New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-04
TIMELY BROOKLYN TOPICS
WHAT TIE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF
CHURCHES ARE THINKING AND
TALKING ABOUT.

Tho entrance Of the new heads OF city departments
iron the work which they Will have under their con-
mol for years to come According the charter
the real change in administration begins month
after a Mayor assumes office, and the new
Mayors policy cannot be initiated until that time.
Various circumstances have recently directed at
tention TO the unwisdom Of continuing this system
The absurdty of it may be by thinking of the
position of the national Government If the Cabinet
officers Of a retiring President Of the United states
were continued in office for month after inaugu-
ration day. Such an arrangement would DE no more
absurd than 90 keep in office for a month under
new Mayor the commissioners selected 10y MS pred
ecessor. 1t Is plain that the charter Of Brooklyn
should be amended in this respect; and Ii would
doubtless also be well to endow the Mayor with the
same power in regard to removals that he has in
making appointments The one thing should so
with the other. As for The commissioners them
selves Of they have their record all TO make
Their good character is a guarantee Of earnest ef-
forts 10 give the city hrst-class administration.
So many Of them are men Of business framing thaf
thev seem especially well equipped for the duties
which confront them. They have no childs play be-
fore them in cleaning ONT ana ,oii.s tlv "ou rs
which have grown up IN the last eight years Inc
viii hold the new officials 20 high standard OF
responsibility. -
I, IS a misfortune that Mayor Schierens attempt
70 remove Fire Commissioner Ennis was Of no avail.
The result of Judge Landons decision is 10 send
ont the most discredited member of the Body cab
Of wit "A
cjsion was most surprising and unsatisfactory Ills
view of the case was certainly curious. He wrote
NJ opinion, but delivered his decision verbally from
the bench. lie declared that the Commissioner had
kept strictly within his legal powers and that his
obieo was increase the efficiency OF the depart
ment. Nor did the Judge find any evidence OF will
ful waste of the funds of the department, as
charged by the Mayor No doubt can be entertained
~ the truth of the Judges statement that ''t was
a pleasure" to Ennis 10 make the appointments
which laid him open TO criticism In Judge Lam
don's opinion. ii is in accord with the Des' interests
n the CITY that there should he one foreman TO
every four and a half men in the Fire Department.
o. Ennis himself testified. 1t appears that there
WAS A decentralization as 10 the significance of the
law under which Ennis was suspended by Mr..
Schieren for although the case IS appeaIaoe 10 the
General Term the decision of the Judge at special
Term in favor of the defendant had the eject OF
"a once restoring him his duties. The conse-
ouence in this case that Ennis was placed IN
fuu charge of the Fire Department again for two
days There,ipon Chief Engineer Nevns retired. IN
harmony with the understanding previously had'
but for some reason Ennis failed to appoint new
allied by Commissioner Wurster. Nevins Is a man
of undout:ed ability, and there IS no Iues'Ih ma
he has done much to increase ana MAINTAIN tle en-
cheney of the fire force; If he had Kept clear OF POI
ttics his usefulness as Iulc i 1S,jcs - re-
last and would probably have held his Office for some
Tine longer had Ennis's suspension been sustained
The Democrats desperate in their attempt 10
control the Board of Supervisors. Judge CuHeh ue
ciled very properly. that Kehoe, the Democrat
who assumed to represent the Eighth Ward on the
strength ~ an election by the Board Of Aldermen
las. wear had forfeited all claim to the place by
resicning and then seeking a reelection mat us
noses of Kehoes claim but the Judge sara ho'ii''s
a, all in reference the validity or the eiecuoh oi
Iinde by the present Board of Aldermen 10 nave
done 50 would have been TO go out OF MS way
,rbs-erore the Democrats resolved 60 try new tack
and appealed TO the Governor TO order sPec'ai
election TO fill the vacancy which they claim eNs's
I, the Eighth Ward. This election is set down ror
Tebruarv q Thus far Thomas +. Farrell, the clerk
NJ the Board OF Supervisors. has played success
flllv into the hands OF his own parry as Ven 80,
his own interest for If the BoaId Is ,h, Nr FAR
rel will go out quickly
Tho inevitable has occurred in the case or senator
McCsrty. 80 reasonable person can entertain 'he
,nas, doubt that a large number Of illegal ballots
were cast for him both in Gravesend ana on staten
Island and the nominal plurality by WHO" ne aP-
peared on the face Of the returns. 70 be eec'ei was
a mere trife Senator Reynolds seemed disposed at
one time to vote against the report Of the Committee
on Privileges and Elections giving the place to the
pAnuh,ican candidate Wolfert. since he felt that
bv increasing the Republican majority IN the Sen
ate his own Importance as balance OF power
might be diminished Before the end however ne
took a more sensible view. and when the vote was
taken he was reCOrueu Oh tiIe i'74N ''-N'
1aradlev too the independent Democrat who was
elected by Republican votes, also Voteu 70 u!sca'
Nc dc,son is a righteous one If election contests
were decided in the courts. there Is no, court ~
tnf on S5a the @ Evidence laid before the committee
The BROOKLYN City Railroad Company is talking
of building a trolley line TO Flushing. Such iii'e
will make that pretty village easily acceSS'o'e -
Brooklynites whereas now II Is really remote al
,boueh IT'S actual distance away is only ten miles
At present there is direct connection between
the two places The railroad TO Flushing runs from
Long Island City and 20 reach places o" INA
North Side Railroad the easiest way from tn'
BROOKLYN City Hall Is to cross Fulton or Cathe'i''
tIunier's Point AS a matter of fact Flushing Is
terra incognta 70 nne-tenths OF ro,,ev line fhithei
viii enable Brooklynites to get acquainted WIN
most interesting little town.
Nayor scheren thinks that the proposed SHORE
drive between Bay Ridge and Fort Hamilton would
he a good thing but he will not commit hltseh vi
tho subject until some idea Of the cost OF the I'M
movement can be obtained. That was the tenor VI
his remarks the subject at che meeting oi VI.
Commissioners having the matter in charge heu az
b,s oN9ca the other day. The law as 1t STANDS il
defective. and 1t is proposed to have a new Co"i
mission appointed under an amended law. "ne'"e'
I, is wise for the city make large expenditure
for this purpose at the present time IL an
but it would be a luxury-and y Is douotf4 Ires
the city has any money TO spend In such iuHulie
lust now Certainly there are gOOu many "oe'"
Stiles to be provided for
The Interesting suggestion has been made 'ha'
when the Tabernacle is sold. as In all probability "
gul no before long 1t should be acquired by Inc
RrookIyn Institute, and used for IT'S lectures anu
general beadouarters The building is well adapted
for this purpose in many respects, although too
large for most Of the lectures; but there Is Sc
rous objection in situation 1t is too far uptown
TO meet the demands OF many OF the institute pa
irons If stood the Ola ldperhdCle a.'n W
schermerhorn-st T. would be much more availabie
FOR this purpose The general meeting pace Oh VIZ
institute must be centrally situated ana pretty wen
downtown.