New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-04-25
RAPID TRANSIT SET BACK,
THE FASSETT BILL RADICALLY AMENDED
IN THE ASSEMBLY.
THE FIsH-GIBBs COMBINE SUBSTITUTE
MAYOR GRANTS APPOINTEES FOR THE
STATE COMMISSION PROPOSED
BY THE SENATE.
lBy TELEGRAPH TO THE Tribune. !

present Legislature seems to enjoy more than the
ancient one Of battledore and shuttlecock. About
every week the Assembly and the Senate teams
have championship contest. One day the
shuttlec0ck was the Worlds Fair act: to-day il
Senator Fassett's Rapid-Transit bill This
measure came into the Assembly chamber equipped
with seats for eight State Rapid-Trans Com
missoners, to be selected by the Governor and
the Senate. Speaker Hustled offered an amend
mcnt to the bill extending the authority of these
State Commissioners all the cities of the
State having a population of over 90, 900. This
amendment Immediately rejected by com.
bine' composed of the Fish-Gibbs Republicans
and the Democrats. Then the bill was swiftly
transformed into a shuttlecock. Upon motion
of Mr.. Fish it was amended by striking ont the
provision for State commission and substituting
for 1t Rapid Transit Commission composed of
the five men already named by Mayor Grant for
Rapld-Transit Commissioners, and one ad.
ditional Republican, also to be named by Mayor
Grant This would create q Rapid Transit Com
mission Of three Republicans and three Democrats
The amendment also provided that their authority
should be limited to the city of New-York
These important amendments were made bv
the votes Of eleven Republicans and ffty-three
Democrats. There were three Democrats and
hfty-four Republicans who voted against the adop-
ton OF the amendment. Subsequently other un-
important appointments were made by a vote Of
slXty-siX to forty-nine. The two men who thus
joined the combine" were Shelter Rep) and
BRADY 'Dem) Subsequently Assembymen lewis
floag and King, of New-York Republicans made
The announcement that, although they had voted
against the amendments they intended in view
of TIE fact that there were to be three Repub-
llcans and three Democrats as Rapid-Trsnsit
commissioners, to vote for the bill when it comes
up on third reading, it will in a few DAYS.
This raises the total vote for the bill to sixty
nine votes, or five more than are sufficient to
pass it in the Assembly, There will be twenty
two of the twenty y-four Assemblymen from New
York who will vote for the bill when it comes up
on its third reading, namely, the four Repub-
lican Assemblymen and eighteen Democrats,
while two Democrats will vote against It.
1t is understood that the defeat Of the Stats
Commission feature Of the bill was due to the
work of Edward Murphy, jr chairman of the
Democratic State Committee who pulled away
from its support nine or ten country Democrats
Nlr. Murphy, it is said. had Governor Hill send
for Democratic Assemblymen who were "sus.
poets and urge them 10 vote against the State
Commission II passed in its present shape, the
bill must be made the subject Of conference be.
tween the Senate and the Assembly. The Re-
publican Senator'S this afternoon showed no dis
position to make compromise, but were indig.
nantly denourcing tho rejection of the chief
feature of their bill.
1t known widely in Albany that the bill
would be debated, and therefore there was a large
crowd in the Assembly galleries when 1t began
Speaker Hustled took the floor in support of the bill
He offered amendments providing that the meas
ure should apply TO all cities above 100, 900 in
population.
l.. 81;
inquired Mr.. Fish. sharply.
Because replied Mr.. Hustled. firmly. :" il we
are TO have a State Rapid-Transit Commission
they should have Statewide authority
Where is there general demand elsewhere
in the State except in New-York for rapid
transit?' said Mr. Fish.
Let us consider the bill as read through"
said Mr. Sheehan. the Democratic leader, with
an understanding that the previous question shall
not be moved"
Il will make no such agreement" said Mr..
Hustled.
Then we will control the House. said Me-.
Shcehan, with an arrogant air. And it did be-
sin to look as if Mr.. Sheehan and Mr.. Fish did
control the Assembly. The bill was then read
through. and Mr. IIusted's amendment was
adopted. 1t was Immediately atterward killed,
however. by the following important substitutes
for Sections /. >. and 10, offered by Mr.. Fish,
Section The Mayor Of any city OF this State having
population Of 900 inhabitants or over, may at any
time AMI time to time. or upon the written request
ot any 500 resident freehoders Of such city, shall
pont VINO shall be residents OF said
city, and who shall full power and authority to do
and perform all they hereinafter directed TO do
and perfom a certificate of whose appointment, signed
y such Mayor shall be filed in the once OF the Secretary
of state and duplicate thereof in such Mayors office.
Three OF commissioners shall be chosen from ths
The last L.,
number Of votes and three other Of said commissioners
shall be chosen the party which at said last State
election the next largest number OF votes provided.
however. where the Mayor OF any such
v shall have already appointed commissioners under tho
provisions Of Section OF Chapter COG OF the Laws Of
1873 entitled An Act further 10 provide for the
.trrction and operation OF "A steam railway railways
in the counties OF this state since the first day Of
APRIL in year lS90 the commissioners appointed
and who within days after the passage OF this act
duly qualified such commissioners and entered
upon performance OF their duties such together
other commissioner TO be appointed pursuant to
the provisions this section. who shall be chosen from
the party which at the last state election cast the nexe
largest number votes shall be deemed TO be the Com
mission appointed under the provisions OF this ace
and entitled to exercise and perform all the
powers and duties prescribed herein
See. .. Within days after their appointment each
Of commissioners, except as otherwise provided In
>.etion 1 NJ thi, act shall take and subscribe
faithfully perform the duties OF his Office the oath TO
oficc Of the clerk Of such county and shau
give bond the people of the State OF New-York, IL
the penal sum Of S25 900, conditioned for the faithful
uerformance OF the duties required by this act which
bond shall have two or suretes to be approved
y a Justice OF Department Of the Supreme Court
including county, and shall be filed in such clerks
office such commissioner shall assume 10 perform
any OF the duties Of his office.
Sec g. Within fifteen days after their appointment, or
in the case Of referred t. in Section
NJ this act a. who shall De deemed to be nrse
appointed under the provisions OF the within fifteen
ioys after the passage Of this act the said commissioner
-ha meet at enient place In such county ans
organize themselves Board with appropriate eicers
They shall be known the Board OF hapid transit kali
road Commissioners.
See TO- In case a vacancy shall be caused by the
I,ah r,lgnaon or other disquahcatons OF OF the
commissioners appointed pursuant To Section OF this act
be vacancy shall be filed by the appointment, In the
manner prescribed in said section, OF commissioner whs
shall belong t. the same political party the commissioner
hom he is appointed succeed The terms OF Office o
,d commissioners shall determine and expire with the