New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-11-22
TEE FIFTH AVENUE RAIL WAY.


The Fifth Avenue Railway scheme can be
defeated only by systematic work. In the men
who have organized this raid the Fifth ave-
property owners must recognize dangerous an
taeonists. Undoubtedly the first step OF the
raiders at Albany will be to get bill
through the Legislature repeating Section
4 of Chapter 81 of the laws OF 1850, when
fOrbids the construction OF street railway In
the avenue. The members of the Legislature
should be made aware that there is the strongest
opposition in this city to such repeal. 1hey
should not be permitted to plead II the Dill
masses that they did not know there was
anv serious resistance to it in New ork or that
they were misinformed as to its character.
Country members of the Legislature as rule
are strangely unacquainted with what Is
going on i'll this city, and are therefore easily
misled when they come to voting on Ne" lork
bills. From few of the NewYOrk members
can they secure any trustworthy information re-
specting New York measures, and when they Sc
lect these men as advisers they not lnirequently
show a remarkable lack of discrimination
Even so cOnspicuousy disinerested repre-
sentative of New-YOrk's interests as Walter
Howe did not possess among the country mem
bers of the Assembly this year that weight OF
influence to which he was entitled. Frequently
the men who constitute the mass of the New
York delegation so skllfully misrcpreSent a
New-York cob" that the Assembly follows
their lead instead of that of the honest and
independent New York members.
Ii is obvious therefore that the Flfth-ayc.
property owners themselves must make IL
clear to the Legislature that such a
bin ought not to be passed. Three
methods of influencing the uniformed
country legislators can be used by the Fllth
Avenue Protective Association. One OF these
methods, that of b0mbarding the L"gis atule
through the newspapers with statements against
the bill, is ready at hand III New \ DIRK. Inc
second is that of the distribution of pamphlets
against the scheme of the grabbcrs. mat can
be done now. A good beginning would be
made by mailing TO every member OF the IN
coming Legislature a copy OF the petition III
oppositiOn to the railroad which has just been
signed by the property owners If the mem
bcrs are well supplied with information about
Mr.. Sharp's bill there will be little danger OF ITS
being passed Many Albany legislators have a
doubtful reputation, but few of them venture to
vote for bill whose bad character has been
thoroughly exposed
In addition to a newspaper and pamphlct
defence of the avenue 1t would be well Tor the
Protective Association to send a committee TO
Albany early Ia the session OF the Legislature
and present the protest formally to the railroad
committees of the two Houses. Petitions sent
by mail are glibly read in the two Houses and
practically receive no attention. Having be-
come acquainted with the members OF the
Legislature the committee can fro IN time To
time visit ALBANY and Systematically labor IN
| opnosition TO the bill. They may be sure thlt
the representatives of the raiders will be hard at
work every day Of the session III an eii'rt 70
pass the bill. The association also could wisely
| send an agent to Albany with orders to
remain there till the legislature finally
| adiourns. waging war upon the bill
| in the committee rooms, keeping MEM
bcrs of the Legislature informed about the
opposition to the bill in New York, and warn
Ing the association whenever an extraordinary
effort against the bill may be needed.
Preparations so extensive III opp osltlon to
such a bill may seem needless. but we warn the
Fifth-ave property Owners that they cannot
trinc with the men who are pushing this
scheme. When Jacob Sharp passed his
General Street Railway bill he said he had at
| last learned how to manage a Legislature.
! We doubt if ne and his friends have yet lost
| their cunning-Or their purses.