New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-04
Guarded by Small Army of
Police, Richmond Men
Come to City Hall.
NOT PERMITTED
TO FORM PARADE
Staten Islanders at Hearing Tell
Advantage of Senator
CromWells Bill.

Only trenches and bnrbed wire en-.
tanglements we're needed to mako Man
hattan's defences complete vesterdav
against the threatened invasion of 10
900 Staten Islanders. Reports that the
citizens Of the Borough Of Richmond
who are fighting the proposed erection
Of a garbage disposal plant would
march TO the City Hall caused a small
army of police to be stationed at stra-
tegic points.
Whistles and bells sounded the call
to arms shortly after noon, and as sew
eral hundred protesting islanders set
foot on Manhattan. wearing white
badges inscribed: Fair Play for Staten
Island: No Garbage" few Of the ad-
vance guard told them they were not
70 parade but to pass quietly TO the
hearing in the Board of Estimate room
az City Hall. In the shadow of the
Barge Office stood a squad of patrolmen
and the invaders, without a permit,
made no attempt 10 fall into line.
A detail Of 100 police was stationed
about City Hall. Several Staten Island
ers, carrying American flags, were
warned not to wave them. Four hun
dred people crowded into the room and
the number waiting in the corridors
and outside the building brol ght the
number up 10 around $500 out of a
threatened 10000
Islanders Hiss Mitchell.
The cause for the demonstration was
the public hearing held by Mayor Nit
chel on the bill of Senator Cromwell
formerly Borough President of Rich
mond, to prevent the city from placing
a garbage disposition plant in any Dor
ough without the consent OF its locaI
board.
When Borough President Van Name
of Richmond, appeared he was heartily
cheered, as was Borough President
Marks, of Manhattan, the only other
member Of the Board of Estimate e
vote against the plant. In decided con.
trast was the mixture Of Kisses and ap
plause that greeted Mayor Mitchell.
The crowd of Staten Islanders be
came restless when hearings on sew.
eral bills passed by the 1916 Legisla
ture preceded the discussion of THEN
question. 1t was 4 o'clock before the
Mayor came to Senator CromwelPs bill
and the faithful throng felt like start
ing something again. The Mayor an
nounced that if the noise rear the door
did not cease he would order that cor
ner of the room cleared by the patrol
men already stationed throughout the
crowd.
Following the formal objection 70 thf
bill by Franklin Grady, representing
the Brooklyn Ash Removal Company
Lester VI. Lewis, on behalf Of the con
tractors for the proposed plant, pre-
scented his company's side of the case.
After explaining the character Of the
plant, the contract for which has beer
given his clients. Gaffney, Gahagan &
Van Etten, Mr.. Lewis questioned the
constitutionality of the bill because OF
the possible impairment Of the prior
contract. Commissioner Fetherstor
outlined the features of the bill. and
declared that if il was passed he feared
that New York's garbage would be left
in the streets.
State Senator Cromwell led the
Staten Island forces that appeared In
approval Of the bill. He said that the
principle Of home rule and local au.
tonomy for which the Mayor pleaded
on behalf of the city should be exer-
cised in the various boroughs.
President william G. Wilcox OF the
Board of Education declared the city
would be guilty of mistake Of ludg-
ment if il forced the plant upon Staten
Island.
Two Proposals Objectionable
Francis f. Lehman, a lawyer; z. {.
Bridgmen, president of the staten ISL
and Savings Bank, and Louis /. Iribus'
former Commissioner Of Public Works
in Richmond, also urged the Mayor 9
approval Of the Cromwell bill, and
Monsignor Charles A. Cassidy, repre-
senting all the religious denominations
on the island. added the closing word.
MAYOR Mitchell indicated the willing
ness of the administration TO take the
plant from the island If feasible al
tentative could be found He said the
committee of protest had waited upon
him with three suggestions. one was
that Swinburne Island be utilized, but
the MAYORS objection was that the ISL
and was owned and used by the state
and was too small. The second that
the proposed site on Staten Island be
moved further down the Kills, had
proved unfeasible. he added.
The third plan, that the city build up
an island on the Romer Shoals. now out
OF water At low tide, was under consld-
Grafton. the Mayor continued. lie as
snred the Staten Islanders that II the
engineering problems involved could
he overcome he would gladly join them
in a request to Governor Whitman to
cali a special session Of the Legislat-
ure to put through the necessary grant
Of land.
T,ioI hy Turv denied White.