New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-02-17
ALDERNEy SLOW TO ACCEPT IT.
AN OFFER or $4,000 FOR FRANCHISE bf
BROOKLYN COMPANY APPARENTLY VIEWED
WITH INDIFFERENCE.

AN OFFER or $4,000 FOR FRANCHISE bY
BROOKLYN COMPANY APPARENTLY VIEWED
WITH INDIFFERENCE
The last Democratic Board Of Aldermen in Brook
lyn gained A most unpleas notoriety from the
fact that combine was made up IN IL OF ,"'' 'ee"
members who acted together and were able wnen-
ever they thought 1t worth while, or whenever II
was made worth their while. to override veto py
the Mayor thirteen being n twothrds majority Oh
the entire membership of nineteen. This combine
came to be generally known as the cold thirteen
and the "cold thirteen to all ntents and pur-
poses the Common Council OF the city OF Brooklyn
1t IL a question in the minds Of some people "Ao
keep an eye on city affairs whether there Is a
combine OF somewhat the sort In the pres
ent board-the reform board that was chosen at
the election which witnessed the complete overhro"
OF Ring forces. II there is 1t has not apparent
~ attained the dimensions OF thirteen put con-
prlses tcn just majority OF the board Inc spec'ai
object OF the "cod ten" II that name can be prop
erlv apped 10 them seems TO be TO prevent free
connection In electric lighting and In particular 70
keep out OF the field company when Is "iii'ns 10
nav n large sum In cas- the city treasury for
the privilege which 1t desires
In the past 1t Is believed that not few corpora
tons have expended cash or its equivalent with
liberal hand in order to obtain franchises and con-
cessons but the city treasury has never been made
one cent the richer on that account why there
should be any hesitation on the part OF the city
fathers to permit a cash payment INTO the city
munlcpa funds In return for privilege granted
S one OF the things that call for expiana ton Now
to the facts
On June 49, 1894, the Municipal Electric Light Com
pany which has been in business several years in the
Eastern District and has extensive plant In that
part OF the city. petitioned the Board OF Aldermen
for the privilege OF extending its franchise TO cover
all the wards OF the city In which 1t did not already
~ doip h,g EOr pry
ege 1t offered the city the sum OF $1,000 In cash.
This Is believed to be the first occasion In the his
tory Of Brooklyn In which cash offer has been
made for a fran mise OF any sort.
Il might be difficult to prove to the satisfaction Of
a Judge and jury that money paid in the past In
many OF this kind but one doubts that
large sums have been absorbed between Wi.louGh-
by-st and me common to'nc chamber wni'e nov
one cent was received by the city Tor te many
valuable franchises given away. Inc present lie,
publican Board OF Aldermen as whole IL believed
to be above suspicion: It has granted several fran
chises IN tire last year anu IN each case ire cry
is t. get revenue. based usually on percentage
Of receipt II w9u,i 'eem thefefoTe mat me onef
have been eagerly accepted. but that was no; the
The Committee on Electricity and Gas. Alderman
wSlkiey chairman; reported promptly In favor OF
irg It's offer Of 90. bur when the matter came
before the board i vas laid upon the table ara
Of repeated efforts to have II taken mp for action.
At each eession u The board either Alderman
NalEiey or Alierfnin lfN moves 10 ltke Inc r.
port from the table. but ev,ry time Ten votes are
cast against the notion. The thing Is getting
oiDnOus and people beginning Inquire into
the motives u the ten AMI 20 ask Whether this i
combine ~ the same natur. IS the Infamous cold
thirteen ~ the board IN which "thf Hon" Mix
corey. STATE senator WAS a burning and "A
shining 'ngh'
favor the accept 81 the handsome offer " the
Municipal Company. ard TIE peopie are watching
this reform Board OF Aldermen VITA some anxiety
know what u going 90 D." done about g..
Tn" explanation - tho acton OF the cold tc1'
~a.i M Ia
tho Committee on Electricity and Gas into report;
irg iaVofably another franchise fo- electric ligl
c1,upAny which hAs made orr OF "A casn pay
men' IN" city ana evidently has no though, Of
doing II II understood that Edward F. Linton
. well-known resident Of the Twenty-sixth Ward. IL
Interested In this embryo company. ana IL is noticed
that he has been seen In the Common Council
chamber much OF late.