New-York tribune., 1884-03-24
THE STREET RAILWAY BILL.
A MEASURE WHICH INTERESTS SENATORS.

RAILROAD COMPANIES.
lFRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT TIE TRIBUNE ]
ALBANY, March 23.-The State Senators were
busy last Thursday-actually busy. Usually while
session is In progress most Of the Senators in
the ante-rooms smoking, writing up their CORE
spondence, talking with an engaging strangerin q
corner-in fact doing everything but paying atten-
to the business of the Senate. But this day every
Senator was In his seat and earnest regard was
paid to all that was done.
What the cause of this change Sim
ply that a bill was under consideration
winch affected all the street railway property
in the State Also that the Same bill
gave opportunities for the organization of new
street railway companies, If 1t became law, which
might be advantageously seized by any enterprs-
ing Senator. Large fortunes were made between
1900 and 1870 by members Of the Legislature
who aided in the obtaining OF street railway
charters. Then 1t was the custom of modest men,
bers of the Legislature to put dummies" in as
directors of the companies that were chartered.
dolorous story is told of a Long Island
Senator who put in his coachmen as
dummy" in one bill This fact came
to the knowledge of brother Senator, who
slipped southwark to Long Island the moment the
measure became law, purchased for a trife the
directors place from the cOachman-and thus made
PtOOOO, Uuucu 10 lUt Ine UOlueT VI
the dictatorship
PRESENT METHOD OF LEGISLATION.
These sad times are happily past. If any member
of the present Legislature gets advantage over
fellow member In the organization of a street rail-
way company he must do in the full light of day.
as it were. Any one can organize a street railway
company under the bill there are to be no char
ters, and no dummy" directors, far the
Legislature is concerned. The granting of charters
to street railway companies is forbidden by the
Constitutional Amendment of 1875. The measure
is intended to be general lawj which any one can
avail himself Of who can obtain the consent
of prOperty-Owners and the authorities of
place to the building of street railway in a GER
tain street. II was drawn up by the Railway Com
missioners with great care, and with the intention
of excluding from it all jobs For eight years no
general street railway bill has become law owing
to the loading down of such measures in the Legis-
lature with various jobs There certain persons
in New-York, for instance, who desired that life
should be put into certain ina1jmate charters Of
theirs for street railways and sought to accomplish
this worthy object through general railway bill.
AMENDMENTS TO THE BILL.
Bill aft9r bill has been spoiled by their efforts to
accomplish this aim. The Railroad Commissioners
sought to write bill which would resuscitate no
dead charter but would give opportunity to all
that desired the privilege and were willing to risk
their money, to build street railways. The Senate
Committee on Railroads have amended the bill,
however, and amendments made to it
when 1t vas under consideration in the
Senate on Thursday. Some of these amendments
are Of q serious character and may not render the
bill acceptable to the Governor The most remarka-
bic change is that in relation TO cable roads which
was inserted in the bill in the Committee on Rail-
roads at the request OF the who have been for
month past endeavoring TO get an extension of the
term Of the Rapid Transit Commissioners.
These men, c. p Shaw and A. ID. Will
Jams are understood to be hostile to the
General Street Railway BILL but yet not to be conf
dent that their own bill i'll regard to the Rapid
Transit Commissioners, who favor cable roads, Will
pass the Legislature. They therefore as a precau-
ton against the failure of their own bill have had
the General Street Railway bill amended so as to
permit the railways organized under it to use the
cable system if they desire The amendment is as
follows:
ANY company avang itself Of the privileges and rights
conferred by this act may operate any portion Of its road
by animal or horse power by any moter other than
locomotive power which may be consented 10 by
the local authorizes and by the majority OF the properly
owners such consent of owners cannot De OBTAINED,
The determination duly confirmed OF commissioners ap
pointed by Supreme Court hereinbefore provided,
shall be taken in lieu Of such consent OF property
THE TAX on THE COMPANIES.
Railway Commissioner Rogers regrets that the
Railroad Committee of the Senate amended the bill
so as to provide that the street railways shall
paw only per cent Of their gross receipts yearly
INTO the treasury Of the city town which author
izcs their construction. The Railroad Commission
ers nut this tax for the franchise at per cent and
thought it low enough. The bill at present protects
the interests of property-owners, but there is no
telling what will be its condition when the Senate
gets through with it. 1t provides that any number
of persons not less than thirteen, may form street
railway company. The amount Of the capital stock
of the company is to be not less than $4,000 for
every mile OF road constructed proposed to be con-
structed. Articles of association of such company
can be filed in the office of the Secretary OF state
when 81 900 of stock for every mile of the rail
road proposed has been subscribed and
10 per cent of that amount has been paid into the
treasury Of the company
FEATURES OF THE BILL.
The company may put it's tracks In the streets
selected. provided that it first obtains the consent
of the owners of one-half In value of the property
on the streets and the consent also of the local
thoities or in lieu Of the consent of the property
owners a favorable report from commissioners APP
pointed by The General Term of the Supreme Court.
Local authorities are to give notice OF
the applications for street railway fran
chises. In cities the notices that the
applications will be considered are to be published
daily for fourteen days in two daily newspapers to
be designated by the Mayors of the cities. The
authorities of cities authorized to sell street
railway franchises to tho highest bidder Ii IS for,
hidden to charge more than cents for ride OF
any distance
another manipulation of its chief features may be
expected. An attempt to exempt broadway and
Fifth-ave., New-York, from its provisions has al
ready been defeated owing to the opposition OF the
Railway Commissioners who argue that in such
general bin It would be unconstitutional TO make
any eX ceptlons.