New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-11
TIMELY TOPICS IN BROOKLYN
WHAT PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT ON
THE LONG ISLAND SIDE OF THE
EAST RIVER.

EAST RIVER.
The new Commissioners have already given proof
Of their Intention to introduce reforms and purify
the service in many needed ways. City Works
Commissioner White began early 10 WELD the axe
and has dismissed a large number OF employees on
the ground that their services no longer need-
ed. This would appear to mean that the vacancies
thus created will be filled. and Is. 80 far an III
dicatlon that under the Democratic Commissioner
the money of the city was being thrown away
He has also flied the important office OF Supe'i'
tendent of Streets for the man he first seec'ed
refused TO serve after full consideration Inc sue
cessor of Superintendent Sterling Is Nlchoias l.
Flocken. who clerk in the Water hee'S.ei
office when Mr.. Low Mayor He Is sad 10 ne q
man of energy Since nothing in the way OF strrs,
cleaning is done in Brooklyn during ne Wn hten
months. some people will wonder why Mr.. w nar
filled the Office before spring, &C lie d,,,ies
Welles has gone about the discharge oil MS nutIys
Clear on She first div on which he conducted the
trials OF delinquent policemen mat IS una, ne WIZ VIZ
members of the force one officer who confessed 70
having taken two drinks Of brandy was hncd thlr'F
discipne in he police force for next years
Park Commissioner squer has also tound On cI bs
siderable number of superfluous emIloyes Oh 'iio
payros and has been wedding them out
The exhibition which Mckane made OF himself
on the witness-stand must have been far from salts
factory his friendsha is. to the intelligent men
who are standing by him. OF course In the eyes OF
his ignorant followers in Gravesend he can do no
man. They will think the same after he Is con-
yicted as he seems very likely to be. In fact
nothing can him except the failure OF one OF
two Jurors to agree with their fellows. There are
rumors abroad that two Of the iurymen are AL
right as far as McKare is concerned. Probably
this is merely bluff; all events there Is no evil
dence Of such a of things. and IL Is certain
that extreme was taken in selecting 'he Jury.
McKanes denials ltradictons and inconsistencies
cannot but have produced decidedly unfavorabe
impression intelligent and fair-minded Jurors.
in, n,trf a
trial tells me that his first impression OF the jury
was favorable. but on looking at It closer ne
became convinced that u was gooC jury anu
would do its duty fearessiy and honestly
The prospects of the enactmen. of the Greater
New-York" bill seem to be excellent after the large
majority by which 1t was passed in the Assembly.
The proposed consolidation would make New-1ork
as broad as II is long The extreme length OF the CITY
north and south now is about fifteen miles, the ex-
tension Of its limits in accordance with the pro-
visions Of the pending bill would carry 1t sixteen
miles to the eastward, but at the same time would
carry its southern extremity to the lowest point
of Staten Island which is nearly twenty miles from
the City Hall on Long Island. Far Rockaway
Creedmoor Rayslds and Whitestone would be in
cluded As has been said before. this bill merely
provides for the vote of the people interested on
the question of union with New YORK leaving me
actual question of consolidation to be considered
and decided later such measure is entirely
between the union Of New-York and BROOKLYN and
the making of great municipality covering 81,
square miles Consolidation by wholesale has little
to Commend It, but there can be rational OBJ
lection to the contemplated vote.
Meantime the agitation for consolidation on a
smaller scale will continue Bills have been intro
duced providing for the annexation Of the town OF
Flatbush to Brooklyn. in accordance with the wish
of a good many OF the residents Of that pleasant
suburb. IT is not the first attempt by any means
TO bring abou; this result but heretofore the inter
ests Of the local politicians in the town have been
too strong 10 be overcome. With a Republican
Legislature this difficulty will be materially reduced
In all probability New-Utrecht will follow in no long
time-in fact. a bill for its annexation has been
brought forward-and then there will be only the
towns Of Flatlands and Gravesend left That Il
will be thought necessary to maintain a full coun-
~ government In addition TO the city goysrnmsnt
Bile and so whether Flatands and Gravesend are
S nsex sed and hs Without reference to- the
talked Of.
The Republican members OF the Board Of Super
visors very properly took the bull by the horn in
seating Frederick Linde the representative Of
the Eighth Ward az their meeting on Monday. The
refusal Of Clerk Farrell TO obey the order Of the
Supervisor at Large brought about condition of
things strikingly similar TO that in the State SEN
ate when Lieutenant Governor sheehan undertook
10 run things to suit himself and Senator Saxton
was forced to call roll. The Democratic Super
visors and their agents have been taking lessons
from both Trenton and Albany, but the Republi-
cans have been too smart for them The law in
epect to the filling of vacancies In the Board Is of
the Democrats devising. 1t provides that
such vacancies shall be filed by the Board of
Aldermen. or the time Of its enactment
the Democratic leaders who secured its passage
had no idea that the Republicans would gain
control of the Common Council The vacancy IN
the Eighth Ward caused by the death of SUI
pervsor Stickevers few days before the last cleo
tion 1t might by prompt action have been filled
at that election. but 1t was not. Then the Demo
cratic Board of Aldermen elected Kehoe 10 the
place. and just before the end oil the year he re-
has been held by Judge Cullen to be- inYaiiG ''' To
M the exisng vacancy the new Board of Alder
been carried out. there is no vacancy and conse
quently no occasion for a special election as Gov
tempted to make great deal of the alleged fact
that Attorney General Hancock advised the Gov
lawful and proper thing to do Ru Mr Ha MSs le
emphatic denial that he gave any such advice left
them without anything % lean on in that respect.
Mayor Schieren has taken a course that will win
universal approval in endeavorng to reduce the
amount which the city pays for electric street
lights. The Board of Aldermen has rejected all
the bids put in by the electric companies. This Is a
step toward a reform OF real Importance. The
furnishing Of lights for the city has heretofore
been a of immense profit to the companies
and 1t is notorious fact that Brooklyn pays n
good deal for this service than many
other cities. What the Mayor intends to secure is
a reduction of 80 per cent in the cos, Of electric
lights. There is no doubt that the companies can
etill make large profit the proposed figure
Mr.; Schieren has looked into the matter carefully
and surprised the representatives OF the companies
who called on him in the of the week by his
knowledge OF the cost Of electric lighting Hitler
TO certain politicians connected with the McIaugh-
lin Ring have had large interest In Increasing
the profts OF the companies, and hence ali efforts
TO reduce the cost Of this service have been in
vain. "
The wisdom OF the Board OF Education in decid-
Ing at this time to increase the salaries of the
principals OF intermediate schools is open TO seri-
GUS question. 1t is we'll known that the number Of
SCHOOLS In the city is inadequate to the de-
mands upon them. and the Importance Of putting
forth every effort TO increase their capacity Is self
evident II is also the fact that of the teach
ers are poorly compensated while this cannot he
said OF the principals. The Board of Education is
constantly asking for increased appropriations but
certainly pubic confidence in 1t will not be in
creased by such action that taken In weel,