New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-11
TIMELY TOPICS IN BROOKLYN
WHAT PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT ON
THE LONG ISLAND SIDE OF THE
EAST RIVER.

EAST RIVER.
The result of the special election in the Eighth
Ward on Tuesday settles the control of the Board
of Supervisors in way not a all to the liking of
the Ring element in the city. The Democrats had
high hopes of carrying the ward which as a rule
goes Democratic by several hundred majority But
the reform element too strong. and the candl-
date supported by the Republicans and INDEPENDENT
Democrats elected. after an animated contest
by a plurality of 125. The ward in which the cleo
ton was held comprises the extreme southern por-
ton of the city. the part lying around and 10 the
southward of Greenwood Cemetery. The crcuin-
stances leading up to the special election are 100
well known to require restatement 1t is prooapie
that il the Democrats had carried the election the
Republicans would have contested its validity on me
ground that O reason for special election eAlsisu
since the vacancy in the ward had been uuly n iieT
aldermen under the law by which the Democrats
supposed they had made sure OF the enoGe oil t a
necessary OF course there will be no contest now,
local Democratic authorities that the Governor
called the special election by the people when ~ ~
county legislative board. This election proves that
the popular feeling which produced the overturh oil
the Ring last fall is still active ana poleh"
No one can doubt that there will be plenty of work
found by the special committee of. Aldermen APP
pointed to investigate 1.-THE various city DEPART
ments and to examine into any charges against any
department or it's officers" The committee II APP
pears is to have much power In the way Oh SUM
Ynoning witnesses and examining DOCKS ana payers
as would be possessed by legislative committee
Some question was raised at the meeting OF lhe
Aldermen on Monday as their right TO appoint
such committee but 1t was shown that the risht
was granted in the charter, and thereupon the Cd
1ectors subsidized The committee is composed OF
seven Observation-Disclosures Clark, LEIGH, Roedef
Hess, Haubert Wallace and Walsh. ihey can
render the city an important service Aea naae
regarding the management OF public business s,o Dy
the Democrats, such as UNAUTHORIZED cohhectohS
n III nv
books of the Health Department and me costly con-
sibie that an investigating committee may come
down from Albany also If SO, there VII De rUi i
each other.
An appropriate text for DR.. Talmage last Sunday
would have been the parable of the man who re-
fused to work in his fathers vineyard but after
ward "repented and went" DR.. Talmage said IN
the most positive terms few weeks ago that he
would resign, and fixed the Sunday on which he
would preach his farewell sermon; then he took 1t all
back and virtually said he never meant TO resign
but only to bring about sufficiently strong feeling
to induce his supporters TO put their hands more
deeply into their pockets than in order to lift
the heavy burdens under which the Tabernacle Is
staggering One of Or. Talmage's drastic critics
says that his resignation was for revenue only
That seems severe; OF course IL was not n'eI1eu 10
mean that he after personal revenue ne was
simply bringing pressure to bear. MS packins
and ng will not RE p1Se viii hS wink
at another and say: Y TO ms oid lilchs asd,
[ l
stand by his church matter how severe its trials
for the simple reason that the great de6t was IN
ton Had he carried out his Intention the e2ila ,
OF the Tabernacle was inevitable mlseraole out
come indeed of his twenty-five years ministry.
The death of DR.. Robert Foster Of the Polytech-
mic Institute was very sudden and was great
shock to his many frlends-that is to say. to all who
had the privilege of knowing him. for it is impossi-
BILE to conceive of this man of modest bearing ana
gentle spirit having enemy in the world. His
heart was in his professional work to a rare degree
and yet he found time to devote to many good
things outside of his regular duties In the public
and charitable enterprises which absorbed his at
tention, his wise counsel earnestness ana quiet
enthusiasm will be sorely missed He was the sec
Rotary of the Board oc Directors of the Brooklyn
Institute of Arts and Sciences and look the keenes
interest in its regular work and in its plans for sup
oIvng the city with a splendid museum. 1t was a
great regret to him that the condition of his health
forbade his hearing Bishop Clarks eulogy on PM
nps Brooks before the Institute on the 2d OF Feb
riary That excellent charity, the Good Samaritan.
received from him full measure Of sympathy ana
personal interest But his chief enthusiasm was
for the Union for Christian Work, which he helped
to found and with which he was always actively
connected, being for many years its president The
part of its work which especially attracted him and
aroused his deepest its free lending
library. which he saw grow from nothing TO con-
siderable proportions and which he always con-
brary that he hoped to see established in brooklyn.
In his annual reports president OF the Union he
never failed to give forceful utterance 10 his
thoughts on this subject. Dr. Foster was an earnest
Iynitarian he was OF the founders OF Unity
the Rev. Stephen H. Camp. Personally he was one
OF the kindest and most genial OF men, and withaf
utterly unassuming. Although nearly seventy, his
step sprightly and his appearance and bearing
those Of man many years younger II was one
OF his customary pleasantries TO say that he
forty. and oftentimes he did not seem much older.
Physically he always seemingly frail, and yet
he did a vast amount of work. and by dint Of reg
exercise kept himself uniformly in good health
HIS illness lasted only few days. and his death
came very Unexpectedly 10 those who knew
that for some little time he had been under a
physicians care
Although the Consolidation League defeated
In IT'S effort incorporate the plan of uniform
ton In the Greater New-York bill, 1t has decided
to support the bill and will apparently put forth
its best efforts TO secure large vote In favor OF
consolidation at the next election While apparent
~ inconsistent this is the only feasible one
open for the League 1t cannot get all 1t wants;
therefore it will take much 1t can get Mean
time various plans under consideration for
bringing about the annexation of the towns of
Kings County to the city OF Brooklyn One of them
proposes commission. to consist of the Mayor and
Supervisor and three other persons to be
selected by Them which shall consider the subject
fully and make report to the next Legislature
1t appears that there various questions relating
the debt of the city and of the towns which cali
sor careful consideration. The annexation of two
Of the towns In the near future seems inevitable,
and when that Is accomplished 1t would be foolish
10 continue the expensive system OF county gov