The evening world., 1891-03-31
TUNNEL BILLS,

TUNNEL BILLS
The managers Of the New York Central
Railroad Company have come to the conclu
sion that they must do something to at least
make 1t apparent that they desire that the
danger in the Fourth Avenue Tunnel be less.
ened. They fear, and with reason, that II
another accident with loss OF life occurs
they could not escape indictment for
homicide, and that nothing would pre-,
vent their going to prison. They desire
to shift the responsibility for any &C,
cidents that may happen in the tunnel
from their own shoulders, and with this
in view they have supervised Q bill throw.
ing the responsibility for tunnel railroad
accidents ON the State Board Of Railroad
Commissioners. It was presented In the
Assembly last night by tho New York Cen.
trails representative Mr.. JAMES W.
Hustled.
This bill which Is merely permissive.
was introduced in order to head of the bill
offered by Mr.. SULzER. 1t looks well
enough at first glance, but closer inspection
shows that it might be Of little effect in
bringing about the reformation sought
It gives the entire control OF
lighting and ventilating tunnels to
the Board of Railroad Commissioners,
which it empowers to agree on plans and
to order their adoption by railroads. II at
the end of thirty days the railroad COM
panies have not complied with these
orders, the Commissioners may ap-
ply to the Courts for o mandamus
There is penal clause in the
Hustled bill, but It makes no provisions
to compel the railroad corporations to
plead to any indictment found against it,
and IL 1t should become law in its present
shape no conviction for failing to light and
ventilste could be obtained under It.
A very suspicious point in the bill is
that the changes necessary to make the
Fourth Avenue Tunnel safe could not
be completed in thirty days. The
courts have always proven the friends
of corporations which employ counsel
by the year; and should the New
York Central not care TO obey any
directions given by the Railroad Com.
missioners, under Mr.. HusrEp's bill 1t
could delay decision for an almost indef.
lite time.
Mr. HUsrEp's bill would empower the
;in!rohd Commissioners to order any dis
aor'ng structures on Park avenue, and also
"aorize them, II they SO desired, to make
later openings in the tunnel without re,
card to the wishes OF the taxpayers
Or the city authorities. To make more
openings in the tunnel the New York Cen.
tral Railroad have been trying for years.
On the whole, Mr.. HUsrRp's bill is SO in
the interests OF the New York Central Rail
road Company that it might be extremely
dangerous to the municipality of New
York.
In the Senate last evening a bill was
introduced by Mr.. AnEARy embracing al
the points OF the Sulzer bill, with these
additions, that the system of ventilating
and lighting be adopted by the ralroaG
company subject to the approval O. tn,
Railroad Commissioners, and requiring
the exterior construction of all yenti
lating appliances to be approved by
the local authorities. This contro
OF the exterior construction Of til,
ventilating appliances will act as checI
upon any action Of the railroad compan,
that may he detrimental to the city. Tn,
sulSer-Byrne bill will also be amended 1,
these particulars
The New York Central cannot honestl,
oppose either Mr.. AHEARN's bill or the Sui
zsr-Byrne bill, which are really the same
because provisions have been introduce,
meeting every objection 1t has advanced
Theinside history of the Hustled bill is know,
to The EVENING WORLD, and it propose
to use 1t at tho proper time. Its on
merit is that IL shows the rallroa,
company has been forced into doin,
'me'hing' One thing is paramount, how
er, which is, that the Fourth Avenue Tun
"' must be rendered safe, and no matte
"hat the Legislature does, THE RvESrN
WORLD will lend its best energies TO accom-
plish this result.
nv