New-York tribune., 1886-02-02
DISAPPROVED on ALL SIDES.
OPPOSITION TO The HARLEM BRIDGE JOB
THE CORPORATION COUNSEL AND THE MEMBERS OF
TIE BOARD OF ESTIMATE CONDEMN IT.

| THE CORPORATION COUNSEL AND THE MEMBERS. OF
THE BOARD OF ESTIMATE CONDEMN 1T.
The Commissioners of the Harlem River
Bridge held meeting yesterday in their offices in the
Cotton Exchange building under the shadow OF the
handsome engraving of the proposed bridge and the
taes 1t Is expected improve in value They refused
to reporters admit them and kept tho doors
carefully closed all visitors. At the Office Of the
Union Bridge Company 1t said that
tho company intended to lose time in
gettingto work They already been sounding the
river.bed and boring in the rocks TO decide where to
sink the foundations There is an evident purpose on
the part the commissioners and the contractors 10
ruh through the premnares fast may he 80 as to
get far ahead in the contraction OF Indebtedness In
city's embarrass the Legislature in TAX
ing action to remedy the steps that have been TAKEN
Corporation Counsel Lacombe was asked yesterday
what the citys liability would he In case the Legislature
passed Assemblyman HamiltOn's bill repeating the
Punkitt under which the ridge Il to be built
should not like answer you" he replied. "That is
question concerning which may he called upon for an
official opinion. should be inclined to think, however,
1t would be very heavy IL the thing were
stopped without delay"
What did you mean in your letter to the com mis-
ioners by saying that the contract was one you should
not think of binding the city To r.
Well, meant. in blr', thtt / indOrse what TIE
TRIBUNE has said about it, The scheme is extravagant,
to say least, and the interests OF the city not
properly protected in the contract would be entirely
illegal IL the COMMISSIONERS amenabe to the Ordl
nary and ordinances governing the cys expendi-
lures"
taking the contract it is. there is doubt of
its legality r.
80, / don't say that wrote the commissioners that
as the Counsel 10 the Corporation, IN view OF their
penary powers under the act had no functions to per-
form but tnat had objections the substance
Of tue instrument. They dld choose to ask IN
what they were and am not called upOn to offer them
unsolicited but there grave doubt in my mind of the
legality Of this contract"
The commissioners yesterday sent letter to the
Board OF Estimate and Apportionment asking for
of - 900 from the 100000 appropriated for
1856 Tor expenses incurred H. 1885.
The Mayor explained that this request from the
commissioners VINO were lOrzed By the Legislature
To construct IA bridge the Harlem River above
High Bridge All the me.nbers Of the Board looked
gr
Controller Locw-I you all shake your heads. We
none of us approve Of the bridge proec and yet
refse THIS appropriation in face OF
the acton Of the Legislature.
Mayor Grace-Thcre Is question that the commits
sion have acted unwscly.
Pie,ilent NoOncy-Aro we compelled to appropriate
thu, sum
Mayor Grace-Yes. The l. gisllture gave these Com
mi,-loncrs all the power it could confer them
They II procure - maudamu+ compelling us to make
the appropriation. | di,appOl It'd in the Comms-
sion. Tuey should male the contract to build
the bridge IN the way they did But under the law they
had the power 10 do 50.
Controller Loew-rne CORPORATION Counsel says they
have the power to do a. they have DONE We can do
nothing more tnln give them what they ask.
A taken and all voted aye except President
Coleman. wno voted :" no" and added:
d" VIII vote any proposition coming from that
Commission"