New-York tribune., 1907-06-09
SAMUEL ROWLAND.
President Brooklyn League.

rated and carried out by the City Club. with tho
assistance in many cases of other voluntary or
ganizations, are:
The preparation and passage OF the bill ex-
tending the term Of the Mayor. Controller. bor-
ough presidents and the President of the Board
of Aldermen from two to four years. thus doing
away with political campaigns every two years
and permitting each city administration to carry
out definite policy and accomplish important
public improvements.
The defeat of the attempt made in the Brook
lyn autonomy bill TO decentralize and destroy the
whole scheme Of city government by giving
borough presidents the power to appoint deputy
police commissioners accountable to them and
irremovable by the Police Commissioner.
Defeat of the attempt to remove the City Hall
and destroy that historical Old building.
Prevention Of the construction of speedway
in Central Park, defeat of the attempt to run u
railway through Bronx Park, and the disclosure
which is now being made of the misuse of the
Bronx Park properly by the Park Commissioner.
Prevention Of the construction of ne" elevated
railways in cOngested parts Of the city and the
submission of a definite plan for overcoming the
present rapid transit propiein Dy system OF
subWays tWenty-seVon Of which suggestions out
OF fifty have been adopted by the Rapid Transit
Commission.
Helped to secure legislation seeking TO end
the disgraCeful conditions by which applications
for franchises have been held up for indefinite
periods in the Board Of Aldermen and secured
the passage Of Legislation safeguarding the con-
ditions under which franchises may be granted.
Originated the joint movement Of civic re-
form bodies for securing an adequate water
supply and pointed out the necessity for the uni
Versal use of meters 10 prevent the enormous
waste which now takes place.
Started the movement which resulted In legis-
lation to suppress infamous resorts known as the
'Raines law hotels"
Directed public attention to the betrayal Of
the city's interests IN the lighting contracts,
made IN 1904 by the Commissioner of Water
Supply. Gas and Electricity, and. with the assist
ance Of other bodies secured legislation which
removed the most objectionable features from
the contract and saved the city millions of dol
lars a year.
Started the investigation which resulted IN
the framing OF the Bingham police bill. under
which the rules OF the department respecting
punishments and promotions are made more
equitable. and the power Of the Commissioner
to secure efficiency IS greatly increased
Exposed the connection existing between the
poolrooms and the Western Union Telegraph
Company, with the result that the company
abandoned this unlawful and immoral business
The club then took up the same subject with
the New York Telephone Company. with the re-
suit that the evil has been greatly minimized.
Actively opposed and helped defeat measures
70 provide old age pensions for all city employees
Irrespective OF age disability. which would
have involved heavy burden upon the tax
payers.
Defeated legislation which would have saddled
crease OF $1.0OO.O0O In the salaries of city en-
ployes.
Started the investigation into the working OF
the Manhattan Borough Presidents office. which
has shown that pavements have been allowed
TO go to rack and ruin. despite the fact that the
city held drawbacks and guarantees from con-
tractors for revairS and generally that