New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-07
THREE RAPID TRANSIT BILLS
TWO PRESENTED IN THE SENATE AND ONE
IN THE ASSEMBLY.
POINTS OF DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SENATOR
STEWARDS BILL AND SENATOR IvEss-
Mr.. FTsHS PLAN FOR 4 NON
PARTISAN COMMISSION.

Albany Jan. g (Special).-At the outset the Legis
ature has started Off with three rapid transit measures
which differ from another in important particulars
The bills introduced in the senate by senators
stewart and Ives and in the Assembly by Hamilton
Fish, jr Assembyman Connolly, of New-York, also
introduced in the lower House te measure that
Senator Ives had the senate. The basis OF these
three bills is the measure which was introduced In the
senate last year by Senator Fassett and they are
similar all the minor details They differ, however
practically the same point which caused the failure
OF Senator Fassetts bill at the last session. The bills
are all drawn as general rapid transit acts. but APP
plcsble only to cities of 100000 inhabitants and
over. This of course. makes it apply to New-IOrlE
City alone. Both senator Ivess and Senator Stewards
bills start of by accepting the com
missioners which were recently appointed
by Mayor Grant of New-York and
provision is made for retaining them in Office for
considerable time. It is with regard to supplying VA
cancies in the commission that the Stewart and Ives
measures differ. Senator Stewart believes that the in
terests of all be best served by giving the Gov
ernor and the Senate the power To fiji the vacancies In
the Commission, while senator 1ves's bill gives the
Mayor alone the authority TO ill the vacancies The
need of giving some power higher than the Mayor the
right To fill the vacancies amply demonstrated re
Gently, in Senator stewards opinion, when Patrick
Diver was appointed the important Office of Police
Justice
The only other feature in which the two measures
differ is the point of the number Of commissioners
necessary to make a quorum for the transaction OF
business The Tammany senator in his measure re
duoed tho number to three. but senator stewards bill
makes the presence Of four commissioners neces
sary. Senator Stewart believes that the Work
OF providing rapid transit for New-fork VIII DC
one of such gigantic and stupendous character
that great care should be taken that the work snail
be done honestly and prosttuted TO political
purposes. The greater the work the greater the evil
IL iobbers ever get control II.
Senator Ives introduced Mayor Grants Rapid Transit
BILL After It had been received he made a motion
that it be printed and ordered Immediately to thhn
reading. Senator FaSSett quietly objected The
young Senator from New-York then wanted the
measure sent to the Committee Of the Whole, but
objection to this course also made. The bill
was then sent to The Railroad Committee, the proper
course for it to take senator Ives said that his bill
was virtually the Fassett bill of last year which
passed the senate except in few details. which he
explained senator stewart followed Mr.. Ives, and
introduced his bill. lie thought. he said, that this
bill was the best that could be passed.
He knew it differed from the measure which had
been introduced by senator Ives in the important
particular that il required four Commissioners to act.
senator Ives wanted TO know if this the onv OBJ
lection that Senator Stewart had to his bill. II il
was he said that could be remeded easily. Thomas
F. Groy the Commissioner OF Public Works Of New
York City. who has been in Albany for tie last two
days, looking after the interests OF the Tammany mem
bers of the Assembly, here rushed to the side OF
senator Ives and told him 10 accept an amendment
making four Commissioners necessary 10 do the work
Of the Commission. senator stewart replied that this
not the only feature In which the two bills
differed and he held that the filling Of vacancies in the
Commission was equally as important.
senator Fassctt took the floor in support Of senator
Stewards BILL and against the proposition to give the
Mayor the power 10 I'll vacancies. He said that
some OF Mayor Ora 5 appointments were excellent
while Others had caused considerable criticism. Sen
afor Cantor forced himself into the discussion with
the statement that the power which appoints
should fill vacancies. Against this proposition it
was argued that the Senate had found competent
Commission in existence and provisions had been
made in the two bills introduced in the senate for its
retention Senator Cantor thought that the Ives bill
more than met Senator FaSsett hawa but the latter
declared that it was evident that he and the Tam
many Senators not nearer together than they
last year.
81 suppose7 he said "that after the velvet has
been taken away from that remark it that the
people in control Of New-YOrk City want a sort OF
rapid transit in which they control the Commits
sion or else they d. not want it al all
Thi, ended the discussion, and both bills were re
fergcd 70 ineir proper committees.
Asscmbyman Hamilton Fish. ir., also Introduced
Rand Transit bill It is the bill which was passed
by the Assembly last and rejected by the senate
1t provides for the appointment BY Mayor Grant Of
three Republicans ana three Democrats RAPID Tran
appointed by Mayor Grant are confirmed in Office,
and he is directed TO appoint sixth Commissioners
Three of the present Commissioners Democrats and
two are Republicans. Mr.. Fshs bill, therefore, re
Quires the appointment Of additional Republican
Commissioner. The Commissioners are authorized 10
lay out the routes Of rapid transit roads. The act
says, 1t shall he lawful for said Commissioners 1"
locate the route OF railway or railways or by
tunnel under any public park, and T.
locate the route Of any railway 10 Dc
Iuilt under thi, act across any Of the streets and
avenues row occupied by elevated railroad structure
in tho city of NcwYOlk at any point AT which in its
discretion the Board Of Rapid Transit Raillod Com
mssioners may deem necessary in the location Of any
route or routes. Nothing is this act shall authorize
The construction Of elevated railway on broadway
south of Thirty third st, In the city Of New OK.
The construction Of elevated road j. forbidden across
Printing IIOaSc square. second ave. below Twenty
third.si. NassaIi-st. and Park Row. The franchise
OF the proposed road is be SOLD except by the con
sent of five Of the Commissioners Of vacancy
I'm the ranks Of the Commissioners, the Mayor Of New
York must fill thc vacaacy with man Of the same
political faith a. the man who has died or resigned"
DOES GOV HILL WANT \ THIRD TERN?