New-York tribune., 1886-08-11
MONEY FOR SUBWAY WORK.
AN ASSESSMENT BY THE CONTROLLER.
MR. CHAPLIN CALLS UPON TIE ELECTRIC COMPANIES
To urr u Tur cnMNuSsfoS

Mr.. CHAPLIN CALLS UPON TIE ELECTRIC COMPANIES
TO HELP THE COMMISSION.
State Controller Chaplin made his first demand
yesterday on the telegraph. teleDbonc and electric
HIGHT companies in behalf Of the subway Commls-
eion that has been IN existence little over wear
and thus far has received no money for IT'S support
Il has not even received funds with which TO pay
the rent OF its offices or the expenses OF c'efk
hire. Each OF the cOmmissloners rs ent,tIen
TO q salary Of 5000 year payable quarterly,
but none of them has been paid a cent. Altogether
the board out about $22 000. The expenses of the
commission are to be paid entirely by the com
pauies operating electrical conductors in this city.
Each company II assessed pro rata according 10 tuo
number OF miles OF wires That 1t operates "Hhin
the city limits.
Tho commissioners have been trying TO get the
Controller 10 make an assessment for some tIi,e,
but hc thought best not To do so until after me
contract o bury the wires had been signed py ,'ie
construc tiou company. When this was zone iasV
week he called on the companies for Information
respecting the number OF miles OF wires tnat thet
used They were compelled by the law 10 1n Inl,n,m
n. Yesterday each OF the forty OF more companies
using electrical currents was informed UNI ns
i. was assessed at about, the rate cent 81
o. this assesSmcni V % was due. Ten Of the companies
scemcd pleased with these bills Inc Mciropoi,inu
Telephone Company was PIT d1%n t ss p~ssd IN
Ecw-,ork and was assessed accordingly. The
officers were indignant and declared tnat 'hey
would not stand IT, Nice-President huideAoper
said:
We are heartily in favor of assisting the commission
IN s work eut we 40 not se in ~ .ena ebses
a any time for % 30 per cent OF the total as
ses.,neni but not moro than that. According 10 our
latest Onicsl returns We have Sols subscribers or
about that number OF miles OF wire IN use. and surely
that quarter or third OF what "a III use ny
ali the companies. We will submit tho matter to the
commission.
Some of the companies. II is said. Will refuse 10
pay the assessment. In case they 30 the Controller
la. the right according to the bill passed ny the
Iast Legislature, 20 issue warrants within thirty
days to Sheriff Grant giving him the power to levy
upon the property of such companies Tor The amount
Of The assessment and the costs OF execution These
warrants. ,hc law declares. shall he hens upon ana
shall bind the personal estate of the company from
the time actual levy made and the shcrlif shail
proceed ~ all respects and with the same effect az
prescribed in regard tO executions issued
against property upon Judgments gwen by court
OF record aud shall be entitled 10 the same ices for
lis services is executing them.
IL was reported yesterday that John Thomson,
the Chc' engineer ~ the commission. had resigned
aud tha: Henry :. kearney. the present assistant,
We to take hls ace. The resignation will proba-
hiy hc offered at the next meeting of the Comuls-
siouer~. Mr. Thomson appointed before MI
Flower became president, aud Mr. kearney received
his place from Mr.. Flower. Messrs Moss and hcsS
are said 10 favor Thomson.