The sun., 1906-02-07
COLER MEETS HIS ADVISERS.
SPENDS MOST OF THE EVENING
WHACKING TRANSIT CON- MPANIES.
Makes Strong Remarks About the u. u. T.
Service and Pleads for city Built Rapid
Transit Extensi0ns-C Committee Backs
Him Up With suitable Resolutions

Service and Pleads for City Built Rapid
Transit Ext cnsions- Committee Backs
Him Up With suitable Resolutions.
The advisory committee Of 100, which
president Bird S. Coler Of the borough
OF Brooklyn recently selected to assist in
the work of his administration held its
first public meeting last night in the Kings
County Court House Most of the members
Of the committee, including two of the
three women among them, were on hand,
and all Mr.. Coler's leading official subordi-
mates were in evidence.
Mr. Coler made an address extending over
most of the time the meeting was in session,
and discussed most Of the topics he has
kept to the front He began by declaring
that he believed he was elected to give
the people what they wanted and that 1t
was for securing the Endorsement Of his
official acts that he had chosen the dis
tinguished body of advisers.
He mentioned the rapid transit problem
as the most important before the people
Of Brooklyn and as almost threatening the
supremacy Of the borough.
'When we get fair treatment he said,
we must be fair; when unfair treatment,
we must Use a strong hand. The public
service corporations in Brooklyn confront
us with unclean hands, and their history here
is the worst of any oity In the United States.
It Is and has been their motto to grab every
thing In sight
Mr.. Coler made strong plea for rapid
transit extensions and the Improvement Of
the docks. He advocated the exemption Of
all bonds issued for these improvements, and
80 fI.a El.,h tryif l.
that object in view.
This, he said, lis absolutely necessary
in view of the Belmont-Ryan merger. 1t
Is to be hoped that the city OF New York
will be allowed to use its credit to a fair
extent its carrying forward great necessary
improvements. The value Of the assets
OF New York are really three times larger
than would be required to pay of its entire
debt. We must make every public service
corporation show it's hand Each card
must be laid on the table"
Mr.. Coler was warmly appauded for his
criticism of the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company In regard to the Atlantic avenue
Improvement and for his approval Of the
scheme Of the city to build a railroad line
through widened Livingston street, so
from the bridge to East New York The
road through Livingston street, he said,
could be constructed at cost of abo ut
100000.
.In our operations continued Mr.. Coler
must not 60 into too many different things.
We must 60 after a few things that are
absolutely right. In all this work we
Boards of Aldermen. believe the Brook
We are not looking for confscation Of any
property. but at the same time we are going
TO orrose confise alton OF our own rights
This is the first time the trial is being
made to have government direct from
the people. We must fight fire with fire and
for the rights OF the people. We must help
the Corporation Counsel and his assistants;
We must get the evidence and do things.
In the end the corporations themselves
will do better and have clearer console noes.
1t has been the rule Of the corporations to
seize anything and make the city prove it
owns them. l have been going on the plan
Of knocking things down and making the
corporations prove they own them. The
people must now make a supreme effort;
they must have the same show as the cor
porations. Loud applausel
These resolutions were then adopted
Whereas, our Borough President the Hon.
Bird S, Coler. has invited the active support
Of the citizens of the borough of Brooklyn to
assist him in safeguarding the common rights
against the strong tendency to disregard or
impair them by public service corporations
and others. thereby promoting the general
safety and welfare therefore. be it
Reso'red. that we are in thorough sym
pathy and accord with this movement, and
In accepting the invitation pledge our sup
port to all measures that shall deserve the
approval and support of those citizens not
sel1shly biased against the rights aud general
interest of the public.
Whereas the proposed amendments to the
rapid transit act embodied In Senate bill Nos
introduced by Senator Elsberg. and known
as the Elsberg BILL" are urgently needed
for the freeing OF the city of New York from
restrictions and limitations which leave 1t
practically helpless to save itself from In
huentially promoted and seemingly imminent
arrangements as to much needed transporta-
tion facilities which are as improvident and
unjust from the standpoint of the public in
terest and need as they are vast and far
reaching in Importance and scope: now.
therefore. be it
Resolred, BY the Brooklyn Borough Presi-
dents advisory council, at its first meeting.
In the Kings County Court House. in the said
borough, on the eth day Of February, 1908.
that the Senate Committee on the Affairs Of
Cities. to which the said bill has been referred
be and the same is hereby respectfully but
most earnestly requested and urged to take
the earliest practicable action upon said
measure. resolving possible doubts as to the
details thereof, in favor Of the bill. in view
Of the urgent need of action: in consideration
of the care with which the bill has been pre-
pared and perfected by men on whose ability
knowledge and zeal for the peoples interest
their fellow citizens confidently rely. and
finally. out Of respect for the sentiment and
opinion OF the overwhelming majority OF
those who are vitality and most directly con-
cerned. the people of Greater New York
batch Of resolutions bearing on rapid
transit matters. trolley transfer tickets,
&C., were also presented and referred to
special committees of the body.
Toward the close Of the meeting one OF
the committee indulged in some criticism
Of the Williamsburg Bridge management.
marlnd that the Bridge Commissioner in his
opinion. was doing everything in his power
for Brooklyn
The committee adjourned subject to the
cell of the Borough President.
SERGEANT SHELDON RETIRES.
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