New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-26
TIMELY TOPICS IN BROOKLYN.

TIMELY TOPICS IN BROOKLYN
I have already called attention to the fact that
Brookyn's chief magistrate has for the present. at
least turned politician, pure and simple. anu tninsS
are going from bad to worse In that Quarter.
BY his action I'm his message W
the Aldermen October 10. MI maui"
lent himself apparently without the least compuneuOn
to the task OF helping his friend Governor Hill out
OF an awkward prcdicament. This not unnatural,
considering the warmth Of the eu,ogy which the Mayor
so recently bestowed on the head OF the Democr'"0
state ticket, but the plan was such paipaoic ono
that IL can hardly have the effect intended VI COURSE
Mr. Chaplin expects equivalent at some futuro ume'
and Governor Hin will not be likely to forget tho
favor for which he is indebted to his former associate
In the State government Mr. Chaplin has seen the
necessity OF subordinating himself absolutely TO the
controlling forces in Brooklyn politics. frooaois no
is counting on a denomination next year, anu II NC -
reelectcd he will be finishing his second term Just u
time to run for Governor. in 1891 Those VINO .ninh
Mr. Chaplin Is not capable OF taking long look anea'
keeping kecn lookout for the interests Of NO. l. may
live to see their error
The action Of the Mayor and Aldermen in giving
the Edison Electric Light Company franchise was
an absolute surprise all except few who were on
the inside Tho thing all cut and dried, though
and its purpose fs q good deal palmer than large
sized pike staff 1t done simply TO get Cover
nor Hill out Of hole and relieve him from emos-
rassment In his Academy sDeecn 1t certainly
would have been awkward II any one had asked MIN
q question two in regard to his veto OF the Dill
giving the Edison Company the rights which the
Aldermen had pertinacously refused to grant, Inc
Eage' had been trying to make things as comfortaoie
as possible for him by insisting that the Governor
was exceedingly sorry that he had written the veto
and that II he had to do It again be would act
differently To whom the credit for the scheme car
| riad last vrpek Is
Chaplin may have been sagaclous enough TO conceive
the plan but II IS more probable that the Willy and
long headed Governor himself laid the plan 1t GER
talny was not sprung on the Aldermen, for their
resolution ready the moment the Mayors mes
sage read, and no opposition was made neither
was there any explanation Of the sudden change OF
front. 1t Is estimated that The competition In
electric lighting will the taxpayers 100000
wear All the same, IL IS not likely that Governor
hin will receive a single additional vote on account
of the Common Councils right abouface
The work Of supplying the city with rapid transit
goes steadily onward. The last pillar for the Kings
County Road was put up In the course Of last week.
and that line viii be open from the ferry to East
| NewYoIk some time next month. The division OF
| the Union Company which runs through Hudson-aVe.
and Flatbush- ave TO the Long Island Railroad Is
about be opened, and there is an increasing pros
pect that the companys line in Fifth ave. will soon
be built The only enterprise OF importance that has
been projected and that remains at a standstiu Is
the substitution OF an elevated road for the surface
| tracks In Atlantic ave. The Long Island Company
has been ready to proceed for long time, but the
Common Council has persistenty refused to give the
necessary consent Now that the Aldermen have been
brought the advsability of giving tho Edison
Electric Light Company the franchise It so long sought
In VAIN can not pressure be brought upon them
! I'm the matter of the Atlantic ave- elevated road?
However since Governor Hill never interposed veto
on this project It is probably hopeless to expect any
| thing to be done by the present board.
| The arrest OF Brooklyn policeman In NewYork for
picking the pocket Of sleeping man In ferryhouse
was promptly followed, II should have been, by the
resignation of the officer who proved himself unworthy
Of the confidence that had been reposed in him. Po-
| lice Commissioner Bell refused to accept the
| resignatlon but dismissed the man. This
incident, taken in connection with the case that re-
Gently occurred in New-YOrk, where policeman was
found to have been sent 10 prison for robbery few
wears ago, IS calculated 10 diminish the confidence
which the public generally feel In the police force
The picture of the NewYork officer who had pertured
himself in order to get his appointment was actually
I'm the Rogues' Gallery 1t is perfectly evident that
| II a policeman has a tendency TO do criminal acts,
there will be lack Of opportunities when he can
indulge his propenslties without fear OF even sus-
picion For instance, the Superintendent of Police In
Brooklyn is always DESTROYS, when house is left
| empty by familys going into the country IOr the
SUMNER the police shall be Informed Of the fact,
so that a special watch may be kept on such houses
II member OF the police force were inclined TO rob-
| berry himself or In sympathy collision with rob-
bers he would thus know exactly where to carry on
/ his operations There some people who refuseto
LET the police know that their houses to be unoccu-
pied Just for this reason but the whole the record
| OF the Brooklyn police In this matter Is extremely
good The proportion OF houses robbed when they are
known TO the police to be temporarily vacant Is very
small indeed II is probably safe inference that tho
number of rascals on the police force Insignificant
minority.
This Is the season when chestnuts abound In
Prospect Park and when the small boys of Brooklyn
delight to spend as much time as possible among
the numerous chestnut trees that flourish there The
rules about not climbing beating the trees are
strict but there are not enough policemen to be on
| the lookout everywhere at and a good many
| chestnuts are gathered that the winds and frosts
have not srewn upon the ground. The best time
10 make good hauln is early in the morning after
heavy wind has been blowing, and there are chest
n CATERERS who are always ready TO take advantage
~ this fortunate combination Of circumstances Not
few OF the visitors Park delight TO carry away
souvenirs in the shape OF chestnut burrs The other
dav there were to be Of OF the street.
| car lines leading from the Park two rather tough
| Looking yonng fellows each of whom was carrying a
large cluster OF chestnut bOughs with burrs attached
| Each was also provided with button hole bouquet
consisting of half-opened burr, from which the rich
brown surfaces of chestnuts cleaned out tempt
| ingy OF course they had TO bring their trophies
ont Of the Park on the sly, but they enjoyed thelr
triumph and the admiration which ther prizes ore"
/ thatr fall ou I'm a