New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-18
TIMELY TOPICS IN BROOKLYN.
MKANE'S CONVICTTON-BRIDGE AFFAIRS
COMMISSIONER WHITES POLICY
OTHER MATTERS.

PENDANT to consider calmly and clearly the facts
presented to them. The long absence Of the jury
from the courtroom however. led most people 10
despair of verdict. 1t was universally felt that
acQuittal an absolute impossibillty' pul oi
had 1t in his power to prevent an
agreement Despite the evidence against him and
despite his own damaging admissions on lhe staIiu,
Mckane throughout the trial seemed 10 wear tle
aspect of a man who felt that he would not DE
convicted. He has long carried things win a
high hand in Gravesend that his CONVICTION ana III,
generation had doubt seemed to him an n a9s 90
lutte mpossbility He has been uhdeceiVeG: anu 30 30
have the people of Gravesend VINO nave iookeu up ~
him as a king and regarded him as invncipe'
The case for the people has been admirably han
died from the start. and there seems very niue
chance that the verdict will be set aside on appeal
though the actual punishment OF Mchane may
be postponed for considerable time III coiise
quence Of the appeals that will be taken The case
for the people was good. however, that much less
skilful lawyers than General Tracy and Mr. Shep-
ard should have carried 1t TO SUCCESSFUL ISSUE
Judge Bartlett. too. has done his part win dsh'E
and discretion and with entire importantly. 'o"-
stantly he has seemed to have before his nina me
importance OF avoiding any triing error that might
be regarded serious by the higher courts Gen.
work-as strong and effective as that OF eX,Judge
Troy was weak. The strong accommodation 10
mercy made by the Jury Will IL is most nkeiN not
be highly regarded by the Judge when Mchane IS
arraigned for sentence to-morrow h ,be inrv
in order to win over doubtful juror whT peT wnr
of prosecuting McKane's accomplces 20 on!
There has been no trial in Brooklyn since the
famous case in which Mr.. Beecher was the defend
ant that has aroused much popular interest as
the one brought to a grandy triumphant close on
Thursday.
Whether the action of the Bridge Trustees on
Monday settles for good and all the location OF me
BROOKLYN terminus Of the Bridge may be considered
an omen question What appears certain is that It
settles II for the present. and probably for NUM-
Der of years to come. 1t Is not believed however.
that President Howell has abandoned his favorite
project Of extending the Bridge railway to the city
Hail. but then it is among the possibilities that MT
Howell may not always have a potent voice in the
management of Bridge affairs. The decision reached
on Monday was due to the position taken by Mayor
Schieren regarding the proposed costly station al
Tillary-st. Last month Mr.. Schieren expressed
doubt as to the wisdom of making such large out
Law but asked for time TO consider the matter fulIy
Al Mondays meeting ne expressed the opinion that
II would be wise to return TO the old plan or sta
ton between Sands and High sts and that course
was decided Oh oy aoi,ation FOR The nroectjon OF
the plaza is thus nil but ii is TO be hoped that the
elevated roads and surface-car tracks can he pre-
portance of close connections with the Bridge for
the benefit of the thousands OF persons arriving by
Still the plaza should be kept unobsructed as far
possible
Ex-Mayor Whitney has been induging in some
plain talk about the Bridge that ought not be With
out effect He called on the Mayor in the
course Of the week, and while AT the { y Hall eX-
pressed the opinion that the Bridge hi been most
extravagantly managed. He also said that if il were
managed good citizen would manage his pri-
vate affairs 1t would only pay interest and eX-
penses but would lay aside every year considera-
BILE amount to meet the bonds they become due
These are words of truth and soberness. as every
body knows who knows anything about the mat
ter There some hope that the change in the
would bring about e an Improvement but none is Yet
visible. Senator Bradley has bill at Albany pro
pointed by the Mayor of Brooklyn and two by the
Mayor Of NewYork but pr9bably there is small all
unwilling to turn the control of the Bridge over to
Brookyn in spite OF the fact inat mere , m S
management when Brooklyn has from the beginning
paid just twice as much of the cost
Everybody who travels the Bridge at night
will regret that the trustees postponed for month
the decision of the question whether gas or OIL shall
be used to light the There Is no room for any
doubt on the question. The superior merits Of gas
are evident to all who have seen IL in the car
where it has been experimental with for several
weeks The present method of lighting ought not
to be continued another night 1t was an interesting
experience, by the way. for Mayor Schieren
Tuesday evening when he was stranded J., on The
machinery while engaged in comparing the IN method
1t gave him a good opportunity at all events, to
study the subject for a considerable time
City Works Commissioner White has caused the
walls of Democratic wrath to be empted on his
head by his sweeping action in dsmssing large
number OF employees in his department whom he
found drawing salaries from the city and doing lit
tie or nothing in return. His enemies allege that
instead of clearing off the barnaces and eeches he
should be pains to provide employment for
many people possible on account of the hard
times; and they accuse him of pursuing a course
Inconsistent with his reputation friend of the
poor. Mr.. White is probably not much concerned
by these attacks. No one who knows what he has
done both as president of the Bureau of Charities
and in the building Of improved tenement-houses
can charge him honestly with uncharitabe conduct
official. He himself says that II he were
private employer he would be inclined to keep many
OF those whom he has dismissed. because OF the
difficulty they may have in finding work elsewhere.
but as a public officer he feels that he has right
to act that principle. This remark indicates the
high standard which he carries into office the Ike
of which Brooklyn has for years. The
figures which Mr.. White gives showing the increase
in the number of employees in his department and
in the payrolls since 1885 furnish proof positive Of
extravaganza under Democratic management. The
doubled since 1885, while no one can claim that the
population of the city has increased as much as 20
per in that time. In order to organize the de-
partment a business basis Mr.. White has re-
throurhSut tSe orce because he finds
20 pass upon the fitness OF the hundreds OF employees
within the thirty days allowed by law.
1t Is greatly to the credit Of six members Of the
Board of Aldermen that they voted resolutely
against the extravaganza of spending 5000 Of the
city treasury in order to provide eighteen members
OF the Board with gold badges. The names of the
six deserving of special mention. They
Aldermen Cary. Karutz LEIGH. McGarry. Walkley
and Wallace. The surprising thing Is that az Nc
Garry should be found such good company Moth
ing be palmer than that Alderman has
need for badge; but if he feels that he wants one.
there is no law TO prevent him from paying for It
out of his pocket. 1t IS petty outrage the
taxpayers to ask them to furnish money for such
luXuries. The people expected nothing else when
Democrats Of the stamp of Coffey ran the Board;
they do expect something different This
ton Is serious disappointment to everybody who
wishes TO think well of the reform Board of Alder
men.
complexion was given to the consoda-
ton question by the substitution by the Senate Com
mittee on Cities Of Mr. Reynolds's measure provid-
ing for the union of Brooklyn and Long Island City
with NewYork. on the basis of equal taxation for
all, for the so-caed Greater New-York BILL which