New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-01

senator Bradley introduced a bill to-day making
the expenses OF the Mckaae and other prosecutions
a charge on Kings County. Senator Woifert intro
duced bill to day for the annexation Of Gravesend
to brooklyn
INDIGNANT DENIALS IN BROOKLYN.
BRIDGE OFFICERS SAY THEY COURT AN INvEsrI
CATION OF THEIR ACTS
The secrets of municipal, county and bridge man
aeement in Brooklyn to be brought to light,
II the plans for thorough and searching investi-
cation which are under consideration. are carried
out Ever since the Republicans resigned control
Of the city government and of the Legislature
preparations have been under way for the eN-
animation OF all the books for the presentation or
the evidences Of rascay and corruption, hints OF
which have become public from time to time
There was much talk couple OF years ago Of an
investigation in brooklyn, but it was not under
taken. so the official roeuery, winked at II not
openly abetted in high places in the party In con
troll went on and day OF reckoning was an
ticpated.
The introduction Of resolution in the State
Senate by Senator owens. cose upon the heels OF
the denunciation OF the Bridge management by
Senator Bradley. authorizing the appointment OF II
committee to investigate the Brooklyn departments
caused much talk there yesterday.
The allegations OF Senator Bradley in regard to
the Bridge the effect that the city had
been swindled out OF hundreds Of thousands or
dollars by the present management which he de-
cared either incompetent or criminally neeh'
gent. He said. also that the two foremen Of the
structure received $4,000 year. and that their
employment by the trustees was evidence OF robbery
Of the taxpayers.
Last year the BOARD OF Trustees OF the Bridge
cut down from twenty to eight. and at pres
ent Mayors Gilroy and Scheren and Controllers
Fitch and Corwin ofiicio trustees without
pay, and +. V. Skinner and G. 4. Henriques. OF
this city. and James Howell and Seth l.. keeney
of Brooklyn. are trustees at goo year their
terms being five years from May, 1893 Ex-Mayor
Howell is president. and he receives SOD a year
Just as he did under the former management
President Howell was Indignant yesterday NJ
the allegations Of Senator Bradley, and said: Ills
remarks beneath my notice as a trustee Sfna-
tor Bradley s evidently seeking notoriety Such
remarks could only emanate from lunatic or a
BLACKBOARD. The entire statements are ials1 tlI
the the effect that we have employed men
| on the Bridge who have been discharged from
the Brooklyn police force for intimidatng voters
is an absolute and wilful lie IL rs also n' ~.
that this is hospital for sick politicians or MAJ
We have any two foremgn VINO are u''lu,mb o,r
q year between them The only Two mn men ~ ,t our
employ who get that sum are SuperintenpTG, S H9
tnn'dent Probssc3 Who gets 5000 Both are engi-
neers of the highest competency ana men OF ions
W6 ali the d ,hs of the consracio
| agement Of the Bridge, and could not be SpareI,
! Der Of Years said "There have been several
thorough and careful Investigations OF me accounts
s civ been secared correct our books papers.
vouchers and documents are at al tntS rya,nine
o men, bebaf ~ NewYork by the Commissioner Of
| Accounts. and in behalf OF Brooklyn by the Board
Of Audit and have invariably been iouhd coiie e.
,r dT's NvaIs We %econe the % and
most searching investigation Of Bridge ai1aIs ;r "I
books always open. II Senator braniey WI, pe
peat his statements outside OF the senate 'h""'".'
VIII bring him Into court /, cha, the record o.
the Bridge was proof OF the excellence Vi 'ie man
prominent Republican familiar With , bT1gf &c az az,
fairs said last evening "a full invesfgat1n Of 1
hnaithv s7en 81 ,be times possible But It VIII need
probe deeply # the inside facts are p1nateI
under Mayors Low and Hewitt. before the structure
was p ;b b YES w fG"n not t ryn out the
Of many peop,e ma, the ,ndr nav to prvae poc
cts had been clearly concealed by expert book
keeping. How much OF fraud Is cOhccaItl ~ wv
much defective wire into the cables before me
cheating Of contractors was dlsc0pepe1h' ", m'a
the structure for the first ten years on 's m'; i'
much zen It may shorten a1 r ee e"s OF me
records of the Bridge since 1883 BY me Ny 9IG
became president Of the trustees showed Ihat uIe
figures tailed Bot these perinnft3ry ana SnPrr
the Bridge do not touch the real heart Of the mat
Rr,dee has cost up to the present tim or how much
Of the earnings have been diverted from the purpose
OF psying for the cost Of the immense enterprise,
10 be frittered away in extension after extension
| none of which were contemplated in the original
| plans. or when the structure was nIst openrn 10
| travel When the roadways ana promenade
| u,are thrown open the cr-
mated al between si5Co.oO and 100000"
Fully $4,000 NOR has since 9nen ,ha Ee a@
! the bonds all paid OFF the enormous sum oi
go 900 900 will have been paid out in principal and
Interest me fruitful Traa TmS'e of 1871 by BTook
{ for the plaza and widening ana extension OF
Lberty-st.. TO make an aVenu" OF poa,n 10 IN
Dof expcnding from Sj00.0D 70 twice OF thrice this
er Cor an entirely terminal station AZ Hillary
r. a part OF President HowclIs plan to carry the
/ Bridge TO the city iiali. More opposition was met
! Win ten years ago. Nhen tn" trustees purchased
the first piece of property south OF SAhds.st, Tor
tIo 900 than the expenditure Of ten times this sum
last year evoked. II the inside facts Of the Bridge
idosls under Howell and his associates. broul ht
There is one Bridge Trustee. Seth L. keeney. now
under indictment for wreck:nS M, ne no,nnercial
. f"nnI for nalfeasance in Office on the part OF
| bridge Trustees? Mr. Keeneys brother, Abncr 6.
! Keeney. WAS contractor lor WoIk on tht HTliE.
, I'm the DAYS when William c. Kingsley and Henry
- 'Murrby managed Bridge affairs When cX-
! Navor fIcvell was turned down as Bridge Presl-
dent by Mayor Grant and the o'hSr New, or!t
.r1,c~ ses he was able to carry INTO eNect threat
which enabled him TO return TO inc once year
later and to remain there ever since. Many in
ieresting disclosures, OF proht 10 tahpayers. can
be made b. the vigorous and impartial inVestiga-
lion of the Bridge which is DEMANDED,
In speakinc OF Soslator Bradley's charges against
the Brooklyn Bridge management "aNor Gllroy
sa ..T.be subject has ALREADY been called to my at
tont,on but think the charges entlreIy 100 vague
are presented against the Bridge officials no one
| viii move sooner than to investigate them. But
we cannot take up anything SO INDEFINITE as Senator
| Era1ley's statements.
CCntrqsr Fiich whs Y .s atso member OF the
Il feel that / am too aew and inexperienced in