New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-28
PRICE THREE CENTS.
THE RAPID TRANSIT BILL.
SENATOR FASSETTS MEASURE AS AMEND
ED IN COMMITTEE.
A STATE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS PROVIDED
FOR, TO BE NAMED BY THE GOVERNOR
AND CONFIRMED by THE SENATE.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TNBUsE-1

AND CONFIRMED by THE SENATE
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TDBUsE1
Albany March Ex-senator Fassetts kapid-
Transit BILL which was primarily intended TO ap-
ply to New-Yorl, was amended by the Senate
Railway Committee this afternoon so that now 10
will include the cities of New-lork Brooklyn. Al
bany Rochester and Buffalo Moreover, whilo
formerly the bill named the Rapid-Transit COM
mission, it transfers this duty To tic Governor
and the Senate. The Rapid-Transit Commissions
ers are TO be nominated by the Governor ana con-
frmcd by the Senate The Republican leaders
in the Legislature have been keeny deslrous OK
taking the settlement of the Rapid-Transit prob
lem out of the domain of politics. and, therefore.
in the new bill they provide for non-partlsan
commission of four Republicans and four Demo
Gratis. In each city, however. where rapid-translc
routes to be laid out by this Rapid-Transio
Commission, the Mayor of the city is TO be an ex-
oflcio member of the Board 50 far as the selection
of the routes is concerned Governor Hill, while
walking down State-st. with Senator Stewart. Re-
publican. of New-Yorl was informed of the above
important amendment to the bill. When you
Republicans are planning any particular political
deviltry,' said the Governor TO Senator Stewart.
you always call it non-partsan."
Mr. Fassetts bill. as the committee will re-
port ii. provides that there shall be a State
Board Of Rapid-Transt Railroad Commissioners.
10 consist of eight members. who shall be ap-
pointed by the Governor and confirmed by the
Senate. Four Of the commissioners are To he
Democrats and four Republicans They are to
hold office for six years. They to have
jurisdiction over all cities having a population
exceeding 100000. and in all such cities. when
the Board is considering rapd-transit routes for
such cities, the Mayor of the city shall te for
haip fioio fIa Roar rH
Six members shall constitute quorum. Upon
the request of the Mayor, or by any 800 resident
freeholders Of any such city. such commissioners
shall consider the question Of establishing rapid
transit roads in such city. They shall make out q
plan for a road. and they may lay out routes
over under through all streets.
avenues, or lands in such cities in
cluding blocks between streets with the
consent of the local authorities and with
the consent OF one-half Of the property holders,
or the deter nnation Of the commissioners ap-
pointed by the Supreme Court in lieu OF the COM
sent of the property y-holders. The public parks,
grounds and buildings of any city. or of tine State.
or of the United States are expressly exempted
from the provisions of the act. as also Fifth
ave. Fourth-avc. above Forty-second-st.. Madison
ave. and Broadway south of Thirty-third-st in
Ncw-Nork City. ard every street or avenue now
cept that it provides that the commission may
locate railways under the surface OF Broadway Or
Madson-ave. in NewNork City, or under any
park. by tunnel, and except that such routes may
cross Broadway or any street or avenue now occu-
pied by an elevated road
The report OF the commissioners TO the routes
and plans adopted shall be transmitted to the COM
mon Council Of the city. and such Common Council
may suggest changes To lie made in the routes
and plans, and the commissioners shall
slider such suggestions and report again to
tie Common Council the routes and plans
amended in accordance with the suggestion, or
not. the commissioners may deem wise. Within
four weeks after such plans and routes shall have
been first transmitted To the Common Council q
final vote Shall be taken thereon in the form
OF Il resolution, 10 adopt the plans and routes;
and when such resolution has been adopted in
the manner required by law tor the adoption
of resolutions or municipal ordinances OF such city,
such plans and routes shall he deemed To have
been finally consented 10 and adopted. and such
consent shall be deemed to be The consent Of the
local authorities, except that where in any city
the exclusive control of a street included in the
routes Is vested III some other authority than the
Common Council. the consent of such authority
must be- Obtained IN place of the Common Council.
After the consents of the local authorities aud
property owners obtained and the plans
prepared, the commissioners shall sell at public
auction, after due advertisement. the right To
construct and operate such railways. The
missioners may prescribe the terms and conditions
of the sale they may deem best for the
interest of the public and of the city.
\ large number of provisions which must be
stated in the terms of sale are set forth in the
bill The roads are to he constructed under the
supervision OF an engineer appointed by the COM
missiOners The commissioners, other than
Mayor, are to receive reasonable compensation,
To be fixed by the Supreme Court and paid by
the purchasers of the franchise. On the requ ST.
iiun of the commissioners the financial Officers
OF the city shall appropriate such an amount as
may he called for for the expenses of the COM
missiOners Provisions are made tor the organ
izdtioh of corporations to build the roads, for the
acquiring OF land. and tor the confcrring on such
corporations Of the general powers that other
railroads have 1t also provides that said COM
missioners may allow any railway corporation
owning or actually operating a road within tho
limits OF any city in which they have power to act
To lay additional tracks a portion or the whole
of It's railway, and To acquire terminal or OTTER
facilities any street or place on which said
railway shall be located Ii also provides that
whenever the route selected by the commissions
ers for the construction of n road shall inter-
sect coincide with or cross any railway tracks
tion building such road is authorized for the pur-
pose of building the road To remove the tracks
of such surface railways, but IL shall be done in
such manner as Ia interfere as little prssi-
Bile with the practical operation of the surface
roads. and the same shall be restored upon the
completion of the rapid transit route. The bill
is not to affect repeal the Rapid Transit act OF
| $50 except SO far regards the appointment Of
commissioners. The bill is not to affect rights Of
surface roads heretofore acquired, heretofore
To be acquired except expressly
provided in the bill.
PASSING IMPORTANT BRIDGE BILLS.