New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-25
ALDERMEN ARE INDIGNANT
DENYING CHARGES OF A COMBINE"


A HEARING BEFORE TIE COMMITTEE ON DOCKS
ON THE EAST RIVER TUNNEL scHEMR
Thu hearing OF tho East River tunnel case was
becun by the Committee Docks OF the boara OK
Aldermen Yesterday The proceedings attracted suoh
ssas 90 sct.,ors that Il was thought best to hold
~. ,,.aftng In the Common Council chamber instead
~ the committeeman. Nearly all the Aoefmch
who voted TO refer the matter to the Docks Com
mittee were present. as were all the members Oh tns
commitsoe-Aldermen Walker, Rinckhon, Butter. 1a'
and Coetz General Roy Stone president Oh the
New.York and Long Island Railroad Company, Ap
pieton d Palmer, the oompany's counsel; X >.
Cortis. agent Of the Hamburg American steamship
comnanv. Captain Ambrose Snow, OF tho Pllot Von'
mission; Commodore W. II. Thompson, Formerly oi
the White Star Line. and e1-Aldernan mohurrN az
reared in favor of tho project and Coonel b. H. wac
son and P. c. Baker, the representatives Oh inc
Thirty eighth st. property holders, opposed IT, Cen
.ra, Stone and Mfr palmer made speeches urging tho
advantages which the tunnel would give 10 she city
and ,ts commerce and answered In detail TAG argu
uents made against It They called as expert WIZ
pesses Messrs Corts, Thompson, Snow ana '.
Rulmbach who testified that the objection urgoo tha
the effect of the tunnel would DO tho building up OF
Montauk Point as a commercial rival 70 New-forA
was absurd Although the petition now asks for the
construction OF the tunnel under Forty secondst IN
stead of Thirty-eghthst, Messrs. Watson and Baker
attn adhered TO their opposition. They charged NAV
one purpose Of the company was TO get inc ngne w
run their tunnel across the middle Of the island w
prevent the construction Of tunnels engthWse Oh inc
city which alone could give the transportation needea
by the people, so hereafter To demand large sums
for the franchise General Stone replied that there
was nothing to prevent tunnels being run both length
wise and across the island. They could DO made TO
mass each other either above or below the tunnel no
at given points.
John ]. White, of the Bricklayers' Union NO. =,
speaking for his and other trades UNIONS s"iu
that there was decided feeling among these organiEs
lions An favor Of the building of the tunnel because
n would supply work TO large number OF mechanics
and workmen sadly in need of steady employment
He thought that delegations from them and nom sno
stonecutters' and Laborers unions would hke 70 sp
pear before the committee and advocate the ouidns
of the tunnel
Chairman walker made an extended speech ON INC
"boodles question, and denied that there was any
foundation whatever for the current rmors about the
venalty Of Aldermen who opposed tho measure no
severely criticised the orginators OF the report anu
called upon any present to give ldenoe 10 sno"
that any member of The Board had exhibited hanSer
ing for boodles The Alderman referred 10 Gen
eral stones interviews as published IN several news
paper and asked the General to say whether he had
reason TO think that there purpose TO STRIKE
the company in connection with granting tne iran
chise General Stone poured oil upon the troubled
waters by saying that he had not been approached by
any member Of the present Boaru anu "ss no' s"aao
that any recent effort had been made to obtain money
nom the company for improper purposes
Alderman John Carlin, the new representative Oh
the XIXth District took up the accusations mage
against tho Aldermen and .loquently defended the
honor of the Board. He put General Stone through
series of questions, and tried to prove that there
was no justification for the charge of combine for
DOODLE The Aldermen whose action on Tuesday had
been so vigorously denounced had at heart, he SAID
the ctys best interests and proposed 10 defend them
apainst the encroachments OF New-Jersey and Long
Island a.,
The committee adjourned to Monday for the pun
pose of preparing report 1t was rumored that ~
would probably De decided TO return me petition 70
the Board and that IN the end President Arnold would
refer II 10 the Committee Bridges and Tunnels,
where 1t maulfestly belongs The Tsmmany leaders
are said TO favor such q course.