New-York tribune., 1884-12-01
LICENSE FEES OF sTREET RAILROADS.
ARREAHAGEs or TIE VARIOUS COMPANIES-sUIr
BROUGHT AGAINST THEM.

ARREAEAGEs or THE VARIOUS COMPANIES-sUITs
BROUGHT AGAINST THEM.
Jhe recent decision of the Court of Appeals
IN thc case OF the Broadway and Seventh Avenue Surface
Railroad Company, declaring that It must pay q license
fee OF S5O for each rum has created something OF
mild sensation among the companies that will bo effected
by the decision For several years the Finance Depart
mcnt has been moving in tho matter II has collected
all the facts at anabe and lodged them with the Corpor
alton Counsel, and much Of the evidence
on which the city based It's against
tho Seventh Avenue Railroad came from
the Finance Department The Mayors Marshal collects
all license foes but the arrearrgcs OF the railroads
prosecuted through the Finance Department. Some OF
the claims arc outlawod. For this of the
suits are based on claims prior to 1869.
In the OF several OF the railroad companies there
have been begun two suits by Corporation Council
behalf OF the city, for the period from 1869 to 1874
inclusive, and the second from S75 to 1884 inclusive
In the case Of tho Seventh Avenue Company the first
suit brought on behalf Of city for license fees for 765
at $50 cach total OF S3S 400 the second period
for ''3s cars amounting to $66,0OO The accrued In
terest amounts To nearly half as much az the total
There arc two similar actions against the Third Avenue
Company The first suit covering the period from 1869
to 1874 inclusive Is for license fees for 1888 Mt $50
second period for 2260 ears at $50 per car amounting
to $4,000. The accrued interest will also amount TO
he charged the ordinary $50 license fee for each car
by it, or whether the omnibus fee OF $50 Is all that can
he cDltctcd III Is ono OF the OLDEST
companies In the city. and 1t Is question
whether under the terms Of the franchise granted to the
company greater than $50 can he collected. To
settle this the suits for the different sums have been
brought
Forty Street and Grand Street Ferry Rail
Company has also had two suits brought against IT,
The first one covering the time from 1869 to 1874 Is for
$40 at $50 amounting to $1,000, and the sec
Ond suit for Jl3 cars amounting to 600. There IS
also the accrued interest both sums The amounts
demanded from the Dry Dock East road way and Bat
Ss2 100; from 1891 TO 1894 inclusive. Sl1.350 two
years Interest, 81 .514. Total Sl0SO24.
The Eighth Avenue Company IL said To be debtor 70
the city IN the following amounts License Tees Tor
G72 cars at $50 for each from 1869 to 1874 inci-
sivc SI 900; OOS from lS7J to 1884 inclsiVo
$50 400 There also the accrued interest amounting
10 about 80 per cent The Ninth Avenue Company owes
making total of ~ 900. and interest added In the ease
OF tue Blccckcr street and Fulton Ferry Railroad Com
psny suit has been began for the recovery of license
fees for 100 ears $50 each for the last ak years. max
ing "a otal NJ 800 900, ana accrued interest, and IN ad
diion this per cent Of the receipts THIS Iat
ter amount cannot he determined uDt the company IL
compelled to produce s books In court no returns nav
lug been made tn ITO CITY. 10000, -. ,,,.
1hc Hudson River Railroad COMPANY Is charged with
81 $50 from 1869 10 1874 and ~ .lSs from 1879 "a
iSSt Tho Houston aud West Street and PhyonA Icfy
Railroad Company hna made partial settlement, Dul
owe, the license foes from January of tho present
year The Central Park. North and East RIVER KhrOhn
Company has settled what owing for license fccs ny
To january 1857 subject To the decision of tho Court
Of Apcas u tho license feos for 1881 and 1884
II eypected that the amounts owed by tho various
compncs will he settled without much more tgntion
and that thereafter he license fees will he paid promptly
in5urDg considerable Increase TO the city revenues