilam j. McAlpin their
engineer and proceeded to business They gave notice
that they would receive propositions for building tho
bridge upon plan OF their own aud upon plans
that should be submitted to them Then without giving
the public any opportunity 10 judge OF the relative
merits OF the plans submitted they adopted one which
their engineer estimated would make the cost OF the
structure which they decided should be built of expen-
,yc material about 000 The nature OF the plan
and Of the specifications was not made public, and
contract the Union Bridge Company was drawn up
, and on Friday last laid beforc the Corpora
| ton Counsel for his opinion as to its legality
Meantime $750o00 has been put in tho tax levy by tho
Board of Estimate and Apportlonment as the amount
TO be raised by direct taxation for the work during the
| first year.
THE MAYOR STRANGELY SILENT.
The LEGISLATURE is In session and Mayor Grace. II still
OF the same opinion as that which he held last year.
| whsn he was represented at Albany IN opposing the
| hill could send to the State Capitol and try
| 70 get the bill repealed His opposition
last year was strenuous and bitter. II was repre-
seuted to the Legislature that would DO an outrage TO
build the bridge at time when the city was SO heavily
in debt and the rate OF taxation high IL main