New-York tribune., 1875-02-08
PLANS FOR CITY TRAVEL.
DISCUSSION BEFORE A JOINT COMMITTEE.

pyR. MR. BOYD, s. d. RUGGLEs AND OTHERS.
Tho Committee of the Assembly had ar
ranged 70 hold meeting in reference TO rapid transit
I'm the City Hall at on Saturday. but IN learning
,b.t tho Commttee of the Board Aldermen were to
hold a similar meeting at y. M. they simply mfl anu
adjourned until tho latter hour AttheJont session 'uero
was n very large audience, among whom we're many
nronorty owners from the uptown wards and prominent
citizens including Samuel b. Rngglos, Wheeler H. Peek
ham Ward b. Burnett Col Sidney Kay OF Gen DlNs
stad b. l.. Ackcrman. Charles II. Roosevelt Johh H.
Hand Gen. Butteried, Horace II. Day, Lawson ~
Fnler the Hon. W. W. Niles, s. l.. Macomber, John L.
Kennaday, T. c. Campbell, John T. McGowan, +. W
Seward, and Mr. schenelin.
The meeting was called to order by Alderman Purroy
who stated that the session for the purpose OF hear
ing any views that might be offered the vital aues-
tion OF rapid transit though he requested that the re-
marks OF tho speakers should bo confined to the ques
ton OF what legislation needed and the legal bear
Ings OF any legislation that might he proposed At ns
time the desks half surrounding the two Committees
were covered with models roads, underground and
overground which their inventors who present,
were ready to aflm would each practically solve the
problem under public agitation. S. L. Church, who
first addressed the former OF the Aldermanic
Committee, was again the first to gain the 1Oor
In beginning, Mr.. Church seemed to forget the re
ouest OF the Committee and renewed tho remarks he
made the former session in regard to the necessity OK
In 1890 there would he loss 10 the cty IN itspopnaloh
OF 27GOiO, and in money OF over $i5opOOO Ne pro,
private corporations ana enterprise mad Ided
in numerous schemes 10 Dulld rOad that Inc cl'y
should direct private enterprise to stand aside ana
view he had bill which he proposed TO submit u the
Committee the provisions OF which, ne said In view OF
the present amendments to tho CONSTITUTION, had 10 oe
made general so as to apply to oil the cites OF the
State but which the same time was intended to nave
proposed 10 confer upon tile Mayor and Aldermen Of
such cities power TO construct railroads Tor r"pld
transit issue bonds for th'In aud TO determne tne
form, conditions and terms OF such bonds lhc bhI
contained provisions limiting the cost OF construction
10 100000 per mile and authorzng assessments TO De
made upon property benefited within certain limits Tor
One-haf OF the cost. Several eminent engineerS ma
for $500 900 per mlle with double track hut IN the bl
il was proposed to leave margin OF sO0Co Ino WoIt
was proposed that the assessments should run
along the bonds run, the only requirement.
bill proposed asO 10 mako the earnings or INC
road primary fund for the payment OF Doh Ge pnci
nal and interest OF the bonds allowing the deficiency 10
be collected upon the assessments. Low farts were
made OF It's features these being suihccnt only 70
bonds Provision was, however, made tnat IN Inc
future when the population OF the city Is doubled tHe
nent of other city Cebts Tho construction OF TINS WORK
would be given commission OF not less than three
nor more than i've persons. 10 be appointed by the
Mayor. In coqclusion, he was positive the measure ]
W6hld give low fares uniformity OF syScm anu "ouIu
reduce the taxes, and pay OF the city DEBT
The next speaker was Mr. Boyd, who made Senator
Moores bill, recently offered in tho Legislature the
burden OF his remarks fav0rng it7 adoption Ths bAl
provided that three Commissioners should be appointed
1pon the nomination OF the Mayor TO be confirmed ~
the Board Of Aldermen who should undertake to build
this road The BILL in his Judgment after consultation
with able lawyers tho subject not Ia conflict
with the amended Constitution. but perfect harmony
with it. The question which ho desired to present In
this connection that the City Of NewiOrk was not
within the spirit Of the Constitution, corpora-
tion but O municipal government. Provision was
mado in this bill for the carrying out Of
such improvements for which prccedents were
offered within the city limits such for instance az the
Crotou Water Works. The question OF rapid transit
would he asserted, never be settled unless II was by
bill ike this. giving authority % the Cliy and
County OF NcwYork TO undertake It. Mr. Boyd stated
amend the bill in conformity with any suggestions
that wOnd take It's essential features, or lm
The speaker was opposed TO calling ia al tI' cltcs
of the state at the pa-Sace of rapid tran measure
and theieby bring III all the opposition hud incur an
hostility of the railroad m9nopoly from m, the Tes. e
Legisiatnro that would provoke opposition.
Wheeler H. Peckham next addressed the Committee
substantially as follows:
The question proposed by this Committee Iundcr-
to effect what Is conceded 10 be universally desired
result There have been two plans presented 10 You
that the work 10 be done should bo done by public
authority ana by the public purse substantially There
s another plan, which would DO that tho work 10 be
done and to be desired should TO the ordinary result
of the investment Of private capital whether the one
the othor OF these TWO plans IS more or
less desirable, understand not TO b3 the question for
which the Committee Is assembled but whether inc one
or the other is the practcabe one Under the C"9suu
tional amendments Lately adopted The learned gentle
who last addressed the Committee seems TO nave
adopted the idea that me best ana most nItCychl
method have legislation for the CITY OF NtW-1drk
alone. without knowing tie details OF the "l. he
presents THIS general pan 10 lhe 1ohm''Ie'- -.Idt
legislation shall be had which shall gNo to tins
gga man9 'CTPSaS9 t@9 d PS"eG to Sqa
think such b is clearly unconstitutional When
see that the eighteenth section oi the Amendments prJ-
vdes hat the Legislature shall not pas, private or
local bill in certain cases. one OF which Is granting TO
any corporation or association the rsht lay down
railroad tracks, ana Wh"h ma inc lnrhdte OlloW-
ing clause granting to private corporation or associ
enco that the word corporation" Included public
as well as private corporaupns There
any other clause, unless 1t was Intended to
include public as well rs private corporations In the
FIRST ri seems to me 10 be- sufficient objection 10
legislation Of that character. Inc proposon OF Mr;
Church stated that all tho cities or the state shouli
the speaker as beng clearly 50 uncoh7uIdtoa a' inc
other. Heretofore tney bad not been accustomed to
tp" i was within tho power OF the Legislature To make
that purpose which before was nOt 30 considered
Legislature. In this way provision might be made by
general law within the city limits, - IL provided now
except special act which 1t IN the power or tho
Legislature to repeal The Legislature could pass
build railroad within the city limits lie thought that
such legislation practicable and he dl not see that
the pOnto question TO whether they should
give power to u public body to build railroad or
make II a matter OF private enterprise, and ON this
pOiut lie replied in answer 10 Alderman PuIrOy
That he was confident the city had, under existing
laws, no power te build any railroad whatever.
s. L. Macomber the speaker, and sad that 1t
was not for the interests of tho City OF New York that
the city should, In Its corporate capacity, build to the
Harlem River road. He wanted the Legislature TO
say in the first place that this thing should be sad
died upo the City OF NewYork for II this railroad
worth building and If It could be made to pay 1t would
have been built long ago.
s. b. Rugges advocated the scheme OF the city's I'M
dertaking the work The only question how to get
a..o irn,nndintnlr The cltX mn.l hnild "a rnah