New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-03-20
WHAT BROOKLYN TALKS OF.
EARLY SPRING TOPICS ON TUE LONG ISLAND
SIDE, OF THE EAST RIVER

" Boss" Mclaughlin pitched upon Mr.. Body a. a
didate for Mayor last fall. Mr. Body himself was
surprised. lie had not given special attention TO city
affairs, really looked forward with good deal of
anticipation to the term in Congress for which he had
been elected To be suddenly thrown into u campaign
for the Mayoraliy startling. Mr. Mclaughlin,
however, has caused still greater surprise by going
10 Albany last week and securing the appointment
Of ex-MayOr Chaplin Railroad Commissioner.
There never had been hint that Mr. Chapin's eyes
were turning in that direction. The Office Is not an
srduous one, the salary. $1,000 year. is certainly
comfortable and the term is five years. il has been
stated since the appointment that Mr.. Chaplin is by
no means wealthy he was reported to be a few
months ago In fact IL is said that the 5000 salary
will be very acceptable to him. OF course an inter
estng question Is whether or not he will resign the
office of Congressman. lie has established precedent
that makes not few people think he will hold on TO
both Offices for the next year. or until his term in
Congress ends just he was both Congressman and
Mayor during last December. far as appears there
IS no reason why he should not. lie knows good
thing when he it and he has seen number oi
good things since his first entrance into public iie
estimate has been made showing that between The
time when he first went to the Assembly and the eN-
piratOn Of his term as RaiirOaA Comin 'siOher MI.
Chaplin will have drawn some @s4,ooo in public salaries
II salary for year be added 10 this
the theory that he serves ont his teIil-thc sum
will be nearly 100000. OF course this appointment
Is Chapin's reward from BOSs' Mclaughlin for his
bubservency to the Mclaughlin ring during his four
years In the Mayoray. And McLaughlin's power
was significantly shown. not only in the appointment
Immediately after his arrival in Albany, but by its
immediate confirmation.
The suit which has been brought by of the stock
holders of tine Brooklyn Elevated Railroad promises
to result in exceptionally interesting developments II
1t is ever brought to tIisl. The mystery surrounding
the block Of -, 900 shares which is held by Anthony
Barrett trustee ought be cleared up in the pub
lie interest. The first trustee of these shares was the
late Henry J. Cullen. the trust having been e'tab
lished in 1856. when the Union Elevated Road, now
part Of the Brooklyn company, was seeking from the
Board Of Aldermen permission TO erect is structure.
The object of the trust and the validity Of this stock
will be shown on The TRIAL That The StOct was issued
for underhand purpose seems TO be certain
That il was employed 10 bride the Aldermen to grant
the application of the company is highly improbable
At least it may be gnnted that nothing OF
this kind done in direct way. No Investigation
will trace the stock to the hands OF those officials Al
that time in especial Aldermen. not only fl Brooklyn.
but elsewhere. were on their guard. II only
few months after the tremendous revelations regard
ing the Broadway Railroad in NewYOrk. But 1t Is
matter OF common nOtOrety that polite: and poll
ucianS had large interest in the Union elevated
enterprise Hence thero IS good reason fOI the belief
that the formed in the interest Of politicians
Aldermen. In connection with this phase Of the sub
ject highly Interesting facts have beeI published
by The Eagle showing how certain Aldermen serv
Ing the city without salary, have in the ouroe OF
few years grown wealthy. Evidently, In spite Of the
absence Of salaries, the Aldermanc business, as one
of the NewYori WORTHLESS called 1T, has not been
bad In Brooklyn OF late years. Mr.. Cuien is deud
and cannot testify. Eu Mr. Barrett is in apositon 10
throw valuable light upon this mystey and the |
q he ust 10
facts. There is danger though. that te qlarl'l
among the stockholders may be husled Up and the |
facts thus kept concealed.
The Greater New-York bill, as it has called, |
has been beaten in tho Assembly. BeaeI fairly this
time, aud not killed by the roundabout method OF
excluding Brooklyn from It's provisions and possible
benefits The vote against it was larger than was
expected. In fact, there not littb reason 10
suppose that it would be passed As ] have said
before, the Brooklyn members had no cause for
opposing 1t. and the argument that the Measure was
in contIaventiOn OF home rule for cities and Ought
therefore be opposed, without ans foundation
whatever. 1he biii. In direct terms rnniucd the !
main question u the people OF rookyn and the oter
Interested towns and cities. and digly it was
a home -rale measure pre-cminently But have yet
TO see any one who thought there any necessity
Of appgopra;lng $4,000 for the expenses Of III" Con-
sOudaton Commissioners. There was v.id objection
10 the bill this point. But although the bill dies
the commission lives on, and the agitation may DO
expected 10 be resumed yea;. and he neat, un'i
It is submitted TO the people and al authoritative
verdict upon the question secured
The Congre sional Reappcrtionment BILL which has
been loudly heralded the fu'tlest possible remove
from gerrymander. will give little satisfaction 10 te
Republicans Of Brooklyn. II is true that the cay
secures one more Congressman. but the districts are
30 arranged that the Republic Will not have more
than fair chance Of carrying even one OF the hVe'
Under the existing appOrOnnent one Of the dus'1o'
Is strongly Republican-the normal majority being In
the ncighbOrhoDd of 3OOO-and tho Democrats nave
never succeeded In carrying but once, and then only BY
plurality Of eghte The wards composing the pro-
posed new With District, the Eighteenth, Nineteenth
Twenty first Twenty seventh aud Twenty eighth (the
last two having until recently been parts " Le ou
EIGHTEENTH, gave Republican majority OF l'Odo IN
ls5s, but went Democratic 10 the extent OF Low III
1870. 20 that it Is plainly the Intention VI tne
trainers If this bill 10 secure, If possible, five Demo
cratic Congressman from Brooklyn, despite the Tact
that 20 or so per cent Of the voters Republicans
When II comes rearranglng the Senate aud Assembly
districts, however still stronger part may DE-
looked for.
The demands OF the armOries know bounds.
When the 23G Regiment asked for 100000 more. ana
the commission In charge Of the lJths arnory came
10 the conclusion that 100000 additional would De-
needed 10 complete that regiments new nome no one
could be surprised that The IAN Regiment also 'ou'o
want 10 spend more money. modest request 'or
100000 has been put forward In its interest IL
seems as II there would be limit 10 The amount o
money the city viii he required TO spend Tor bieSe
purposes Each regiment Is bound - have as good
quarters as any other, and If the 13th gets s'oVooo
I'm ais surely extravasont sum-the other resie'
Will before long be certain 10 ask f0r as muCh' i7
Gao, IL that tho amount asked for the 18th Is Out OF all
proporton D. the necessities oil the case IL Is the
obvious duty Of the officials and Others IN charg' I"
dispense with every unnecessary feature, ioT tue
purpose Of reducing the amonnt TO be eXpond'n' II
ought TO be possible 10 complete the structure a'' pun
IN fairly u-able shape for not more thsh fI'ooi"
That will ue 80 per cent than the original ap
nons.t,o, AZ ALI events the Legislature should con
side, c.recly the bin which has been prepared setuhg