New-York tribune., 1902-06-15
ALTON AND PUBLIC BATHS.

,F,, Iohn 3. Creighton, Secretary of the Leagueo
r-ev- citizens are entirely lacking in civic pride
,aa interest With the Of liberal education
:. q. ofter an academic or theoretical interest
-r.o,,-i, tho academy and university he has been
-snrbf that the individual voter is the unit or the
sts+e that certain political obligations rest upon
,,erv man which he should discharge conscien-
-ior,siv This idea. though born OF the textbook
.,a classroom often in later years translates IT.
elf in1o the broadest and most practical forms OF
,i--c usefulness 4 very large proportion OF Amer
,can citizens have inherited the spirit OF the ira
5,ionsl NeN-Engiand town meeting To these
III, naltfcs destnies Of the city and state are oniS
, Iir-Ie less vital than the affairs OF their OWL
.ouseholds \ still larger class OF men are watch
,rp tre management Of the city government oe-
s,,ee they feel it affects the value of their real
estate their business or their personal comfort.
This fs the class that shows itself in local enter
rrisAs that gets good paTefnents Tor It's Waro OF
mark in front Of its street.
The manifestation of civic pride and interest is
n no way commensurate with its existence 1t
Is mainly. as Vet. potential quantity Inc aF-
oran+ horelessness of individual initiative in Tu-
nicinal affairs generally deters all but the man
ot sublime optimism and no experience from ar
atrarnpt 10 improve existing conditions. But when
one man finds another who believes as he does and
still 2 second and a third. he feels the courage of
his belief which will certainly then show itself
n exrression and possibly in results of things
done His confreres form society. fraternity.
9 lesr1;e 3 political party. The machinery Of an
organization IS assembled: constitution. bylaws.
officers and committees provided Then the
individual ROW lost TO view. speak and act
through the organization with the assurance that
his efforts will carry beyond his own head. for he
has : constituency and a backing. Such in ele
rentary outline. must be the genesis of united
effort.
The Rrooklyn League had its rise at the time Of
consolidation 1t started a home protective
Telr hat RrNO
ei-ins more than she received when she became
a borough of the greater city, and that to get her
sust dues her citizens must be up and doing IN her
behslf The revised charter has been boon TO
all who originally opposed consolidation, and 1t Is
doubtful If to-day any great number would vote
fer return to the independent city government.
Therefore the feeling that Brooklyn must arm It
self against the aggressions Of Manhattan has sub
sided but there still the conviction that IL is the
mart of wisdom TO keep watchful eye on all that
,ares Mace in the seat of local government. 1t
will always be one OF the primary objects Of the
Brooklyn League TO stand for the just rights OF
this borough in the general city government, ana
to SUPPORT the representatives. in their efforts to
secure such rights
The league brings together for common ACTON
ali citizens OF the borough who are interested in
its welfare 1t co-operates with officials in pro-
noting and forwarding local improvements and In
securing efficient and economical ADMINISTRATION
II watches the conduct Of public business ana
the course of legislation beth State and municipal
II procures for members timely and accurate IN
formation regarding all matters Of public concern
affecting the borough any part Of it The once
Of the league is becoming civic centre, where
any person may call and obtain information re-
garding municipal affairs. The various commits
sioners' reports here kept on file and are read
fly accessible to any caller Complaints of Vio-
Iations Of city ordinances are constantly being
sent TO the league. These taken to the proper
city officials and in every an investiga ton Is
made The objects Of the league not political
or partisan It never makes or indorses nonfna'
tons Of candidates for public office. and no one
may hold saaried city Office and be an officer Of
the league at the same time
ANY voter or taxpayer in the borough may be-
come member upon election by the membership
committee and the payment Of dues, which are S
annually.
The government of the league is vested in an
executive committee, consisting Of thirtyfve mem
hers, who elected annually. It is ooubtfui IL
any organization in Brooklyn has stronger or
more representative governing board than the
Brooklyn League The men whose names are here
given stand for what is best in every phase Of the
life Of the city. The present executive committee
consists OF the following:
Hiram R. Steele chairman; Abraham Abraham,
John F. Anderson. jT.. Truman j. Backus, Henry
Batternan. Alfred c. Bedford, Abel E. Blacknar.
BENJAMIN F Blair. Herbert L. Bridgman, Frank
n. Brooks. Joseph a. Burr. Isaac H Cary. john
Z. Creighton, Guy Du Val Frank Harvey Field.
Theodore L. rockingham William H. Garrison,
J. Warren Greene Herbert r. Gunnison William
darkness. Henry HentZ. William McCarroll AL
bert G. Mcdonald. Howard McWilliams. Ludwig
Nissen, Willis L. Ogden Dick S. Ramsay. Samuel
Rowland, Charles A Schieren Archibald c Shen-
stone, Herman Stutzer. Theodore NJ. Taft, DR..
Joshua NJ Van Cott, Alexander N. White, jr., and
Robert P. Wilson.
The officers of the league are a chairman. two
vice-chairmen, secretary and treasurer. The
officers serve without salary, except the secretary
They Hiram r. Steele. chairman; Willis L.
Ogden. first vice-chairman: John F. Anderson. jr..
second vice-chairman; Samuel Rowland, treasurer,
and John B. Creighton. secretary.
The work Of the league at present is largely
accomplished through the action of its nine
mittees. These are: o. Membership % publca-
tlon and records. 30 public works and local i'm
nc @ 90 RS5e and saf sEao3 90 a. 5qesst ana
@ fnunicipal ordinances and CD legal proceeding
mary OF the work accomplished by the almost
daily activity Of the league during the last four
secretary stating the most important achieve
The league maintains an Office with clerical
.otce al No 1S Montague-st.i has frequent meet
and by an organized system keeps in touch with ali
proposed legislation; both State and municipal,
Brooklyn. It has through fits officers and special
Iegisiative committees Al Albany, the Mayor and
Board Of Aldermen and city officers OF New-York
the Interests Of this borough H. and BY reason q
me large number and high character OF its mem
pers its recommendations have always received
great consideration and generally have been efec-
I'VE II a way tha- could not have been secured by
enoreanzed effort This is particularly true with
reference 10 equalization of assessments local tax
.atlot- water supply and rapid transit connection
Win me Borough OF Manhattan. 1t has, at the
9pest P OF borough officers. given public approval
aho secured the cooperation of the press at
.tous LINES In support of important measures In
ne mater OF equahZing assessed valuations much
me :lie and money were spent One thousand typical
fsses were taken in each Of the boroughs of Man
,b ,ISn an arao brooklyn The tables compiled give
ns iocauon OF the property the assessed value be-
-pIs 5no after consolidation the present sale price
a the rate per cent Of assessed value before and