The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1886-03-25
AN HONEST LETTER.

Secretary Whitney's Connection with the
Broadway Street Railways.
Secretary Whitney has sent the fol-
lowing letter to Henry R. Low the
Chairman of the Senate committee of
the New York Legislature investigat-
ing the Broadway railroad matter;
take the liberty Of addressing this note to
you because you are chairman OF the COM
mittee authorized to investigate the methods
by which the consent Of the Board Of Alder
men was obtained to the construction Of the
railroad now laid upon Broadway, and be-
cause the public press has more than once
assoc ated my name with the subject of your
| inqu ry. 1t is. perhaps. an inevitable penalty
however Honorable with transactions or per.
sons thereafter subjected to public obloquy
should be made an occasion for misrepresent-
body who wishes 10 do 80 to form
correct Judgment as to my CON
a. Ae'f Roosevelt, @ Mr.. % George % Henry warren. Nj
George g. Haven, Mr.. Brayton Ives, myseh
and other citizens of New York were direct
itself of the general street railroad law of 1884
railroad from the Battery to Fourteenth
earnestly to prevent Mr. Sharp and his asso.
ciates from obtaining the consent of the Board
tS mssa
ual, and we strenuously insisted that the
privilege should he sold at public auction to
| the highest bidder When these efforts failed
| we appealed to the mayor who vetoed the
ordinance. 1t was passed over his veto. We
then attacked the validity of the resolution,
| and as we had no right of action ourselves,
| furnished legal aid to property.owner for
the. purpose. Subsequently, in Difference to
public sentiment, aroused in great degree by
our efforts. Mr.. Sharp and his associates
abandoned the resolution and procured the
passage of new one, with conditions
upon annual payments based upon a
| valuation of a million dollars or more
for the franchise. Some Time afterward par
were arranging for leases of the lines in
| Broadway and Seventh avenue and Intend ed
| to lease other lines, and thus, by Introducing
economy of management and a system of
| transfers, secure at the same time returns
| from the properties and greater accommoda-
abandon our attitude of hostility and take
part in the new enterprise, which proposition
snd
iority in interest of the stock excluding mine.
1t was in the line of what we had been advo-
tested against grant of Broadway without
conditions providing for a genera! transfer
to it
be obtained. and the Philadelphia par
ties purchased a controlling interest in
hy the maSe
in force and the stock is taken under it, II
will enable the purchasers: If they see fit to dc
| so, 10 carry out with us the agreement they
made when they expected to obtain a lease OF
these roads. 1t will involve new agreements
however, on both Sides l have, however. nc
interest in the purchase recently made, amt
no investment in nor commttal to their gen
eral enterprise Prior to the disclosures
made on this investigation looked upon it a
the public interest and. j. it had taken I
shape satisfactory to me from a business
standpoint and at q time when felt at hbert,
to join it in view of other investments and
duties, should have done so. That states m,
exact relation to it. What effect this investi
CATION NAV have upon it, and whether shall
ever join it, are rs open questions for mo a
| for any one else. IF my connection with tn
transactions have mentioned is in any re
| spect open to just criticisms, am not awart
of it. Respectfully yours,
| VIC WHITNEY