New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-07-09
WHAT BROOKL,
NOTES on AFFAIRS OF CURRENT NTERyr,
IN THE CITY OF CHURCHES.

WOW in which these cars are handled by the ma, =
charge OF them. II ought not to require still M
serious slaughter to induce the companies and the ~
outborities to take reasonable precautions for A.
safety Of life and limb. The occurrence on Tuesd,,
caused series OF ordinances to be submitted =
the Board Of Aldermen, by whom they refeuS
IN the Committee on Railroads. These m
nosed rules for the government OF troll,
cars via meet with general approvr
Not only should they be adopted, but they should =
strictly enforced. 1t Is as much the interest Of H
comn,nies to have this done II IS that OF the mi
Tic The accident on the Fourth took place A
few hundred feet outside Of the city limits, but Z
course there more excuse for running these can
ar reckless rate Of speed In the town OF NewUtresE
sHnn I'm the city OF Brooklyn. on the part Of ~
road where the collision occurred 1t appears that ~
ioa ,or,nen have been in the habit OF releasing theS
htns and plunging down heavy grade without AM
restraint whatever. On this occasion the brakes ID
some failed to work the car could not
into another car standing on the track little dsancs
ahead one man. the conductor 81 the second cas,
ME Injured was larger when one car going sts
high rate OF speed cane WIN IuiI force Ia couisto
with another not In mouoh'
Tho proposed ordinances, II adopted and enforced
ought TO make the Use OF the trolley in the city con
naratively safe. That they viii be enforced may
doubtod at the ontse. The rate OF running sped
nermi,ted 1, ten miles hour but at crossings thh
4.
., cars will De inclined to obey such regulation
hot with ony strctness If there IS any place whev
accidents are more likely TO happen than elsewhere
# IS undoubtedly Bedfordave. This street Is e.
tonsvely used for driving, being the direct means 1t
approach to Prospect PARK from large section Of Ii:
citv II |, now crossed by four trolley tracks aN
uiu SOON be bv another on one Of the lines a rule
nrryas that all ear, shall be stopped Just before the
nv.nue IS reached IN order 10 see that The way &
cInar This seems TO be wise precaution. The
adoption OF such a rule generally IN HE case Of
croicded thoroughfares would undoubtedly lead 70
good results at least 10 the prevention oil bad onea
There appears to be a good prospect that at ns
meeting OF the Board OF Education on Tuesday the
yaultlng ambition OF James b. Bouck VIII come
grief. About the middle OF the week an announce
mcnt was made in behalf OF James Weir, IT.. well
known member Of the board, that he would be willing
tn accept the presidency. AT the time OF Mr. Hen
drx,s resignation Mr. Weir brought forward as
GOOD man for the place. but 1t was then decided
postpone the election until the annual meeting OF the
hoard in july At that time, too. Mr. Weir was dis
inclined to take the office. Fortunately, he has
changed his mind and Mr.. Bouck will be confronted
BY a powerful rival. Coupled with the announce
ment that Mr.. Weir willing to serve was the
statement that Bouck did not have "llouenW
street" behind him. That element Is me unknowa
*" In the equation. without "Willoughby street"
Bouck has small chance OF winning, even II he hv
any al all which may be doubted Inc b"aru nss
nu,red 10 elect The election this year will not b
in, Interesting Than that year ago. when j. G.
Hendrix reelected 10 the presidency ior the nia
time.
The ,mnsnelina OF new Grand Jury Is matter
OF no little importance In Brooklyn where Grand Jura
have lately done 30 much good work. and would have
done more save for tho restrictions under which they
were compelled to carry their labors. The Jury fcr
July were cautioned by Judge Moore on Monday not
TO let the public know what they were engaged In,
and also warned that they must depend ior legal 40
vice upon the DiSrictAttorney alone The inference
from this j. that some Grand Jurors have been 100
free in their consultation Of outside lawyers judge
Moore insisted that II would be INDUSTRIOUS wrong"
n each Juror could have his own private legal al.
wiser which a ncedle,sly severe putung Of ts
case. To be- sure. the Grand Jury must De soverha
by what the District Attorney tells them. MT II tIey
have, any friend, who LAWYERS and who are aole
TO give them hints and suggestions It Is had 10 see
tone Of the charge Indicated fear on me part Of
those in authority that the Grand Jury might be roo
meddleSOme and make too much trouble ior some pew
pie holding offices Of trust and pront.
The discussion about the time when the amendment
TO the Criminal Code according to which mide
meanors I'm Kings County are not subject 70 ndict'
ment. was adopted and as to whether Republicans OF
Democrats were responsible for It's enactment, has
little bearing upon the main question: which Is inc
question Of the wisdom Of such provision of The law
II It Is a bad amendment IL makes no difference
whether II was passed in 1850 or l--9 or whether
seth Low or Alfred C. Chaplin was Mayor az the tine.
or course the absurdity Of bringing a city official
charged with "A m-demeanor before OF the police
justices for rial Is apparent to everybody. II was
on account Of this amendment that the Grand jury
for June failed To ndict Mayor Body and other cry
officers for their action In connection with the re'sns
award OF surface railroad franchises. or course vi:
Body has reason to be- thankful To the enacters Of
this provision of the code. Equally OF course was
enacted several years ago for the sake oil pro.
tecting Democratic offenders In the year 1898. That
IT unwisely enarges the powers Of police justices ana
action OF Grand Juries Is plain enough and as,uredy
no reason exists why Brooklyn should stand upon
different basis IN this respect from all other parts OF
the State
The Republican counsel have had little difficulty Id
making ont strong case against the supervisors for
their partisan unfairness I'm reapporoning the AS
scmby districts. Apart from their contention that
the wards have been improperly and unlawfuly d.
vided II has been easy 10 show that the dis
,ricts have not been formed, In number OF cases.
OF convenient and contiguous territory. The mehod
OF combining parts OF the city and county that natur
ally belong together has not been followed but for
the sake OF grouping Democrats togethGGs no regard
@Snvenrnce Of neelborhoods II the courts uphold
This method Of apportionng legislative districts they
matters OF this kind.
The Board OF Estimate has completed its work for
the year. hut displayed any excessive zeal to
reduce city expenditures and keep down the tax rate
than the amount allowed last year. or course II has
been necessary TO reduce the amounts asked for by
many Of the departments. Mayor Body was bound
to make as good n showing possible. in order 10
help his purpose of securing reconciliation ana
4" Nindcation.' and doubtless the result Of further
forts In that same direction will be- visible when the
tax rate is made up. \ moderate TAX rate may he
announced but il II will b" at the expense OF In
creased Valuations This f. fayorte practice In
both New York and Brooklyn. hut the taxpayers have
seen 1t tried too often be- deceived by It.
1t Is not surprising that lawyers smile at the ides
Of John b. Meyenborc'> suing The county for his
ST. 600 fee for the part which he took In the county
bond litigation last year. His fee Itself was very
" cheeky" piece OF business and perhaps suit 10
recover II Is not inappropriate sequel thereto. As
counsel to the Board OF Supervisors Mr.. MeyenborS
should have felt In duty bound to put forth his best
efforts I'm behalf Of the county. When le found that
Mr. De Wit valued his services at $200 900 he seems
to have made up his mind that there was good
thing going" and that he might well have share