New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-04-23

! 4" WI"
| JAMES HOWELL
| James Howell has filed more important public
Offices In the city than any other man. lie has been
an Alderman. supervisor. Supervisor Large Of the
county. Mayor OF the city. and president Of the Bridge
for the two cities lie IS an Englishman by birth
| md Is nearly SiXty-thrce years old. His parents
brought him 10 this country when he was n child and
he lived In Ohio until he sixteen years old, when
| he went TO Brooklyn. After serving year as Il
grocery clerk be entered iron foundry. and soon
| mastered the trade and bccan" foreman Of "A larg.
shop. When twcny-sX years old he started In bust
ness for himself. with II partner and they soon sue
ceeded In establishing large foundry and gained I'm.
portant contracts. He continued his business after
~ became ofcchodcr To the profit Of the firm and
only recently retired with large fortune. In 1864
Mr. Howell elected the Board Of super, sors
and subsequently, 10 the Board Of Aldermen lie was
chosen to the Office OF superyisor-at Large IN 1879
and while holding THIS Office IN l-17 he was selected
as the Democratic candidate for Mayor lie dcfcac I'd
| John j. Henry Icy 800 votes. By strict attention
TO the duties Of his Office and rcirenchmcnt he low.
cred the tax rate and able 10 secure reelection
In 1879 by an increased majority. But when he
eS'aycd 10 secure the Office for third term he was
defeated by 5000 votes by seth Low.
Ills dulles as Bridge trustee began when he n ,
| sumcd the Office Of Mayor. and he famlarlzcd him.
self with the structure In the four years he was an
rNoilclo trustee ana Few weeks after he retired
| from the Mayoralty be was appointed to succeed
Henry {. Murphy trustee. BY successive reap
pontmcnts for terms OF two years each he has r..
maned In Office since. and for seven years has
filled the Office Of president at 5000 year. several
efforts have been made 10 secure "A reduction of the
number OF trustees since the Bridge opened Ia
the public IN 1888. but without avail until The present
year, when the third bill providing for the chang.
was passed by the Legislature. and this received
II. signature, of and hoo l,,r
Governor llil vetoed the previous measures designed
TO secure the reduction. Mr.. Howell ruppontcd
Tor term Of five years under the new law one Of
the two Brooklyn trustees, and he was nj once r.,
elected to the office Of president. II. has devoted
himself assiduouSly 10 the duties OF III, Office. and
under his management the Bridge railroad has trans
ported fOOOO,OO0 Passengers annually without scrou,
accident and with few delay. Mr.. Howell ha-
earnestly advocated the extension Of the Bridg. rail
road 10 the vicinity Of City Hall square and he doe,
not yet despair Of seeing thi. accomplished. lie
active In securing the appropriation for the widening
Of Liberty ST.. from sand,,t. 10 Hillary St, TO afford
new avenue Of approach to the Bridge aud the
open plaza extending 10 Fulton-st. from the
Bridge station between Sands and High SIS. An ar
preparation Of half million dollars complete the
Improvement Will soon De made. and the new means
OF 10 the Bridge will De- ready for use by the
time the new BrOoliyn station Is Completed and the
number Of trains the Bridge railroad be- doubled
In the rush hours.
The work Of the Lcei,Ia'urc in relation t, Irooll,n
not OF great moment. IN II few plriiculir,.
10th the ILL, 10 prOvine for the "Grcatr Ncw-lork'
and for the "Grcaer brooklyn failed Of pas,ag The
first bill 10 relieve The city and county official, from
responsibility In expanding money Illegally Cor the
Columbus cclrbE.tIOn created fer Interest and
discussion than the second u similar purpOri
It fillcd 10 become law by oil the GOVERNOR
veto, and the second passed. The bill bciorc
. nd Tar, tI.
Memorial Arch which Was dcdlcltci In connection
with the Columbus oclobraiipn provides for III"
pclion Of the aic 10y adding the bronze groups. for
which pdc,tals have been provided In the structure
and which were In III" Original plans. 4 similar
biz failed Of passage last year. Among the important
measures which failed OF pd,sag this th1,c
providing for closing ana filling up the Canal
tax street railroad companies upon the basis Of
giOss receipts, to remove steam from the surface
oi Atnnlic-avc.. 10 provide that my incfcasr IN
excise receipts shall 90 INTO the CITY treasury and
to exempt certain STREETS from railroads. The ~
pcnditurc Of ~ 900 for granite and asphalt pave
mcnts. OF $4,000 for additions To tie Twelfth wari
and Highland paras. Of 100000 for improvements In
the town Of NcwUtrcch; Of FOO 900 10 protect III"
watershed, besides the 100000 10 complete the
Memorial Arch. las been allowed by bills which have
become laws or are In The hands Of the Governor.
Among the other measures Of public Interest ar"
those permitting The issue Of water bonds ana tax
certificates without regard TO the debt limit. per
uniting railroad companies to lay tracks On the new
bridges. authorizing the county Judge ana police
justices TO rform the marriage ceremony. granting
dy the right to appeal from the decision 81 the
supreme Court in The settling aside %. the award to
The Long Island Water supply Company, reducing the
szo Of the Bridge E0ard OF Trustees authorizing the
tunnellng OF the East River, permitting the sale OF
Cnion Cemetery. which Is surrounded by dwellings.
ard authorizing the expenditure Of public money for
Decoration Day exercises.
The defeat OF ia" bill to have vote Oh the
question Of the consolidation Of New York ana Brook
Ign and their suburbs fOrcGonc conclusion when
Dcmociaiic politicians decided that II wonld be
cnsicr 10 XIII the measure in The Legislature than to
vote down consolidation at the polls. B'ls were early
introduced providing for the annexation OF New |
utrcch, and Faibush 10 the city. In accordance win
the proposition 81 Mayor Epody In his message last
winter urging the annexation Of al the county towns
to the city. The political influences In Ne"-t'rerht
speedily defeated the reliins TO that town.
bot 1t was supposed almost up TO- IN" ci1sihg hou's OF
lhc session that IN" faibm,h bill Would De passed
II vert through the Assembly but vas allowed to
lie In the senate. for Mclaughlin ana his henchWrn /
IL cidcd that they dld not want the Town III 'hc CITY
IN the coming Mayoraty campaign. -,
Til. selection OF the men In each ward To act with |
the president OF the ward associations IN naming tn"
committeeman to arrange for election distrct enroll
ncnt was the first step IN the way OF mspnDirnn
rcOrganizatiOn, and was taken last week. Inc, must
appoint committee Of three In each election district
,eors next Tuesday or the president OF the oene;al
,ppointed delegate, ana The president have failed
10 agrec. and this puts the appointments ~ the hands
4 President Emitting. The enrolment VIII take place
N the evening u Nay o. ,.,.
A remarkable number Of pubic men nave died In
he last ten day. The list inclaieS po,imasier
ernai Revenue collector Nichols. Principal Crombie.
II the Adephi Academy John Flynn: OF me Board
u Education cx Surrogate Dawson, ana 'ohh Leherts