New-York tribune., 1902-05-10
GROUTAND CANTOR IN TILT
LATTER ACCUSED BY CONTROLLER OF
TELLING AN UNTRUTH CLYDE
URGES CHANGE OF WHARF
AGE POLICY

At a meeting Of the Board Of Estimate yester-
day there was lively tilt between Controller
Grout and Borough President Cantor when it
was proposed to hear Cyrus Clark and com
mittee from the West End Association on the
subject Of street signs. When the Controller
asked that Mr. Clark be heard, President Cantor
interrupted, saying:
THE Borough President will determine what
signs are to be placed, and all this board can do
is to make the appropriation. don't like these
technicalities. This matter has been delayed
long enough We might as we'll give them all
hearing. If this keeps up shall never get
the signs up
This is not ,echnicality." said the Con-
troller.
II have had hearing after hearing and don't
want any What I want now is the
money" retorted Mr.. Cantor.
Mr.. Grout moved that the committee be heard
and Mr.. Cantor, with a flushed face, and leaning
far over the table toward the Controller.
shouted:
You are making these hearings all the time
You determine these hearings without help of
the board. If you going to run these hear
ings without help Of the board, want to know
it, If you going to run this board. that's
one thing. If the board runs itself that's an
other. You promised those people a hearing
without consulting the board and you know It."
Excuse Mr.. Cantor said the COntTOleT
THAT is far from the truth"
This matter of hearings must be determined
right here" retorted Mr.. Cantor. You have
taken every opportunity since January l TO OBJ
struct street signs"
1t was finally decided a vote of the board
10 hear the committee. Mr. Clark spoke in ia
vor Of the Becker sign. which when placed over
an electric light reflects the light rays that
the name of the street is plainly seen. No
definite action taken.
A committee of one hundred members Of the
alumni Of the College of the City Of New-York
for which Edward Lauterbach acted spokes-
man. waited on the board. and urged appro-
priation of 81 100000 for six college build
ings on the site. ne-hundred-and-thirty-n ninth
to hundred and -fortieth-st. and 81. Nicho-
las to Amsterdam ave. Among those the
committee were three Supreme Court justices
eight other judges and number Of professors.
Mr.. Lauterbach said that recently notice had
been served on the college authorities to make
extensive repairs and alterations 10 the present
buildings The board of trustees was authorized
TO spend at once $4,000 on the buildings, and
he requested that appropriation for that
amount be made. He also asked that bonds be
issued for 81. 100. 900 for the new buildings Mr
Grout asked whether ii would not be better to
have the board make appropriations from time
to time as the money needed. Mr.. Lauter-
arrang cement, and Mayor Low said the subject
would receive prompt consideration.
Street Cleaning Commissioner Woodbury. ap-
pearei before the board and recommended that
the contract for the final disposition of garbage
in Brooklyn be awarded to the Sanitary Util-
ization Company, which bid S4IoOO.
Controller Grout asked whether il was not a
fact that the utilization company had made its
bid so low in Brooklyn because il wanted a mo-
nopoly. it already having the contract in Man
haitian. The commissioner admitted that the
price quoted IN Manhattan was about three
times large that quoted in Brooklyn, but
accounted for that by saying that, as the COM
pany had its plant already built in Brooklyn,
Il could afford 10 make much lower bid.
W. P. Clyde, a member Of the Committee on
Harbor and Shipping of the Chamber of Com
ruerce spoke on the condition of the city $
wharfage facilities, and said that for the last
twenty-five years il had been the policy of the
city not TO allow private ownership Of Wharfs or
the improving of the wharfage facilities in the
interests of commerce he advocated either the
private ownership OF piers or else the improve
Enent of the facilities by the city. He said that
the city's commerce was retrOgrading on ac-
count OF the great difficulty and great expense
in getting wharfage. He prOphesied that the
steamship companies would take their business
elsewhere in the future unless something
were dcne. The docks. he 50 id. source
of great profit. and for every dollar Of expense
tn their Improvement the city would profit 100
per cent. The Mayor promised that the matter
should be considered.
Counsel for the New-York Steam Company,
which has plant al the Manhattan end of the
proposed Blackwell's Island Bridge threatened
litigation which would tie up the work on the
bridge If its property was condemned. The COM
pany was willing to grant the easement for the
pier providing the city paid for the construction
of a new smOkestack and the changing Of the
fues This It was estimated, would cost the city
S150,000.
A special meeting of the board Will be held on
Monday at p. m.
FT-cFEF VTcGJNSS u4NSIOV BURNED.