New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-19

uous example OF the wrongs whl.h we have per
! mitted and which in the last year was brought
peculiarly to my notice as a tax officer Of the city.
! refer to the elevated railroads The facts were
disclosed to me BY a study Of the tax records: and
an attempt on the part of the Department Of Ar
rears TO enforce the payment OF taxes IN arrears
You will recall that few years ago these roads
proceeded against the city 10 restrain "a sac for
cancelled the enormous sum of s33Sll 25 OF the prn
| cpal Of such taxes. But for the efforts OF Judge
Giynor then a member Of the bar, In arousing
pubic sentiment. it is doubtful to whether the
| ptiful balance remaining after the cancellations
The facts Of the elevated railroad litigation. which
was compromised under Mayor Body, are startling
and should be known to every citizen ..
wealthy and politically influential debtors present ~,
public officials would keep the facts before the peo-
pe-keep them there despite threats and rldicu.e
| and the charge of vanity and egot.sm-keep them
there with trust in the common sense and com
mately and mainly depends the stability of society
and upon whom rests our hope for the future
| AN ARGUMENT FOR MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP
| The Brooklyn Elevated Railroad, according to the
report Of the Railroad Commissioners for 1894. has
1881 miles Of double track. besides $40 OF mile OF
sidngs and turnouts. Its entire bonded indebted
outstanding is $l2sO 00 s766ss3 80 for each
mile of double track Many. probably most of these
crc a @ ns par Wa q ? STREET. With ought to
know, believes that each mile of the road with the
Every mortgage OF course. securing bonds foated
at par. represents ordinarily but fraction Of the
full value of the property upon which II rests Now,
II the allegation OF the road is true in its action Just
brought that the $4,000 valuation mile embraces
part Of the franchise In addition to the structure
and other real estate then such privilege to use the
public streets for nothing is worth a mile much In
excess of $685. $50 80 for the entire road, more
than SO 1923 800 The cltys or rat her the peoples
property has therefore. by the roads own showing.
been given away to this corporation to the extent OF
over $lOG0OO, with return in sight, and with the
municipal ownership, If .i7o 900 per mile OF double
track Is In excess OF what the elevated structure
road and when built what a valuable asset the
city would have! For an outlay OF less than s2S'i.-
100. asset OF at least sl29GNO00 would belong TO
the city. The income OF the road would be sufficient
10 pay the interest bonds representing that enor
be issued by the city beyond the insignificant
s2S7i10O original cost Of the road. it is plain that
equipment and turn annually into It's Golfers hun
dreds OF thousands Of dollars.
EXPENSIVE RAILROAD BUILDING
The company will, however. never admit that its
franchise worth 1896 $50 % mile. AS conse-
quence its structure must be worth more than
Two hundred and nifty thousand dollars per mile
might not be an excessive figure But what, think
you does the company claim that the contract for
$50 as the '.rontract" nrioeoni his too ex
elusive Of grading. masonry. bridges, superstruct-
ures, including ties land, land damages PASSENGER
and tools. fuel and water stations engineering ex-
penses office furniture and fixtures. 1t Is difficult
to ind anything therefore for which the s257 49,
though the valuation a mile should be- at Least;
N5ooco rather than the Insignificant sum Of
$4,000
This argument to the Erooklyn road holds with
The latter is not "a profitable enterprise the
former. and has not. therefore. been able TO float
as many bonds and maintain their value.
;rha Injunction suits lust brought should fail.
They would De- regarded as childish attempts 10
avoid taxation II brought on behalf OF obscure ctl-
zens by ordinary counsel Having been brought by
a large corporation, through the Office or profA
nent and politically influential law firm. they WI.
high places; The matter IS now under ad''se'le"'
I SHAH probably not have time TO show that our
local surface roads present Ike facts Bat. consa-
erng how well most Of our oca. ROADS S.,r'tl IN "
9aans th- sgeu 4 oo qB2n the pTpa1y up
which such securities are issued. It is but naturt
that such roads should prefer present pP'a alsre
conitions waich might give these many million
dollars OF franchise property to the people.
THE INFLUENCE OF PUBLIC OPINION
should perhaps return TO a review Of what mas
been accomplished 10 change these conditions by the
force Of what we cal public opinion Thus. Mayor
s,rastesr comnany rate Of fare by which passen
rers can purchase eight tickets for twenty-hye
5000 70 NJCco from those claiming 70 represent
local monop0le' In reading Penh tn.r'l !, atin ra,
C,n,tnv now offers 20 sell It's tracks - the city az
cost, pay the city rent equivalent 70 interest o.
city probably borrow AMI then ISL furnish TTIsi
ell equipments. an SCI. s'is ., sr"''' '0'
Th' argl,ncnt that municipal ownership Of raj.
roads Would Lead 20 municipal ownership 81 eNery
other enterprise IN which men are prcn,aDy en-
Gagged does not ossarily hold gool lHose VIZ
aiVoca,e such ownership advocate Il Dectnss r't,
IDS are of necessity monOpoles, not subject 10
the Ordinary rules Of ccmpeu'on an. s'r neonie.
sfr.rIs and that such use In the nature Of things
grows more profitable year by year not sihHiPy %
c1tsc % the combined activities Of The people =
whom such profits by right oe4ns T v rrsn
Incomes a public calamity. so great tnat ne r'sNS
should De taken by making conn nI,,, ranrce
pendent upon private judsment or p'MIn'T apinIon
We can first OF all. cultivate puonc oP'','o"
which VIII resoggb 9pPH sSs H e peqpeny in our
streets and which will insist upon ne GU! ua,.e
in such iron steel roads upon our thoroI5ni 10
az the growing needs OF ths c.y may inI sione
"a the city builds wooden BRICK aspha4' anu S'0'e
Such public opinion must insist too that the Mt
most y h,h the city may part win - I-
restrictions t"at WI. ,'' NV rhr l~ss.es of such
me rIy ars In nv JUDGMENT. it would be prefer
able for the city through proper depar'nlen', -
buy IT, own roncstock AMI ellipmeAt 20 man NV NV
jet in so doing but 10 serve the pubic conFent,mc
ad n9i H. as nSM 80 ana P dicnd on w4erei stock
the task Of reducing farce Of reducing hours OF
labor and Increasing wages would be simple one
ACCIDENTS would he fcwer and inconveEent Interrupt
lions of car service 10y strikes WOuii 'etS'. G..
vice commission to DO but that Is enlargins ITS IN
nuence and producing increased resuIs loT sJg, I
have observed that many appointments In the street
car service made because OF potcdl IlituenUr,
and that many appointments In the cry serve are
made because Of desert alone believe nat We
can take the risk 10 the character OF ciy EN-
nloves should the city run the roads
And then at last. VII. come the hnal consumma-
tlon Millions upon millions now given away VIII Df
retained bv the people. enough 10 MI our depleted
treasury 10 bui.d the much-needed schools 70 re-
pave our streets. to beautlfy our PARISHES, u.u-
nmately | trust 10 condemn existing railroad iran
chlses and TO bring them back TO the peop.es
ownership and 10 the peoples control
Whnrover the experiment has been made OF mu
nlc!pal ownership or control, whether on the CONT
nent Of Europe. in Great Britain or IN America me
result has been good. Why not in Brooklyn? Why
not everywhere? 49,
James McKeen. president OF the Hamilton
Club then spoke on private ownership of rail-
ways.
TO HEAR THE BAKERY BILL TO-DAY.
ALBERT r. MOORE. ATTORNEY FOR DR.. EMERY.