New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-01
WHAT BROOKLYN TALKS OF.
OBSERVATIONS HERE AND THERE ON THE
LONG ISLAND SIDE OF THE EAST RIVER.


toe Mayor Of SO important city as Brooklyn to re-
ee,ve Whether il was IN good taste for Mayor
raspin by q policy o: silence or by convenient ao-
,pcs from the city connive at the increase of his
ava compensation is very different matter. 1t is
no, TO BE- pretended that his services during the
coming two years will 10 any more valuable than
durns the Two drawing to . close though very
possibly IL he we're al liberty 10 f1 the amount u
he pay in accordance with his own estimate OF the
vsae OF his services the line might be drawn AZ
10000 or anywhere near It, Certainly there IL "o
pressing reason for increase row that was nov
equally pressing year or six months or ufoe nv" No.
ago IL would have been a orderly ana on".0"
proper proceeding for the Aldermen al any ""'0 -,
Tie election TO increase the salary OF the HlsoV 80,
ard after the LIST % January next MT N">P -
self could have approved such roso'u'o" -
,,nn.nc any risk of being charged with attempting "
iccure something for his own advsntAso
the tsxpayers have been disposed 10 hha 'Au'' VIZ
movement for paying their Mayor an s"0'e SAL
But now the thing has TOO much 'he iooA "a "i'
grab 10 be altogether acceptable ana 'ne "HSo :"
creased nav sopears b. be part and parcel OF the en-
,,,.r a., rovnlclpaI finances which is bear
inc ne ,-nits in increased tax-bius. Mayor ChaIins
convenient absence nom the city Only increases The
sembiance TO plot to consumnaic whch AcuhH
Mayor McCarty made haste 20 aX his signature 10 the
resolution. which Alderman, he introduced and had
rassed II Mr.. Chaplin wishes TO do really popular
ibinc-onc that Will strengthen him with the people
q Brooklyn more probably than anything else he could
Go-hc VIII decline TO accept the additional $4,000
which the Aldermen have put at his disposal There
does TO be papabe injustice. however. In the
iaci that Corporation Counsel OF Brooklyn has re
cc.vel 50. 600 year more than the Mayor. and yet
aoboay thinks Of complaining that the Corporation
Couuscfs salary is exGavagant
Sentiment rather than a sense OF the fitness of
things appears to have been the predominatng motive
In ;he appointment Of the son of the late Police
Justice Walsh as his fathers successor. Young Mr..
Walsh may in time develop into satisfactory Police
Justice, but he is hardly more than boy now ana
would never have been dreamed Of for the place
If lie had not been the of his father 1t Is hardly
likely that the people of Brooklyn will relish such
a use Of official power made by the Controller
and AuditOt in their appointment OF Mr wash
Mayor Chaplin refused TO vote, or, rather, voted
blank when he found that the other two appointing
officers had made combination aganst him, aud
that his vote would be Of account. This recalls
tho days when Mayor Low was outvoted by the
Democratic Controller and Auditor in the appoinf>
ment of Bridge trustees and other officials. There
is no reason that Is apparent TO the average MIND
why Police Justiceshp should he an hereditary or
family matter In saying that do not mean any hhg
deroeatory to eiihaE the dead Justice or his son.
Andrew walsh a capable ana exemplary judge
the respect and esteem of all the people OF
Brooklyn. His may prove 10 have the same
good qualities Nevertheless, the appointment IS not
one that can heartily commended, though it may be
hoped that it will turn out we'll
The time for the payment OF tax bills Is at hand and
now people are in position TO estimate the results on
Democratic extravaganza better than at any previous
time They have the concrete evidence before them
in increased bills in every case and in increased
assessments in many A letter 70 The Irlouns
last week exemrlifed the most forcibe way the ad
he
over The main who is so unfortunate 20 his taxes
I'm Brooklyn. The writer said that the tax on his
,riontss house in New-York valuation $4,000, Is
s253 20. whiis on his own house in Brooklyn, the
valuation of which Is $4,000 the tax is S42l 81 Inc
valuations in Brooklyn as rule close to 10 per
cent Of the 'actual value SO the difference cannot
be accounted for in that way One effect of the big
taxes I'm Brooklyn this year may be TO stimulate
Interest in the scheme Of snnexing Brooklyn 20 New
York II looks though annexation would mean
decreased STAKES and that Is always powerful afgu-
rnent i1.the mind of the taxpayer That this might
he the effect was suggested TO me in the course OF
the week by a conservative Brookynite who pays
tsars on a comfortable house the Hill l do not
suppose he expresses feeling that is as yet general
but such opinions spread quickly when once they
arc set eons.
II IS a small matter, but who examines MS
isxsbll wINfsll to notice that the rebate which Is
slJwel for December is counted for only thirty days
tbs year Presumably ihs IS done because December
l fails on sunday but. friend suggests why
shoua the fist Sunday be left out any more than
ne - ond third, fourpl fifth In the case OF
zach .nd.v dual taxpayer the amount IS mere trine
but he IS entitled to II all the same and In the asgrc-
gate the Is large oue-one days interest al
pr cent on tie total amount OF the tax levy-which
fhe TAXPAYERS have been done out Of In the face
Of such proceeding which Is cheese pairing. if there
ever such thing the increase of the Mayors
salary by $4,000 presents a strange hcongruity
Inc Democrats made such clean sweep in this
city last year that they already looking forward
10 years campaign with the hope of winning |
an equally notable victory. The principal prize 10 |
be contended for then is the sherfs Office. S!nsu
larry enough, in spite Of the large Democratic me-
jory which the Democrats normally have in Brook |
Iyn, this Office has been held more often by Republicans
than any other office of Importance in Kings County.
The last Democrat who held it a fgurehead. |
the office was run by representative of The ring |
other than nephew of the Boss himself-and
nominal Sheriff received $1,000 year for the use OF
his name, condition that he would not interfere |
with the management of the Office. When Farley's |
term expired i Republican put in his place. |
Despite the melancholy experience of the last Demo |
cratic Sheriff, candidate of that political faith !
already getting ready 10 secure the nomination
year This is Police Justice Thomas j. Kenna, who |
neglected his Official duties during the
paien in order manage the canvass as chairman of
he Campaign Committee. Mr.. Kenna entered poll |
les as Alderman from that hotbed Of Democracy, |
Inc fourieenta Ward. He was rather a bright young
h%' aud made fairly good impression IN the Com
''ou ~ouhcH' HIS management Of the campaign this /
year was sAIfi, aud il he wants the nomination for
sherh next fall he probably can get it without much
a4McuiY. sil' it is rather long lock ahead
The aIes which have visited Boston and Lynn ought
10 teach lesson Of importance To BROOKLYN There s
an element OF rechiessness in permitting tie erection OF
block after block of frame houses in some ~ tho ~
waiIs. fire star ed in these could ~, a., :,
spread with alarming Iapdity no matter how s,,rd
the efforts Of the frefnen might be II "a dim. to 49,
irrational fire limits be drawn good deal ne.,. -,
open country than al present.