New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-09
TAMMANY GETS THE BRIDGE.
ALFRED wAGsrAFr ELECTED PRESIDENT.
BROOKLYN TRUSTEES TAKEN BY SURPRISE AND

oUTvoTED.
The movement on tho part Of Tsmnany Hall TO
secure control OF the Brooklyn Bridge, which began
when Mayor Grant selected several Of his intimate po-
utical and personal friends for Bridge Trustees two
years ago. resulted yesterday in the selection OF exse
ator Alfred Wagstaf Bridge President TO succeed
James Howell The Brooklyn trustees were evidently
taken by surprise and made an Intellectual attempt 70
rally but as there were only seven OF themp resent "
ten from New York. the latter had matters entirely 'o
own way. Mayor Chaplin, Controller JACKSON ai'u
General A. c. Barnes were the absentees
The Brooklyn trustees were rappolnoeo Dy 'as0i
Chaplin, Controller Jackson and Auditor WEBER "sV
week. No action was taken by the New-fork aP
pointing anthortes-the Mayor, Controller ana tIeSi
dent OF the Board OF AteImen-untu yesterday Ahei
a meeting held Just before the annual ineeunR VI
the Bridge Trustees and the New-fork trustees "ee
all reappointed save Major George W. McNuity' III
his place Colonel wagstaf was named. The trustees
reapponted were I.idor wormser. J. @. K. Lawrence
George Hiabrand, Edmund c. Stanton, Edwaru "
Skinner Abraham sclnwb. and George A. Henriaues'
The New-Yor3I trustees. headed by Mayor Grant ana
Controller Myers. who trustees ex onico appeareo
In body at the Bridge Office shortly after The hor TOT
the meeting II was evident from their air Of sup
pressed excitement that something about 70 happen
In point OF fact Mayor Grant had in his pocket written
ballots bearing tho name OF ex-senator Wagstaif Tor
president. President Howell found that ne had only
half dozen supporters. and watched the So'oVV I"
year which ne has drawn for six years slowly vanish,
The preliminary proceedings Of reading tie minutes
and 1hng the monthly reports were gone through "lu
and when the action Of the Finance committee came
I'D for consideration Controller Myers had II laid over
In order to expedite the movement for changing tho
control Of the Bridge from Brooklyn 10 New lorK
Mayor Grant then amounted the appointment OF eA-
Senator wagstaf TO succeed Major McNulty. Con-
trolcr Myers called attention TO the fact that tle
election Of officers In order, and President Howell
called Mayor Grant to the chair. Trustees Myers and
Keeney were appointed teers.
At this juncture Trustee Hillabrand stepped to the
side Of Mayor Grant and got handful of ballots on
which the name Of Alfred Wagsta for president was
written and he passed them 20 the New-lork trustees
Moses May nominated President Howell TO succeed hm
self and Controller Myers Immediately nominated eX-
Senator Wagstaf. When the ballots were counted
there were seven for Mr.. Howell ana Dne Tor MI
Wagstaf. As Mayor Grtnt was about 10 oeclaie INC
latter elected, George w. Anderson sprang up ana
asked if a majority of the entire number of twenty
trustees was not needed to elect president. lie
WAS seconded by Reuben Riley, but Controller Myers
hastily looked over the bylaws and found that only
matorit5 Of those present was needed 10 eject ana
President WGgstait took the chir. lie SAID that an
entirely unexpected honor hal been thrust upon h.,
but he would endcav0: n discharge MS uuues " ''o
best Of his ability.
The choice OF vice-presdent 10 succeed lsidOr worm
ser resulted in the choice of Mr.. Howell At first ne
declined, but afterward accepted controller MScrS
said he wanted to commend the management ol 'i'o
Rridge under Mr. Howe Since 1873 the Bridge hau
been presided over by Brooklyn men, hessrs Murphy
Kingsley and Howell had each had several terms:
Nevvyork was deeply interested In the management OF
the Bridge and 1t only fair that New l""l
sbould be elected president, as had been DONE Iee
was no complaint against the management Vi MI
Howell but now New-York would have chahce 10
,, what she could DO for both Brooklyn and New
York. ,
Socre+arv Henry Beam was reelected by unanimous
,e and treasurer George B. Mcclellan by the same. 1t
Was voted to authorize the president TO appoint hnacc
=. ovnortive committees Bids opened for
tickets and granite blocks and awarded to the lowest
b,dders-the American Bank Note Company for tickets
and Rooth Bros for the stone. No other business
was transacted the matter relating 10 the increase Vi
salaries not having been brought up.
ha monthly reports showed receipts OF slO3,123 80
from traffic and as 844 81 from rents, making, with
the balance IN hand, s3o22o1 SO. The expenditures
were sll44os 90, leaving balance on hand Oh
s1s7772 S. The total number. Of passengers was
3772,22e, Of whom 343,334 walked
The new Bridge president, Colonel Alfred Wagstan
,s tortveeven wears old He Is lawyer by profes-
sion. and his office is at No. 100 Broadway. lie was
Colonel of the 10th Regiment, \. G. s. N ~ ana
Colonel of the 91st Regiment, N. Y. w. In the war
He was member Of the Assembly from the VIM
district Of York, elected by Tammany Hail. about
etteen years ago. and subsequently state senator
s me Nth now the With, District His last term
was In 1878 and 1870. He is director In the AtianuG
Trnst COMPANY director IN the Seventh National
Bank and treasurer of the John Anderson Tobacco
Company He is also interested In street railway
tric and is connected with the Forty-seeond steet
Railway Company in this city ana the DehS aio
Avenue Railway Company IN Brooklyn Ills horn0
The first president Of the Bridge after the two Gl feS
took control in 1875 was Henry c. Murphy, Aiter
his death in 1882. William c. Kingsley succeeded MN
and served untn his death in l665. Then j. ;. 1.
Stranahan was president for short time, ana James
Howell was elected in Jnne, 1888. He HAD Deen
Mayor of Brookyn and supervisor at Large OF knES
Connty The Brooklyn trustees blame Mayor Chapln
and Controller Jackson for not attending the meeting
They were both at the City Hall early in the day ana
the Mayor went 70 his Wall street once In the AVer-
noon.
rurY TINT FREE LODGING NOISES.