New-York tribune., 1886-03-23
PLAIN WOEDS From THE GOVERNOR.
ASKING THAT THE CHARTER BE ANNULLED.
IE SAYS TIE LEGISLATURE HAS TIE POWER TO
VACArF THE STOLEN FRA CHlSr
iBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE

ALBANY, March 22.-GOyernor Hill signed
morning Assembly Cantoro bill for the sale by
public auction Of tic franchise of which the NewfOrk
Cable Railway Company seeks for seventy miles OF the
streets OF New York This evening no sent message
on the subject Legislature. In 1t he suggests
| that further steps DO taken To make obligatory
! ,he sale auction OF street railway franchises.
lie then passes to the consideration of the bribery
OF the 1ard of Aldermen New York by tue Broadway
Surface Railway Company order 10 get possession OF
It's charter. lie argues that the Legislature has power
to the of that road and suggests plainly
that the OF that road be annIed by the
urc The members OF the Legislature listened to the
reading of the message with close attention Ex-senator
Conklng Wednesday Will address the Senate Railway
Committee In favor OF ts reporting favOrabJ the bill TO
annu the charter of the Broadway Railway. The mes
sage referred 10 the Railroad Committee. The main
features OF it gwen below:
Valuable franchises in city OF NewYOrk have been
practically given lin the broad ngnt OF day, and
history OF our municipalities Recent developments
made clear the frauds and crimes by which such
peusauOn for the Cy It's recreant officials have made
themselves the benedciares their official action, and
Father than the franchises have been sold
rr tHo t re% lire etae reprtin II ia enSmS TO-
recall the Aldermen OF tnat city refused TO permit
city avail itself OF the power 30 dispose Of the
franchise OF Broadway tor what would realize at
public sale. and without exaotng dollars com
pens sitiO, Aldermen gave the franchise away TO a
corporation that had purchased the majority Of the
votes 10y which thr outrage was cOnsunmated
recently Aldermen again refused to sell tie
railroad franchises O Its streets Al fair and open com
petition ana granted 10 single corporation suon fran
chises seyeuy-hve miles OF streets Tnis action
vetoed by the Mayor, and the question OF over
ruling such veto pending at the time of the passage
Of act which have this day approved and is stil
pending. The which reference has been laade
rendered necessary tue prompt enaclment OF th,s bi
The DI has been hastily formulated. and II IA
doubtless imperfect III some OF It's details II does not
far enough III all respects. 1t should pro-
vide safeguards for the purpose OF enabling tile munc
pal authorities to correctly ascertain the amount OF the
gross receipts upon winch percentage OF coinpenSa
be- BASED and should specifically regulate all
the proceedings pertaining the sales, and otherwise
more fully project the rights OF the people. These
amendments can be hereafter made
Its possible that Injustice may be done tn some rail
roads different portions OF the state by the operation
may have Intended 10 disturb he status OF those
cOmpaues that had honestly fairy and IN COED tain
obtained the consent OF the palities for
qlae consideration paid or agreed 10 be paid and where
claim has been made that "a greater COMPENSATION
offered could been obtained. II This sO
the error be corrected by supplemental legislation
But the question is seriously presented for your con-
sderatiOh whe her there redress for the IL
IS possible that the franchise OF the greatest thorough
fare in America be obtained by fraud. corruption
and bribery and the people obliged SIT idly and
contemplate the spectacle OF the DrDors or their con
venien in peaceable possession OF their stolen
franchise, enjoying the fruits Of their wrongs
An eie remedy in the hands OF the Legislature.
The corporation by or ia whose behA the Board OF Al
dermen corrupted holds It's charter at your disore
ton. The Legislature may AT any lime annn or DIS
solve any corporation formed under the General Kali
road Act Of 1880 the Street Surface Act of Is the
language OF tue stante 1t Is plain clear and decisive
1t means exactly what 1t says III addition TO this, the
general law Of the state applicable to ali computations
(Ie ILL., Chapter hNIl, nlst part OF the Revised Stat
uttS) provides the charter OF every corporation
shall be SUBJECT to alteration Suspension and repeal III
the dtscrr tiOn OF the legislature"
The repeal of the charter and the dissolution Of the
porauOn would vacate the stolen franchise. II would
restore the City Of New-YOrk Its own property Of
which 1t has been despOiled, and would afford sauary
lesson and establish precedent valuable IN ali the
future history Of State. without additional legis
atOn the courts seem pOweress to render any enectua
there is need Of heroic treatment fcarlessly and
speedily applied The people looking 10 the Legis
aturc in tins emergency,au II Is necessary that the
pose defeat this conspiracy of fraud, corruption and
he ina he
efiectual ana the more swift the Of
dress the more Will such action rebound To the honor
If the al