New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-04-22
AFFAIRS IN BROOKLYN.

w. J. GAYNOR'S ACTION COMMENDED.
MAYOR BooDY's WEAK REPLY-A LooPHoLE IN
THE STREET RAILWAY LAW
Tho action taken by w. j. Gaynor the lawyer-re-
former to prevent the giving away OF valuable rail-
road franchises for 1852 900 by the Aldermen, as
fully reported in Yesterdays Tribune was generally
discussed in Brooklyn yesterday, and the OPINION
prevailed that he had done nothing which more en-
titled bin to credit public spirited ci'izeh since
he prevented the purchase by the city, under Mayor
Chaplin, OF the property OF the Long Island Water
Supply Company, at the eXOrbtant price OF @l.ooooo
Mr.. Gaynor said yesterday: "The Mayor was In
the City Hall ready TO sign the resolutions OF inc
Aldermen as soon as they adopted, so as 10
prevent any stopping the g1n Khe" Mayor
Body body and soul with the three OF lo"r
politicians to whom the gift was to be madc' ana
he was told to come down from his house 10 heip
the matter through. The newspapers say That the
Mayor and the railroad officials held a secret meet
ing yesterday, and arranged for the payment by
The companies OF $3.50 900 for some OF the best streets
In the city. What pitifu prfcel 1t should have
been several millions instead OF a quarter OF one
And what right had the Mayor and Aldermen I"
part with valuable franchises under secret arrange
ments? Was 1t not enough OF government nhoer
blanket TO purchase the Water supply Company
secretly? II the franchises are to be sold why are
they not nut up at auction openly? ], for one citl
zen Of Brooklyn have not enough faith In the Mayor
to allow him to sell my property secretly want
II done openly or not at all. do not care TO say
ANYTHING about the legal aspect of the casc'
Mayor Body said. when asked about the matter
Il think the Injunction unwisc as all the parties
concerned i'm the matter had agreed to meet The cA
pectations Of the public. The Common Council was
prepared to pass resolutions requiring the cash pay
,ncnt OF a considerable sum OF money. over $2ooOoo:
While I do not believe that sum to represent ihe
amount Which the city should ultimately receive as
revenue from the street franchises, am OF opinion
that il was a fair starting point The grant WOMB
not prevent the passage OF law al any time when
woud provide for a revenue based upon the gross
receipts" .
Corporation Counsel jerks defended the Mayors
action and that OF the Aldermen by a statement
that the law said that railroad could not be built
unless majority OF the owners in street petiuoncd
for it, but excepted the existing street railroad com
names and such other companies are or may be
AMI hofizel Ly law III the case OF one new com
pany the General Term Of the City Court had held
mat this provision covered It's case. The point
unon which the Injunction was secured hau D'"n
raised in the Union Street Railroad Company's case,
now pending before Judge Cullen, WHO srah'eu 'ne
Injunction a., 49,.
While the injunction applied only TO the Nassau
Electric Railroad Company, the Aldermen recalled
also The action granting franchise 10 the Boohyh
tity Railroad Company. which l. especially exempted
from the provisions Of law under which the pro,
500 900 for the streets granted TO the Nassau com
pany and others IS stil before the Aldermen;
and a new application for certain other streets VIII
be made on Monday.