New-York tribune., 1908-03-08
BILL FOR NEW BRIDGE
pSC. GROWS SUSPICIOUS.
Hint That b. II. 7. Is Interested an
c:~;np Com missioner More Posrer.

..- N-Ca--eu already has steered through
,.e5.lature 2 bill which members OF the
-,x;,, Service Commission regard as legislation
letting the Bridge Commissioner with authority
- =, su the preliminary work looking TO the
- of g new East River bridge alongside
- ,-esent Brooklyn Bridge The BILL which
-, .,,, he before the Governor for his ap-
VIZ - 6,sapprovaI. is intended TO be Section
So9 :. the City Charter, and its object is TO pro-
- conditional powers for the Commissioner of
p-sres" II is as follows;
,-.-,,,tssioner Of Bridges, in addition TO the
s-s herein before conferred upon hil1l Is a.so
- arpoTtionnent- select in the name and
a. fhe behalf 81 ne 1ltE & 81 & tbsrefor ~ ~ lands
fo- ssI. - Inder water for bridges or approaches
shs-efo and acquire title thereto elInsF IN N lee
Ct &c 81 81 Estimate and Apportionrlent The pro
erEv oeeo so selected shall be taken and sonductsd
az ~ - shsu take efect-fmnedlately-
,--,o -ha new section stipulates that the acts
- commissioner of Bridges must have the
-o-sl Of the Board Of Estimate and Appor-
14+r-.o-+ II IS oontended by members of the
-. e.-xice Commission that the new section
-. Es-s5re Commissioner clear cut author
:. +,i-iare proceedings for the building Of
= r-idres. Under 1t it is believed that he can
-. ..e preliminary work so far along that the
% os Estimate would not feel disposed to
-, arv project that he might get under
way.
-ha soard Of Estimate and Apportionment
ago authorized the Bridge Coululis-
- N make test borings OF the river bottom
-,.-r~ds the Brooklyn Bridge. so as 10 be pre-
,.-s6 for practical work if at some time 1t
-os-,s wise 70 rebuild or add to the old bridge
.rz-h tie completion Of the Manhattan Bridge,
--.-b VII have twice the capacity of the Brook
-F ~E1n --1r7 r7r-a
cou,uissioner TO give the old bridge q thorough
cverhauling.
The Public Service Commission in q general
pzsv has complete authority TO direct the build
ing Of all transportation lines, but ii has not
sp-fsaictiou over the bridges, as such II the
ridges are TO be regarded s combinations OF
r--ee-s as they must be from the transporta-
non point OF view. then il is only natural that
the Public Service Commission should be jealous
Of projects that Will vitality affect the trans
po-ta-ion problem That is exactly why II
,s interested in the new bridge bill The plans
n The Public Service Commission do not con-
template lines over another bridge. At the same
tine Y new East River bridge should be built
between the Brooklyn and the Manhattan
ridges II would devoIve upon the Public Ser
vice Commission 10 adjust the facilities offered
bv the new bridge 10 the existing means Of
transportation
4 Is probably fact that the Public Service
Commission would never !ndorse the idea Of
building another bridge on the ground that IL is
needed for passenger carrying purposes Iun-
rels s-e regarded as cheaper and better
It's believed that the Brooklyn Rapid Transit
Company is quietly fostering sentiment in favor
Q. new East River bridge. with a terminal
close 70 the terminal OF the old bridge It IS
clear thai the Brooklyn Rapid Transit would be
stls 10 make profitable use Of such structure
Bridge Commissioner Stevenson was at home
WITH cold yesterday and could not be reached.
One o. his lieutenauts said
There IS nothing ulterior or important in the
McCarren biIl comforting additional powers on
the Bridge Commissioner The bill was drawn
Nv Assistant Corporation Counsel OIendorf, who
stnce hs former colleague, AIr. Harris. has been
OF he bench has taken on Mr.. Harris's work IN
TIE law department. Mr. Harris conducted con-
deEzuation proceedings for years under two sec
tons of the charter. When Nj Olendorf took
hold OF the work he was not satisfied with the
provisions ot the charter governing the condem-
nation Of land for bridge approaches The new
sectiou gives the Bridge Commissioner clear
technical authority for initiating the acquire
ulent Of approaches for bridges and that is all
il does Go. Re had the same authority before
with the co-operatior and advice Of the Board
Of Estimate and Apportionment
He is Still subordinate 70 the Board Of Esti-
nate and Appo-tionment. but his authority, as
Il goes. under the new section viii be un-
Questioned Z IS absurd 70 assume that the
Bridge Commissioner can go ahead secretly and