The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-03-07
TaE CONNOLLY on; MOI II BEE
Some Recent AssurA,,ies OF the New rsrk
Prrss.

Prrsa.
To THE EDITOR OF THE suS-Sir: A some
severe structures have been passed upon As
semblyman John Connolly. which. IN my
opinion do him great injustice. In connection
with his Introduction and advocacy OF AS
sembly bill 3S7, amending the New York city
Consolidation act relating 20 proceedings to
open streets. roads, public parks. squares. and
places In said city," feel II ny duty to say q
few words in his defence. especially as have
boon In q position to know something ABOUT
his legislative career for several years. past.
and have learned to respect him Tor the non.
esty and courage he has shown In MS on1cial
relations. He Is entitled to the full benent
OF the reputation he has won for himself IN
the protection which IL should ahord him
against hasty judgment.
The bill In question has been condemned on
the ground that It's secret purpose was to aid
an Immediate taking OF the Stdah Zeth.no prop
erty for municipal building. in . manner
pcculiarly unjust and oppressive to Mr. Often
dorfer. and thus to punish him for criticisms
upon the present administration OF our NUM-
cpal government or upon Tammany Hall.
1have.carefully examined the bill: 1t cannot
possibly have any such legal effect The act
under which, municipal building 10 author
lied Chapter 300 Laws OF 1901 contains pro-
visions which define with great exaotness the
By which The land selected iSs M
tRoas 'no ss q sSHouG 1
snsssa IT, s Eli cushion
has not even this breadth. ,,
IT is expressly confined to proess s,sdngs Tor
sSs wesd E Riassf Is susess!y broad ts Ia
IL an entirely mistafen view Tho only sig-
MITIGATION which the word in the connection In
Sse 81 the ssd san P fnd a'ss sss'
Eli sSas ''
section j. read which defines the tenure Of the
land 80 taken q. by the city be I'm trust: never;
that the and
manner as the other aSSea ppbiio streets avenues:
Ss deno sse cannot aaG
INCLUDE the sitS for q 6%iidiins. -,..,..
are USED roIatan liz Subject TIE
sSsssspis sp$ sI$ss sSSi!s places il the city u
which now, exist for the long protected and
inss. and The S 'sons Sc s postpcpsnen's Of
necessary css s public improvements: The yestlng
es S % sS az soon snd G0
missioners Of Estimate and Assessment have
nled their onths OF office. is not novelty In
this State: 1t has been Incorporated In tho
legislation which authorized the construction
OF the new aUueduct and In that case has
worked admirably. II It had been necessary
IA that case to proceed under statute which
did not admit OF taking possession OF the land
unit the Commissioners OF Estimate had made
their final report 1t Is certain that the now
Rqueduct would not have been completed at
the present time. As the bill leaves 1t to the
discretion OF two-thirds Of the Board OF Street
Opening aud Improveme emit whether this ~ ore
rapid method OF acquiring land shall be adopt
ed IN any case. the public are sufficiently pro.
tected against any harsh and unnecessary use
Of this authority. The bill also contains pro.
vision which increases the compensation OF
Commissioners OF Estimate and Assessment
taking AZ a measure the fees now allowed by
law to referees. This. think. most salutary
provision.
While Counsel to the Corporation gave the
entire subject OF street opening proceedings u
great deal Of consideration. and finding that,
In most cases. the compensation Of the Com
mlssiOners was utterly Inadequate and the
cause OF an Indifference on their part which
largely contributed to the delays OF such pro-
coed nRs, l prepared o bill to remedy the evil.
which was twice introduced In the Legislature,
but which failed to become a law. The extent
to which street opening proceedings to this
city have been delayed through the in1rmity
OF the law under which they have been con.
Quoted has been such as to seriously affect
the public interests, and any measure which
nest support. HENRY r. BRENNAN.
NEW YORK. March 5.