Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-28
GOSSIP FROM GOTHAM
Some of the "Grabs" Agitating New
York Taxpayers.
CR0KER'S STREAK OF BAD LUCK
Backers of Enterprises in China
Uneasy Over Situation.
SUMNER GIRLS NEW FAD
KER'S STREAK OF BAD LUCK
SUMNER GIRLS NEW FAD
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
NEW YORK, July 81, 1890.
Wherever one turns these days he bumps
into grab" accomplished or a grab"
projected. few choice samples have just
been unearthed, as follows:
A franchise grab for thirty miles of New
Yorks streets rushed through the
municipal assembly this week. Not ques-
ton was asked before important rights on
the kingsbridge road were granted the
Third Avenue Railroad Company. This
franchise is one of the most valuable in
the annexed district. The Third Avenue
company has fought for years to get it. A
former franchise was upset on techni-
cality.
Notwithstanding the defeat of it's $25 ,00O,-
900 grab bill in the legislature last winter
the Astoria Light, Heat and Power Com
pany has a large force of men at work pre-
pairing the foundations for the immense
plant it proposes to erect on the outskirts
of Long Island City. This is regarded by
those in a position to know as indication Of
positive belief by the syndicate behind
the company in it's ability to get the BILL
or one similar to 1t, through the legislature
of next year. The Consolidated Gas Com
pany is behind the Astoria company, and
back of the Consolidated is the Standard
Oil Company and the coterie of millionaires
associated with William c. Whitney in all
company will have to get to make it's i'm
mense new plant available for the purposes
in view is permission to tunnel under the
East river and construct immense mains
for running the gas from the plant to the
distributing mains in Manhattan and the
Bronx. The company also plans to furnish
gas for the whole of the boroughs Of
Queens and Brooklyn, and gain absolute
control of the lighting of the four largest
boroughs of the greater city.
Tammany's Street Cleaning Job.
The Tammany machine hopes to put
through tomorrow a job in street cleaning
which will evade the civil service regula-
tons and at the same time give plenty of
work to number of faithful democrats in
Brooklyn. Pending the framing of civil
service rules the Tammany leaders We're
unable to appoint in Brooklyn many fore
men and deputy foremen of street cleaning,
section superintendent, stable bosses and
hostlers. besides many street cleaners. The
new rules, framed at Albany, made 1t GER
tain that in any examination rev OF the
men wanted would get on the list. From
six to ten workers in each of the twenty
one assembly districts of Kings had to be
taken care Of and the leaders We're hard
driven to find way out. The solution
comes in the form of an advertisement in
the city Record, inviting bids tomorrow
for cleaning BOG miles of Brooklyn streets,
Under the charter the work may be let by
contract instead of being done by the city.
There is only private plant in Brook
lyn, so far as known, controlled by demo-
cratic politicians, and this firm will prob
ably be the only bidder. OF course, the bid
can be rejected, but it is not likely to be,
inasmuch as the contractors will employ
only those named by the organization, and
civil service rules will not count. This new
plan will give employment to many politi-
cal workers.
Richard Cookers return to this city,
which was fixed for the last week in Au-
gust has been pushed forward. Word has
been received that the boss of Tam1nany
Hall would appear here on August to de-
mand an accounting of their stewardship
from Deputy Boss John F. Carroll and the
other smaller bosses. Croker is as dissatis-
fed with the condition Of affairs in Tam
many Hall as with his own losses on the
turf in England and the icy reception he
has met with on this trip. He is said to
have been snubbed in the betting ring after
the bookies and the aristocrattc blacklegs
of the English race courses had taken his
money. His horses have not won races to
any noticeable extent, and socially his posi-
ton has become SO uncomfortable that even
the sporting writers in London, in announc-
ing his proposed return to this country
have added significantly, Mr.. Croker will
not be missed"
His Organization DemoraIized.