New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-15

Bridge. The prohibition has becn . sattsfactien to
the general shs Ybn 1hsrs are plenty e men
butt, land they often do 20 stdll on the stress-
cars-and carry Il into the tsail 70 the great an.
dcn Sns for the Brse 70
lighted cigars when they are not smoked or even
smoking; and Alden Swan. one Of the Bridge
breath on cold day was likely 70 deceive the
keenest officer But this difficulty, so far from
excuSing an officer from interfering with nom
smoker under MISREPRESENTATION, should make
HIM all the more careful to be sure he Ia Eight
before he yanlss passengers by the coat collar, or
even uses peremptory, curt and sharp language
trustees meeting. to forbid the carrying of even
an unighted cigar or pipe, struck the public
generally as proposing most unwarrantable
interference with the rights of private ind yldnais
The trustees will undoubtedly be sustained IN
every effort to abate nuisances. but they Will
exceed their legal powers if they attempt to draw
me line, SO far inside OF actual nnisances as to
render the nuisances impossible without further
precaution on the part of the police The counsel
Oh the bridge Trustees is said already to have
may not be prohibited
EXTINCT "oLD SOLDIERS"
There is one habit, and not an uncommon one,
on the part Of smokers which might be stopped
without violation to personal rights. Many
smokers ON approaching the Bridge rub the
lighted end of cigar against pillar and put it
out They destroy the fire, but not the aroma.
these eXtinguished but most offensive old
soldiers are then carried boldly to the cars, in
defiance OF the police, because not covered by the
terms OF the prohibitive rule, and the passengers
are subjected 10 nuisance even greater than that
winch results from actual smoking of lighted
cigar. This might fairly be stopped by enlarging
tho scope OF the existing rule without going be-
yond the Terfect right of the trustees to abate
nuisances.
OPPORTUNITY FOR REFORM.
The way to solution of the difficulties of the
Bridge management which shall be satisfactory to
the public Is materially clogged by the obstacles
confronting those who complain to the trustees of
the conduct Of the policemen. The Captain of PO-
lice" to whom the trustees inform Mr. Mel can
hc should have gone instead of telling the police
man 10 he evil, may have way To satisfy an
ifate complainant more prompt and effective than
the folce Committee of the Trustees. But it is
certainty true that reputable and prominent citi-
zens complain quite as bitterly OF the trustees
disposition OF the submitted to them, us they
ana originally OF the offending policemen Mr..
Mclean than whom no one in Brooklyn is better
known, is far from satisfied with the action taken
In his case. Colonel COwan, who was q prom
nent stan officer in the National Guard, was led
TO beneve that his testimony against the officer
was distinctly and personally Objectionable TO at
least one leading member of the Police Commit
tee. Professor George w. Maynard, a well-known
engineer and club member, gave up all thought
OF prosecuting a perfectly clear case against an
officer because the little satisfaction he got from
The trustees left him no remedy but n civil suit,
Tor which he had no time. prompt and thor
ongh investigation into cases of this nature and
hnal action that commcnds itself To reasonable
men should be a part Of such n system rs is en-
trusted IN the management of the Bridge Trustees
AS TO the policemen, the question is very gem
orally asked why, if the elevated rail roads can
transport hundreds Of thousands of passengers
daily with no supervision beyond that of the
lar eatcmcn and train hands, every of their
stations being raised high above the street patrol
ling police, the Bridge authorities cannot do the
same with only two platforms t. look after, and
those easily accrSstll c TIC police of NawYCrll
or Brooklyn Tho two cities built and maintain
the Bridge, and what their money is good enough
TO paw ftr their police authorities ought to be
sufficient to protect