New-York tribune., 1896-04-02
- co. ..~~ -
THE BRIDGE MANAGEMENT.
A SMALLER BOARD OF TRUSTEES RECON-
MENDED.
REPORT OF The ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE THAI
INVESTIGATED THE BRIDGE-TRVsrEhs
SAID TO HAVE TOO MANY con-
FLICTING INTERESTS.

SAID TO HAVE TOO MANY con-
FIIcrING INTERESTS.
Albany. April 1.-The Assembly Cities Commit
tee of 1895 to-day submitted to the House report
regarding Its Invest CATION Of the Brooklyn brluse,
IN which the evidence is 'eviewed at lehg'h anu
the Commission makes the following recon"'e'u'
tons: .,
That the present Board Of o consist Ss Of
four membe 5. in which new Board there shall not M
be any exoicio members mar rsn1eseptatve suSs au-
thority for the interests OF both cities No ohosbco
and the duties OF the treasurer be performed by
one OF the trustees ., Ia 60 or,
an extra Stipend of ZOO and $1,000 to be paid 10
the trustees who shall be selected as presdehi ana
which said offices shall impose ,.,oros,od IN any
l. None Of the trustees are TO be Interested IN lam any
privileges from the Bridge. and any contract grant
ed by the Beard in which one of the trustees Is us
covered TO be interested Is to be nun anu No'''
The report saws that the committee thinks the
Board Of Trustees should be reduced to four mem
bers and that the Mayors of the TWO citles s"oui'
be dropped as ex-oflcio members as they DO not a'
tend the meetings of the trustees
1t appears from the testimony Of President Howeh
and chief Engineer Martin that appointments are
regulated by political influence /, seems that
Mr. Howell places men at work at the request OF
his political friends. According 10 the report ""c
testimony leaves no doub, that appointments upon
the Bridge are regulated by political influence an"
that efficient service Is a secondary confederation
Regard.ng the condemnation proceedings l" secure
land for the new Bridge terminal, the committee
finds that In severa. instances the Iahd "ds az
qured by private purchase by the presiueh' VI '"'
Roard of Trustees and in the remaining cases Dy
condemnation and that the prices paid by inc p'esI
dent by private purchase were far below the awards
maid bv the Commission The report also says;
The case of the property on sands-st bought 1y
the Bridge trustees from the BToo".yn - ~ ,eeI
ings and deserves more than passing notice. II ap
that the plot Of ground Snnng through
to Hgh-st had formerly been occupied ny cnu,o''
The HSookyn i 1cb S or tfrSsa a0N It Was 4Scy
Joining the property Of the Bridge ana was apout %
ne me hTS5 ,nng
begun in due but. contrary TO the usnnl pro-
ertv n 'ns Ssestion was not put in evidence TIC
Bridge officials and owners Of the properly yh AFTER M
the original purchase price and whatever taxes hld
been Rsd upon it hey ns sowed Prssd f the co
MISSION to award without any reference TO tho
A'tua. II appears from testimony that Seth Kesney
and James Howell. members OF the Board OF rus. rus,
tees Aess Is s roSRyn SRh ' MeS
Railroad and the Long Island Traction Company
HsIsbs hat Mr Ksf"s ksoss Smaan and % H
case at lea5t strong presun tSh rec,o 1St rA'' '"
he did his duty fully as raNroau u'cc'o',
Regarding the presence of surface ROADS on 'he
plaza the report says:
The plaza was located and projected by board
Of experts and although L appears py tht;' 'ep,,a
by street surface railroads there r. no evidence 'a
this was contemplated by the Leg'slatuIr anu III,
public sentiment OF Brooklyn Is rishiuly jea.ous OF
such an invasion; , ,.a hy the
fac. tho. two OF the trustees. Messrs Keeney and
Howell. are interested in street surface rai.roausi
AS long as Mayor Scheren was IN ONCE ne Oppose
any grant Of the plaza 70 the surface ruIs AM an
the matter adjourned from tine to time S6m 1n,l
mtee. at the head Of which was the Vonlr~nei -,
~ The Rrootlvn Heights Railroad Company. While
IL is IN evidence that Messrs. Howell ana het.ry
refrained from voting upon ne question .. ,n,h tns
shareholdsrs in the Long Island Traction Company,
which was interes,e In the decision OF this qnes-
citizens OF Brooklyn should not only have the ui-
bia Judgment OF the trustees OF the Bfdge upon
question is decided upon It's merits ana wthou. the
disturbing influence Of self-nteresi IT iurther ap.
'ha at ne 4@osyn Maf Heshs Railroad that
special privilege would be granted to them on me
plaza The existence Of this prom'e was deliberately
alleged BY Nh Koss'ter vice-president o' inc BROOK
the good faith Of any Of trustees to find that
any one Of them had been una thful 10 his trust,
bu we are OF the opinion that this question Is OF 80
great importance 20 Brooklyn as 10 fuAy JUSTIFY
The Committee would sugges; legislative restric-
tions to the effect thn no person should be eligible
In any way interested in any firm or corporation
having business relations with the Bridge, and that
Roa rd of Trustees TO or with a firm corporation
in which any member OF the Board has pecuniary
Interest, direct or indirect. should be void
lust before the adjournment OF the Assembly Mr..
cities Committee. He announced that tomorrow
ne would introduce bills bearing out the recon-
mendations contained In the report regarding the
Bridge.