New-York tribune., 1895-12-12
RROOELYN BRIDGE SCANDALS.

Y, honorable man can doubt that ii Is the
imperative and urgent duty of the incoming
LEGISLATURE 10 make certain changes in the
BOARD Of Trustees OF the BROOKLYN bridse
lanes Howell. the president, ana Se'h !"
Kcency. one Of the trustees, admit III 'lcir
testimony before the Assembly COmmlltee that
they are stockholders in the trolley hhe which
Is irving TO steal a part of the plaza III Brook
lvn No man Of scrupulous cOnsccn'ousheSS
and lofty sentiment of honor would MINK ior
q moment of acting as trustee or lne bro"hiyh
Rridse while he was Il holder OF stock III the
trol,ev lines which are attempting to get, With
ont adequate return, property Which mas peph
acquired for public purposes. Inc schehe 10
steal part of the plaza in the interest Oh troi-
lev lines is one Of the most impudeht ana an
dacjous which has been brought To puDic view
for a long time. The Brooklyn bridge Is sup
portcd by the taxpayers Of New-lork ana Brook
lvn II Is n public enterprise constructed WIN
money taken from the taxpayers ol the tWo
cities The trustees of the Bridge some Time
ago bought lands for the plaza at grossly "N-
trayagant prices, and 1t Is generaiy oeeNeu
that In connection with the purchase OF 'hoSe
lands rank jobbery prevailed. part OF this
prouerty was bought from trolley line. This
some trolley line has scheme on foot to obtain
from the Bridge Trustees permission to ruin
thls part Of the plaza by using II for It's own
nurpose Nothing can be clearer than that to
grant the use of any part of the plaza to any
one of the trolley lines would be a serious sacri-
lice Of public interest.
No stakeholder in any Brooklyn trolley line
ought to be allowed 10 serve as a trustee of the
f,tA lf ~
lines conflict with those Of the Bridge II Pres
ident Howell ana Trustee keeney were sensitive
10 public opinion or DESTROYS OF the respect oi
upright AMI publc-sprited citizens. they would
resign their positions in the Brooklyn Brdgt
Board Of Trustees without delay. But no Such
action can be expected of the two men. who have
shown themselves 10 be 50 regardless OF WHAT
IS right and proper as TO retain their stock IN
trolley lines while pretending TO serve the III
tpreSIs Of the Bridge. Hence The Legislature
ought TO take prompt and vigorous action next
month.
All The most important newspapers in TINS
part Of the country have declared emphaiically
for many years that the Brooklyn Bridge was
shamefully msmanagei. Many people hoid the
view that IN unsparing and meiciless investlga-
ton by the ablest and keenest experts WHO coulo
be obtained would show that there has been at
times a great deal Of actual dishonesty ana
tbicyery in the handling of Brooklyn Bridge
funds as we'll outrageous extravaganza,
profigacy and waste 1t has been plain enough
for many a day that the public interests were
injured and damaged by the keeping in office or
President Howell at the head Of the Board of
Trustees but il has not been generally suspected
that President Howell had so little sense Of
honor and 50 dull Il conscience that he would
ATTEMPT 70 put through scheme TO ruin part
OF the plaza for the benefit Of trolley line in
which he himself held stock. The admissions Of
Mr. Howell and Mr.. Keeney before the Assem-
bly Committee will send a shock Of apprehen-
sion, alarm and disgust through both of the two
great communities which are connected by The
Bridge The belief is general among persons
familiar with the subject that If the Bridge had
been prope,ly managed from the start it would
have been il source Of great profit instead of
q burden upon the cities of New-Yori and
BROOKLYN: that the best and finest approaches
AT each end could have been constructed ont Of
the revenues Of the Bridge without additional
issues Of bonds. and without calling upon the
taxpayers in the two cities for special outlays;
that the system of transportation could have
been made far more effective tnan II IL. II Is
also believed that the revenues Of the Bridge
have been misappliel 10 most gripvous extent;
that the payrols Of the Bridge have been stuffed
by the employment Of lot of worthless polltl-
cal heelers as policemen and in other places.
II is certain that the Bridge could be- properly
policed and managed at far less cost than al
present
ANY and all members of the Board of Trustees
who are advocating sacrifice Of part Of the
plaza TO a trolley line are fahess 10 their trust.
and ought TO he cast ont of Office ignOminlously.
No person with any feeling of honesty will deny
that it would be Il betrayal Of trust for any mem
Der Of the Board 10 vote for the surrender OF u
part Of the plaza to a trolley line in which he
is stockhoder Every trustee who votes in
favor Of a sacrifice Of any part Of The plaza 10
a trolley line must be looked upon as nnscrupu-
lous and unworthy OF confidence. The Legis
latre should take prompt action early in Janu-
ary for the reorganization Of the Balrd Of Trus
tees Of the Brooklyn Bridge
-
HAIL TO THE GUARDSHIPS!
- tba oua ri shin nuastion ic sAtlnl Tho Sul.