New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-17
TRYING TO STEAL THE BRIDGE.


last quarter of a century is marked with many
unwise and some dishonest acts 1t contains,
however. record Of nothing comparable, at once
for unwisdom and dishonesty, with the pending
bill which a powerful lobby is seeking to rush
through the Albany Legislature with Indecent
haste. II seemed at first incredible that so bare
faced a grab could have any chance OF success
But It u.s. unfortunately, possible to underrate
the influence OF selfish and corrupt schemers
upon the course OF legislation. To-day 1t Is pain
fully evident that nothing but prompt and Wig
orous action In behalf Of public interests can
prevent the contamination OF this unexampled
outrage.
Here Is a vast public work, which cost the two
cities Of York and Brooklyn about S2OVo-
900. 1t is now used by more than oOOOoOoO
persons a year, and the number OF Its patrons
Is rapidly increasing. 1t Is not mere con-
yenence but a necessity-One of the greatest
necessities to the masses of the people OF all
our public works The welfare Of the two cities
requires that II he maintained and managed
solely In the interest OF the public. Yet 1t Is
now proposed TO turn II over TO combination
of niggardly. grasping corporations, for them
10 manage solely for their own selfish profit.
That Is exactly what this scheme In its present
form means: Just that. and nothing else.
Every detail Of the plan makes the whole seem
the more indefenslblc. The Bridge Is 10 be
leased TO the elevated roads. TO the exclusion
Of all competitors. These grabbcrs want no
rivalry The public Ia to pay the enormous ex-
pense OF building connecting links between the
Bridge and the elevated roads for the benefit or
the latter: as though one should not merely look
gift horse in the mouth, but should also ask
the gver 10 build u stable to keep him In. And
the lease Is 10 be made for fifty years. on the
basis OF the Bridge receipts for the last three
years That. perhaps. Is the most insolently
outrageous feature Of the whole business. Every
body knows that the last three years have been
very poor years for the Bridge, FOR obvious rea-
sons And everybody knows that the Increase
Of travel on the Bridge since 1t was opened has
been enormous. and Is practically certain to
continue. In 1885 the total earnings OF the
Bridge were only S6ls.9l4. In 1895 they were
81 224 2I2-almost twice rs much. There Is
every reason to expect with proper management
a similar increase during the next ten years. and
for many years to come. soft snap" indeed,
the elevated roads would have II they got pos
session OF IL for fifty years at rental based on
present receipts
The Brooklyn Bridge IL public property IL
was built by the cities NJ the public cost and
for the public good. II ought to be admins
tered not for the private profit OF greedy cor
poration and not for the convenience OF a small
proportion Of It's patrons. but for the welfare OF
the whole public and for the convenience OF all
who travel on II The elevated roads are not
trying to get hold Of 1t for their health or for
fun. but FOR the Fat profits they expect tn get out
Of H. II any such profits are to be made. they
should be made by the public and for the pub
lie. and instead of swelling dividends on the
Manhattan Company's watered stock they
should go to pay for the cost OF building the
Bridge. and to reduce the fare and increase the
comforts Of travelling upon IT, This pending
scheme from beginning to end Is an attempt
10 grab public property for private uses. to tax
the public for private gain Its authors and
promoters know full well the abominablc char
actcr Of 1t. and that Is why they are trying to
"sncak II through In such hurry. before hon.
est men what they are doing and stop them
There ought to be to-day at Albany such whole
some blast Of public opinion against this scheme
rs will sweep the Establishments OF lobbyists
away like chaff before n whirlwlnd.