New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-21
WHAT BROOKLYN TALKS OF
VARIED AND INTERESTING TOPICS IN THE
.rurRp OF TIE couNTRY's GREAT CITIES

MT soon be forgotten IL is the first experience oi
the kind probably that has taken place IN the history
of the board As has been heretofore pointed OUT III
the past they have been in the habit OF doing a. they
nIeased without regard 10 rules, economy or consde@
t,ons Of public interest 1t is something II they have
only learned that they not above all law and pub
liz oplnion as well. There would be reason for 70
oicng If hope was held that they would not need
20 bear their lesson IN mind for any great length oil
lime Unfortunately, from tho progress which Is be-
ing made IN tho work OF the Legislature, IT seems
probable that tho Bridge bill will not recevo the alton
Hon that It deserves. II mistake OF to intrhnee
the bill At earlier date, in that case might now
occupy a much better position: OF course, there Is
plenty Of time to put 1t through with proper effort,
but with so many other important measures on hand
there is danger that this mar not be forthcoming AZ
all events, there is little likelihood that contract VIII
be given out by the trustees again without advertising
when they have adopted rule requiring advertisement
TO DO made Nor Is the matter put In better hght
by the fact that the delnquonts have agreed to make
good the loss out Of their own pocket though under
the circumstances thoy could not do less than make
the offer which they did.
II is amusing, but not comfortable. to observe the
profound opinions expressed by certain wseaees IN
regard to affairs in Brooklyn, which they look upon
from the point of view OF the theorist Tho Oil
providing for return to the system OF elecung Aer
men by wards has given them an opportunity Whlch
some of them have made haste to improVe-wlth tao
result OF giving uteranoe to views that arc positively
aughsble because not based facts as people familiar
with affairs IN Brooklyn know them 1t Is easy
enough To say that the bill means return to the rue
of the ward boss that the present system was great
advance upon that, and that any change would be
retrogresslon That is not the way 1t looks to people
in BROOKLYN who have watched the course Of events
with a careful eye. These know that the change
made half dozen years ago has not brought ABOUT
tIv lonla al W
the authors OF the change. No one admits this more
frankly than tho authors themselves. Tho plain fact
IS that the ward system could not possibly produce
poorer results than have been produced under the
method Of choosing Aldermen partly at largo and
partly by districts.
Discussing the political situation exceptionally
velinforued Republican said to yesterday There
IS one Office that tho Democrats will try hasder TO get
this fail than the Msyoralty. mean tho DISTRICT
Attorneys Office. feel confident that thew VIII sell
out the Mayor for the sake Of koepDg the DistTctA
torney II we could got hold OF that office. we could
break I'D tho gang without much difficulty. Brooklyn
would quickly become uncomfortab!y warm place
for a good many lawbrcahe1 whose cases are pigeon
holed In that Office II the Republicans could once get
their hands the papers. II Is through their hold on
the criminal machinery OF the county, especially as
controlled by Jimmy Rldgway, that the nng have
been able TO retain their power In this county con
sider that Office far important for the RepuoE
cans to secure than the Mayor. Just look, for In
stance at the booksellers, who have beeh
protected right along here. And then When
an indictment is banging over a man ana Tue
boss or any other politicians Of the gang want anything
done in that mans district how they can use that
untried indictment q club In their Interest Ihero
Il no question that the Democrats will mako every
effort 10 hold 10 this Office. Whether RldCWsS VIII
run for II a third time IS an open question. He was
never At man to put into the ONCE any way on ac-
count OF bis long and intimstc associations with inc
criminal olasses-I mean counsel. Of course what
would be thought In Sew.York. for instance. II somS
body should seriously propose to elect william 7.
Howe District Attorney hut IlfEway Is lmmen'eb
popuar with tho Democratic masses. as witness The
great majority by which he was reelected over such
a candidate General Tracy. There was Time a.
everybody knows when RldgwAy and The Eagle were
al swords points IN fact The Eagle came squareD
out AGAINST him the last time he bat now they are
on good terms again. Just what Jimmy Is up to now
is little difficult to see but that he Is 'layine deep
game OF some sort Is certain. What want to SEQ =
the District Attorneys Office In Republican hands AMI
the scampering Of the gang that would follow De
leve get II, to- II We 80 at II IN the HSh' way
Nv the death OF Mr. Chltenden Brooklyn loses one
Of It's most honored and influential citizens IhonRh
remarkably successful in the business world MI
Chntendsn's sense OF duty citizen never became
dullod and be enterd politics at the age when most
men feel that they properly abandon the more
active concerns Of life and enjoys wenearned
leisure HIS career Congress was highly eredi'oao
to himself and tho Republican party, and nsetni as
we'll He was not content to be merely an orna-
mental member. but gave to tho CONSIDERATION Va
financial questions the ability which had won Tor MN
his proud position in business circles. HIS aeIoa'
when last candidate was humllatins experience
since the winner at tho polls was tho Rev j. Hyatl
Smith. whose term in Congress was keen dtap-
| 10 all lie himself. UT.
Chlticnden's pcnhanded benefaetious Will 10 sofey
missed IN BROOKLYN II was only month or so ago
that made record OF his gift OF land for sito TOT
A building for the Young Women's Christian AssocI@
ton This appears to have been the last oencneeh'
net of his llfe though his will Will presumably CON
tain the announcement Of liberal gifts 10 VarouS Hi
stlt,itlons In which he ever took deep interest
7 recently read a rather remarkable statement In
regard TO the Grafton delivered BY Abram s. Hewitt
| IN behalf OF tho city Of Eew-York, at Tho opening
exercises OF the Bridge. The statement was hS' u's
had not been oqualled, and certainly not surpaSsed
s,noe the wonderful essays Of Macaulay, ahd tha'
| - Mr. Hewitt had done nothing else than TO wnte
yvbat was termed this wonderful essay . e might
rightly claim not only the gratitude and admiration
Of his own feow.otlEens, but those OF tho Anglo
| sayon races This caused the groator wonder, be-
cause well remember the note OF surprise with whch
the collection of Mr. Hewitt to perform his duty was
| receIycd in Brooklyn at least Thar Dr. o'us
should DO chosen to speak for Brooklyn on that &C.
easion was everywhere deemed right ana proper IN
sp,te Of tho fact that Mr.. Deeeher was then In the
nIentde OF his powers, which, indeed, never showed
| svmptoms Of decadence. The ELUSIVE praise which
have quoted led me TO take down from tho shelves
the bulky and handsomely printed pamphlet which
contains the full account Of the Opening Ceremonies
NJ tho New-YorSs and Brooklyn Bridge May "a 1888
| and read Mr. uewitts GRAFTON. Oddly enough, while
| IN the statement already quoted II Is termed an
sav in the Official account OF the exercises II Is SGT
! down a. an address, although on tho programme
which is REPRODUCED in the pamphlet an "ora'ion
ls given as Mr. Howitts part, as wen as Dr. storrs
do not know who Is responsible for this bit OF word
Juggling; but cerGinly reader OF this paH'phiet
hundred years hen 10 would DO jtshed ID eonciuans
nat N NswYork had been assigned part In the exer.