New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-05-02
THE EASTlIAN RAPID TRANSIT BILL
ITS HISTORY IN THE LEGIsLATURE-How AND WHY II
WAS DEFEATED.

~,
seem 20 call for some explanation. The Dill was hrSt
introduced into the Assembly IN the early part OF the
session. As printed 1t was freely circulated
ia the city of NewYork with request that
il be examined and criticised TO perfect and
strengthen it, and subsequently, it was considered
at a public meeting at Cooper Institute Various amend
mons were suggested aud accordingly substitute was
nrepared in accordance Herewith Among the oOjec-
tions raised the original bill was one to the section
providing for aid from the city in the construction oil
the road. This section was Omitted IN the SUBSTITUTE
which was otherwise perfected that 1t met the unan
nous approval OF all in the City Of NewIOrk, except
the great monopolics and their dependents The bill
was printed in the newspapers. and discussed by the
entire press more fully than any other measure
before the legislature and It's passage unanlmosy al
vocated The Board Of Aldermen in the strongest IAN
Cuaee asked for its passage by the emphatic vote OF IL
to2 The West Side. East side, and Washington Nights
Associations composed of leading property owners, ap
proved the bill, and asked for its passage in reso
buttons which they transmitted to Albany. The
leading journals throughout the State also dis
cussed b and called upon their representatives Tor
its passage in the interests OF the state as well as OF tho
city Under these circumstances ii was not unreason
able to expect that the Railroad Committee OF the House.
10 whom II had been referred would hasten to favoraby
report the bill But ngead OF that, tue report was
firmly and ;enacously withheld
The Third and Fourthave. Quick Transit bills were In
troduced into the House, referred to the same
Committee and reported fayoraby, one OF them
after only nine days consideration, neither Of
them being asked for excepting by parties In
interest and both having been denounced in the most
emphatic terms by the authorities the press. and the
people of NewYork. After repeated strenuous efforts
to obtain a report, either favoraby or unfavora0ly,
upon the bill, Mr.. Eastman offered a resolution IN
the House to take 1t from the Committee. After a
long discussion by the advice Of friends he was induced
TO withdraw the resolution upon thepromse of prom
tT,o fbar M
be reported at once Nearly week elapsed, however,
before the report made, and then II
was without recommendation and for the ICON
sideration Of the House" The report was In
writing. and assigned reasons for not recommend
ing the passage Of theb, which not only frivolous
and absurd but also eynced the total Ignorance OF
the Committee its provisions After persistent and
protracted efforts to have 1t considered In Committee OF
the whole-which was bitterly opposed by members Of
the Railroad Committee and Others IN con1ctlng inter-
ests--t was finally considered While under discussion,
il was apparent that a strong and compact
combination had been perfected to defeat it. Tie
minor amendments offered in good faith by the
friends OF the bill voted down. and frivolous and
absurd amendments proposed, and every possible
means resored TO to Kill the bill by rdicule Not SIN
Gle opponent Of the bill attempted to advance serious
srcImen, against Il or any OF its provisions. After
Giccussiou occupying entire cyeningduring which
the attempts to smother the bill were denounced by the
Gr mon in The House as unpre ccdeutel and outrageous
~ was ordered to third reading 10y vote OF 81 to SC.
Tbs was on the 10th OF April, only fortnight before
Gender majority by which the bill was ordered to
third reading there indications that some OF those
cr ts final passSge vote against the bill 1t being thus
apparent that it was necessary to strengthen the Dill In
every possible way, "a conference was heId, at Wnch
we're uresent Mr. Speaker Hustled, Mr.. Wight OF West
chester, Mr BlumenthaI OF New YORK. and MT. Last
man The result that Mr.. wight was re
0uested TO prepare substitute which should en-
body al the principles OF me Dill TiI Ino some
important for the purpose OF rendering ~ aDsoutey
acceptable This course was taken IN pretsTenGT 20 tat
OF amending the bill, because IL was lhGusni slat
measure of such paramount Importance siou hot NC
ieopardzed ny the personal anim9,les heSesSalry
incident TO the long controversy Mhen, on tne o ,
ing of Friday, April a. the bill was reached IN tne
regular order Mr. wight moved lhat ms 80 ~, i
mediate consideration, the ground that the House
needed time its examination 1t was made the special
order for the same eVenluS Inns aIotueI se ioi d
opponents of the measure TO come together ana adVP
special order was reached, in the evening Mr..
Alyord OF Onondsga, offered an amended bill; ne had
New-York in place Of the five Commissioners TO be
appointed by The Governor, not Otherwise Mater
"a unmeasared A heated diseusslSn en-.
sued, in winch Messrs. Blumenthal, wight, Warner
Miller Batcheller C. 5. Spencer, and Mr. Eastman took
ground that the only object OF the amendment was
The amendment was lost and the bill was passed by a
| vote OF 70 TO 81.
| The bill was eugrossed the same night An earnest
application made to the Rarot I'D Committee OF the
Senate for early consideration aud report Two mem
bers OF that Committee Mr.. Tobey and Mr.. Lord. were
prepared TO unite in favorable report soon as the
provisions Of the 1 and US importance were explained
to take any action Until the Tnird-ave R Rldn
Sgg6 Mr. co EaAd he " oppo
stion; and he appointed a hearing for that pur-
Mr. Eastman attended with Judge NJ. b. Field of New
York, who represented the people, MI Bnmenthal ana
distinguished engineer The chairman OF the committee
summarily adjourned the hearing until Wednesday
come into bis possession although it must have been
some time previously In the hands of mis- clerk At
Judge Judge Field, Mr.. wight, and Mr.. Eastman fully e1
m me acop a lad been had in m favor on the part
| OF the press the City Government, and the people
aud Mr. wagner, and, for a few minates Mr.. Madden.
Mr. yanderpoeL IN the interest Sf the rnrdave' p hn
| dent, was present, and took notes. Judge Field
plainly. and squarely told the members of the
Comrftee then present that should the bill fan to
! tbe Senate the community would hold them and
denounced the Third ave. and Fourthaye schemes a.
oostruetye ana not constructive Before 10 o'clock
hearing until O'Clock OF the day. II mad been
ranged that Judge Field Mr.. Wight, Mr. Dickinson, and
tend Mr. Simon Stern In his place. should be present
and make any further arguments that might be consd
Mr.. vsnderpoe undertook TO attack the bill, and ar
gued in favor OF the franchise solicited by the corpora
amendments the bin, some Of which tended TO com
petey eyiscerate 1t; among the rest TO exclude the
Judge Field suggested that II the Committee refuse
report the e as It passed the Housewhich refusal
account OF the lateness of the session, he depre-
| csted-they should adopt certain amendments which
| had been agreed upon, II necessary by all
friends OF the bill These amendments were 80 sim
| pie as not TO require five minutes consideration Tho
| ameDdmenls On both sdes placed In the hands
OF Senator wagner aud 10 hafpast eight O'Clock that
evening 10 was confidently expected that favorable
report would be made TO the Senate Had this
and the bill been passed by the Senate ght have
been the amendments could been ooiourred In by
the Assembly on thursday morning, and this
measure Of the people against mOnOp0es might
| But Mr.. selkreg declined TO then report It
| promising however. that he would examine the bin