New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-04-09
WHAT BROOKLYN TALKS OF.
COMMENT ON CURRENT AFFAIRS AFFECTING
THE CITY OF CHURCHES

There will be popular vote on consolidation this
year. The vote in the Senate Wednesday settled
that. The bill Is still alive In the Assembly. but is
not likely to be heard from again. 1t only remains
10 repeat what said In this column week ago.
that the defeat OF the measure Is largely II not
wholly, due TO poor management on the part Of It's
friends The proposed amendment by striking out
the third section entirely reasonable. In fact IL
Is impossible for reasonable man to understand
why such an absurd provision inserted In the
BILL It's preposterous character was perceived as
soon the bill was introduced. and the only tcnabe
supposition that 1t had got In through an over.
sight. Consequently 1t very surprising when It
was learned that the consolidationists wanted 1t
there. and Insisted on keeping it, If they had acted
In the matter with cOmmor-serse at the time of
the hearing before the Senate Committee on Cities
there would doubtless have been little trouble In Sc.
curing favorable report the measure and its
passage would have followed. But how could the
legislators be expected to take serious view Of II
measure which provided for vote on the question
OF uniting the cities. and also provided for their
COUNT The Brooklyn ring doesn't want consolda.
uon OF Gonrse but 1t WonlG hardly have declared
question II the vote We're TO be determining. Of
course 1t onght to be: When this biz is brought
its advocates and friends take heart the lesson
taught by this years experience.
As was TO he expected. Governor Flower has
signed the bill reducing the number Of Bridge trus-
tees TO eight, and the Board henceforth will consist
of the Mayors and Controllers of the Cities with
two trustees representing each city, TO be named b.
the respective Mayors 1t has taken q long and
hard struggle TO bring about this reform. II was
in 1885 that the first Bridge bill introduced and
passed, largely through the efforts OF Senator Dag
gett Mr.. Dasgctt especially DESTROYS OF having
the Bridge railway extended TO the City Hall In
Brooklyn. and provision for such an extension was
embodied In the bill. This was stricken out before
its passage. which occurred the last day Of the
session. and the amendment made so hastily that
references to the part eXpungcd were retained.
Consequently Governor Hill vetoed II. Another bill
was brought forward In 1888, and finally passed
Ure ' provided that the TWO Mavors and two Con-
trOlers should constitute the Bridge governing board
trustees by the Mayors The present law contains
features drawn from both of the previous bills.
The audience at the Brooklyn Institutes Irving
anniversary In numbers worthy neither of the
celebrated of the lecturer who spoke of him in
rarely graceful terms. Mr.. Warner employed quiet.
conversational tone, his voice being heard with some
difficulty In the remoter parts Of the hail he used
no gestures and sought TO make no climaxes. His
characteristic humor evident many times. and
the literary quality OF his address paper high.
One OF his interesting points his reference to
the fact that statue OF Irving stands in Prospect
Park. while his native city OF NewIork has thus
far failed 10 honor him I'm this way. The Irving bust
opposite the flower garden in Brooklyn's park
erected more than twenty years by Demas Barnes
IT Is the most conspicuous Of the few plastic me
MORALS in that peasre ground but Is criicIed by
this site that 4. was proposed three or four years ago
10 place the statue OF Mr.. Beecher.
The March number OF "The Polytechnic" contains
a fairly good portrait and sketch OF DR.. Robert
Foster the superintendent OF the Polytechnic lnSti
tute. II appears from this sketch that DR.. Foster
has been identified with the work OF education In
Brooklyn for forty years. although he has the APP
pearance and sprightli Of man not more than
fifty years OF age During this time. too. he has
taken active interest In many things pertaining TO
the welfare and advancement Of the city, His work
as president OF the Union for Christian Work Is well
known. and no is the secretary OF the Brooklyn
Institute Of Arts and sciences. He was GRADUATED
from Princeton in 1e47 and received from mat lS,i
one Of the most genial and kindly OF men. and Is as
popular In the Polytechnic as he Is outside oil II.
What has become OF the movement for the raising
OF Mquorncense fees? Mayor Body seemed TO be
thoroughly in earnest in this matter fortnight ago,
but suddenly the movement collapsed. Can 1t he
that the Mayor has been warned that arousing the
opposition OF the iquordealers will De fatal 10 him
in case he is renominaed next autumn Broad
hints that this is the have been given out and
nothing In the way OF denial has followed. Inc
one thing evident Is that the talk about Increasing
draw its own nferenccs unless Mr. Body chooses TO
make an explanation It seeaS Pro,ain I ,,e e'"'
The reports made at the annual meeting OF The
Brooklyn Library show that the work OF this lhStu'
ton continues the lines familiar to the people
OF the city The number Of volumes purchased cur
ing the wear was oaO7. and 1,23O were received as
Gifts The total number Of volumes now on me
shelves Is l17GG9. The circulation during the year
amounted 10 934C4 Special mention is made In the
annual report OF the reading library which Is Kept
in the reading for the benefit Of all who haXc
~ ssv once more that on the afternoon of every
sunday from Ia O'Clock. the reading room Is open
not The sunday attendance during the last year is
put down 5000. II orght 10 DE many "''''
larger.
The proceedings at the last meeting OF the Board
OF Aldermen cannot but inspire new regard IN 'hc
minds OF the people for the members OF mat MFR
csting body. Among other thing arrangements "e'o
made for the appointment Of committee to prepare
for the celebration OF the Fourth OF July: from WHICH
4, is evident tLat the Aldermen are learning wSoom
What possible object can there he In appointing "
Fourth ofJuly committee three months IN ADVANCE II
1, is not 10 avoid the pitfalls ana 'eHp'a'ioh' "o
which the Columbus Day committee Tell h'"" ",'l
heels last October? Certainly the arrangements 'or
such celebration OF the Fourth as Is Ordinarily III
god in I'm BROOKLYN wOnld not justify three moh'AS
deliberation on tie part OF committee ""' VI
course II is wise and necessary TO take measures 10
prevent any Violation OF the law In connection VIII,
he cole,,ration such as might lead to unpleasant
consequences In the Grand Jury room Inc tNu ,ho
men Of Brookyn have the wisdom OF the serpentntne
remainder OF the quotation has no appositencsS "hat
The Board OF Education at its meeting on luoSu"s
naId q hitting tribute TO Mr.. Hendrix. whose rAgHa-
ton as president pcrforce accepted ana arrange
ments were made for giving dinner IN MS honor'
There seems 10 be more than appears on the suf"o'
IN the pan OF Mr. Bouc< 10 require the superintendent
Of Public instruction to issue certificates 10 'eac
..f.p f.f
iooLo III. an o,,cup, 10 make an improper OF the
patronage Of III. Board, and the source from "hcn
II comes Is sufficient TO cause uie committee oh
Teachers To- con, lder the matter with extreme carr
Mr. Rolck WAS the candidate OF the element III NV
Board W ich opposed the reelection OF President I'LL
6ry ias, en,nUer and he f. Xions TO secure VI" P'
denrv now Ills term expires this year. ana II sNpr