New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-25
THE MOTOR CARS TO RUN.
FOURTEEN ALDERMEN SAY THEY MAY.

ONLY EIGHT FOUND READY TO VOTE AGAINST
THE USE OF ELECTRICITY IN FoURTHAyE.
So far as the Board Of Aldermen Is concerned
the question OF the substitution of electricity for
horse power on Fourth-avc. was settled yesterday.
by exactly the legal vote required the desired
permission was granted to the company by vote
Of IA to g. and the matter is transferred to the
jurisdiction Of the Mayor. Tho contest over this
grant has been going on since last February,
when the petition Of the Harlem Railroad Com.
pany was presented by Mr. Storm. Mr. Fftz-
simOns on behalf Of the Railroad Committee, to
which the petition was referred, made a favorable
report on May 20, after sharp contest in the
committee. The violent forensic battles which
have since been fought over electric motors In tho
Aldermanic Chamber. and in which the language
of the country has been mutilated almost without
precedent in the history OF legislation have been
impartially reported in The Tribune as they oc-
CURED.
The last oratorical gun of this long drawn-out
contest was fired yesterday, but 1T was lightly
charged and wholly without effect The op.osers
of the new method had made preparations to die
in the last ditch but when the Board met ~
was plain to careful observers that the rout OK
the reactionary contingent would be complete
Their hope was to prevent the adoption OF the
resolution and send the matter over To next year
when reinforcement OF fresh Aldermen was ex-
pected.
Mr. Sullivan appeared upon the sldrmish line
immediately after the reading of the minutes with
a motion TO record the vote on the resolution at
the last session, when the strategy Of an ad-
jonrnment was used TO prevent the defeat OF the
measure. He driven in, however by poino
of order fred at him by Mr: Storm, who was
supported by the ruling OF tie Chair. No attemqo
was made to dislodge Mr. Storm from his position
by appealing from the Chairs decision, SO tiae
he still held his vantage ground when the general
order call reached him in regular turn, and pre-
pared to charge in solid column.
Mr.. Storm showed that he had his forces well
in hand when he called up the motor resolution
General Order No. 352 l-2- moved its passage,
and deftly spiked the enemy's guns at the same
instant by moving the previous question Mr.
Clancy tried to shoot of his anti-motor bowltzer
voting, but his ammunition was in bad order. and
he was only able to discharge an Intellectual
" no" at the notion The previous question was
ordered by majority of 8, and the stormlng OF
the citadel was accomplished without the loss OF
a man. Mr.. Walker, the leader OF the antl-elec
trical brigade, opened desultory fusiade Just at
the close of the action but the battle had already
The vote stood: Ayes-Dowling,, Barry, Ben
jamin, Conkling, Fitzsimons, .Gunther, Hubbell,
Mccarthy, !McMnrray, Martin, Mooney, Rl3elShoi,
Holland, Joseph Murray Oakley, Sullivan, TAFT
and Walkers. Absent-Diyyer and John Mur
ray. Excused from voting-Cowie. There is food
for reflection in the fact that the members who
and would have been able to devote their energies
to another electrical campaign next year, While
none of the Aldermen who changed from oppo-
sition since the election are members OF the new
board.
When the news of the Aldermen's action was
brought to Mayor Hewitt he was presiding over
the Board of Estimate. An he said, with
facetious SMILE now there is a chance for
veto. II is the ilrst opportunity | have had TO
get my election expenses paid, and l must not
let IL shp'