New-York tribune., 1873-02-19
THE CURRENT OF LEGISLATION.

DPBATE ON CENTRAL RAILROAD ENTERPRrsR-
THE CHARTER QUEsTION-CURRENr MOTIFS.
lFROM A REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF TiB 1HBUSRt
ALBANY, Feb. 1S-The bill to authorize tie
Eew-York Central and Hudson River Railroad Company
TO construct two additional tracks and 10 acquire lands
necessary therefor was moved by Mr. PersOn this
ing and occupied attention OF the House during he
entire session There always some member, u the
LEGISLATURE who believe that Commodore Vanderbilt
should not be allowed 20 do anything even though u be
in the interest OF the public without paying roundy
for the privilege, and the present bill was
of a character to tax the ingenuity Of sush
members TO the utmost They proved thcmselye. equal
10 the task however, and before they were ready
TO progress" the bill they bad so loaded 1t down WITH
amendments as to render it5 passage an mpOs'DiIty
or TO make the grant worthless II did pass MT soy
der of Rensselaer, led Of by offering an amendment TO
the first section that the railroad company shodd pay
bonus of 100000 to the the franchise. thenoney
TO DO devoted 10 public schools. THIS enabled Mr PIER
son TO make set speech in defense OF the bill which, he
said was OF considerable importance to the company
asking for It, but not OF such great import
anco as % MAKE It worth having II
were to be loaded down with such amendments
In asking for the right 10 lay additional tracks and
thus facilitate travel and the transportation OF freight
the bin was clearly interest Of the people of TINS
state The time for railroad monopoly has gone oy
There could be- no monopoly when there WAC 80 much
competition as there was in railroads Inc 'eh'r
along its route at Albany Schenectady Uca syracuse
Rochcster and other points Western freight u had
for competitors the Erie, Pennsylvania Central Blu'
more and Ohio and other roads now c0nsliucD~ tAat
made all idea OF monopoly absurd.
Mr. Griffin advocated the Snyder amendment on The
ground that the bill would give the Central road great
advantage over other roads, which it could well AFFORD
to pay for. Mr.. Opdyke opposed the amendment and
said that IL was the policy Of the Legislature Of TINS
State to encourage every facility for the tranhpoiaon
OF freight to NewYork C5y. rival roads were no"
contemplated, in actual process Of construction
which would compete disastrOusy with our own means
of transportation unless the facilities Of the latter were
increased. Mr Snyder's amendment was then put tos
vote and losJ-Yeas, 7; Nays y.
Mt Norton next offered an amendment that the Com
pauy shall be allowed 20 lay its additional tracks
NewYork City without the consent Of the Mayor and
Common Council Mr.. Pierson said he had no ohectos
to this amendment his bill not intended 70 apply
to NewYork City. The amendment therefore, "~
adopted without opposition.
Mr. Babcock offered an amendment that The Company
be required to complete at least one additional track on
its Rochester and Niagara Falls branch prior TO Jan
Mr. norton then offered an amendment emb0dying the
pro rata principle IN the transportation oI an Ieght ahd
passengers over the road and rendering the company
liable 10 penalty of 81 900 for each and every violation
OF the principle. MIR. Pierson yehemcnty opposed tins
ta ckng il on 10 the present bill could have other
object than Kill the BILL all know that no company
Nj Crawford advocated the amendment in a speech OF
great length at the conclusion o WYon we Ss 'aAoA
Having thus satisfied the Central Railroad Company
that the right 70 build an extra double track Tor the a
cOmmOdaOn OF the puDc could not be carried thlongs
the Legislature by chin music the opponents OF tns
bill concluded to progress 1t, and give Commodore
Vanderbilt time for reflection.
The reprint OF the New-York charter given in one or
two New-York newspapers yesterday Is erroneous In
several particulars. but especially in representing the
Commissioners OF Public Works the Controller, and the
Corporation Counsel retained In office. One Of the
first amendments made by the Committee to the charter
as first introduced was TO remove all the present heada
Of departments without exception.
statement OF the amendments adopted IN the
Committee, given in THE TRIBUNE Albany dis
patches Of Friday. The charter Will probably pass the
Assembly pretty much reported, but the main fight
will come in the There to be further hearing
in opposition TO before the Senate Committee after
passes the Assembly and said that Charles T. shaw
Of New York. whose speech the Committee OF Seven
tvs Charter last Winter attracted much attention. has
been invited 10 address the Committee and has accepted
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSBl
Sheridan Shook Commissioner Davenport, John j.
OBr,en and one or two CustomhOuoe politicians
are here and reported that another conference Is to
be held on the Charter tomorrow, With view to har-
monze the party If possible all It's points before II
comes up as the special order on Thursday.
In the Assembly this evening" the Charter for the City
OF Brooklyn, agreed upon by the Committee Of one
Hundred, was introduced and ordered printed. bill
changing the entire commission for building the Emirs
Reformatory was ordered TO third reading. motion
to give the appointment OF the Commissioners. nine
in number, to Gov Dix carried and aiterward re-
considered by party vote, and the Commissioners were
named in the bill.
There was "A hearing this afternoon before the Com
mttee Cities upon the eth Regiment Armory Dll, AT
which Mr.. Eaton advocated the bill and Mr j. C. DIM
mick opposed it. Mr. Dmmck made POINT against
the bill by showing that the City OF New-lOrk years
ago sold at public auction the lots around hoselFOr-
square. and obtained large price therefor Dy repre-
senng that the square 10 be laid out by thc ciy rs
a public park. lt 80 laid out IN CONFORMITY MIN MIN
would be breach OF faith and might SUBJECT Inc cly
To litigation II the square were no" gwen up 'oi ~
armOry.