New-York tribune., 1885-01-17
MR. GRACE ON FRANCHISES.
rup c1Ty,s INTERESTS DIsREGARDED.
. CONSENTS GIVEN WITHOUT PROPER CoMPENsA-
TIoN-THE MAYORS COURSE.

.coNsrNTs" GIVEN WITHOUT PROPER CoMPENsA-
ToN-THE MAYORS COURSE.
Mavor Grace yesterday wrote to Corporation
Counsel LacOmbe concerning the granting 4i frI; lie
cbises TO corporations. He quotes the part OF us
message in which he says that no franchlse IoI d
surface street railroad shodld be granted unless que
largest possible revenue is secured 10 tne Guy t
all such franchises should be sold AT auctlon 10 .ne
highest bidder sufficient upset price having oceh
fixed and that fair percentage OF the gross re-
ceipts should be paid 10 the CITY, lie then eoh'in
ues:
mon of 1854 find that its consent was given TO tne con
strction and operation U ns Railroad
ond Street, Manhatanvie aud 81 Nlchoss a AVpnuo emu
Railroad Chambers Street and Grand street Ferry I.
road Bleecker Street and Fulton Ferry Railroad
Thirty-fourh Street Railroad and Broadway S1raed S
granted without any adequate just compensation 70
the payers the city The prlveee OF ,b iiv Y
valuable and important franchise The value OF tMs
privilege should be secured to the ciy pS a, Pmap1
to ascertain by competent and intelligent INQUIRY ana
examination the value of the pre- ny
of the Common Council has been given as stated care
fu n Ho Sa nf a to secure to the city the full
value of these franchises. 49,, , 49,. hen
Granted the necessary of property on the
line avenue has not been and cannot ne
obtained and the companies have therefore made app
cation under the statute the General Term OF the
Supreme Court of the First Judicial Deparment lor & te
lie hearing of all parties interested whether such rail-
road ought TO be constructed and operated CoIuiIs-
sioners have In several been appointed anu are
now engaged in such hearing. The act also provides
that the Commissioners shall make report; ;, s,i
and their determination conlIaicu sie py yn,r s"'
shall be taken in lieu OF the consent Vi INC properly
owners the line of the street -. 4. -.
The act OF by the above procedure TO give
sufficient Ioom protection OF the interests OF the
city as well as those of the properyowners Interested
The commits required to hear all pares inter
esed and no party interested than the corpora
ton itself as the OF the public avenues ana streets
through which proposed TO construct the read anu
as trustee for preservation of the public use thereof
aud of the corporate franchise 10 be disposed or me
publlc hearing be had every circumstance peru
nent 10 the inquiry whether the railroads should DC
"constructed and operated should be presented 10 te
consideration of the commissioners, so that thereafter
necessary il may considered by the court upon the
coming i'm of their report. It. seems TO me tnat an I'M
porsnt which the attention OF the commissioner
should directed and in regard TO which fulI ana lel
lccn te stmony should De had Is the value oil he iran
chise Of such proposed roads ana whe'hor @ ,e az
ing companies have paid or intend, by agreement OF
otherwise to pay such value secure to the corpora
tiOn. ~, - -- ~, -.
The Mayor in conclusion says that there are other
companies who have made application to the sp,
prenie Court to which the foregoing remarks Will
apply. He asks the Corporation Counsel to take
such action as will best protect the interests OF the
city.