New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-03-20
CROKER STOPPED THE BILL.
TAMMANY AND THE TELEPHONE MONOPOLY.
L. S. GARDNER DESCRIBES HIS INTERVIEWS
WITH AccENRIYMAN MARTIN.


+. S. GARDNER DESCRIBES HIS INTERVIEWS
WITH AssEMBLYMAN MARTIN.
Frank S. Gardner, secretary OF the Telephone ouo
scrbers Association, last night made pubic MS
view with Assemblyman Martin at Albany III ro'0'
ence 10 getting his bill introduced HIS story presents
many interesting facts which have not oeiorc '0''
published. His statement is as follows:
AS Assemblyman Martin has seen lit 10 nahe
nsinuat,ons AS to NV sincerity in the effort 10 secure
reduction In telephone charges and TO characterize
the bill as strike feel under no further obligations
10 withhold the true nature Of the conversation hu
with him in the Assembly Chamber on March D. tMo
DAYS after Mr. Croker had mailed to MN the o'h'
Il was my first meeting with Mr. Maruii' |A'o'
introducing myself inquired If he had receNeo "
note from Mr.. Croker. lie said he had not that tno
only information he had Of It was what no had seen
in the newspapers.
81 produced IA copy Of the bill, and we went over
the provisions carefully together. l explained to MN
that In previous sessions we had failed 10 pass DIS
making direct cut In the rates the companies arsu
ing that rate of S75 or $50 would ruin dhem' ho'r
vlthstaudlng tho facts obtained from the inveeugat
ing committee of the Assembly known as the AIMS
worth Committee, showing enormous pr0nts Oh heaV
AS per cent in six years on their Investment OF
5000 900, according TO the sworn statement OF tne
officers Of the company. / told him Thai
the companies when before the legislative committees
repeatedly denied what they had sworn 10 before the
lnvestai committee, that We had based our argu
ments several on such sworn statement 10 no
effect aud had become convinced that We would not
be able to pass any bill making direct cut In rates
"We then discussed the Commission BILL which had
been sent TO him bv Mr.. Croker ] explained TO him
how this bill gave power to the highest officers in the
cities OF New.York and Brooklyn 30 fix the charges
After thoroughly investigating the cost OF the service
Mr. Martin said it the farest bill that lie nal ever
seen affecting telephone companies
"VThen, said l. we can depend upon you to intro
duco It,
But he said, Il haven't received the bill vet ron
Mr.. Crolpr II may be down at my place now
Il told him could furnish him II copy OF the bill
and would do so. Mr.. Martin said Il want to see
what kind Of Il letter comes with it, l want 70 SEQ
what Mr. Croker wants me to do with It. IL lbs letter
il specfc will know what 10 do, If 1t IS not speclhc,
| must 90 down to New-Yorl1 first
Il urged him to put the bill In at once, and said
that Mr. Croker had talked with Mr.. TacOu, the pres
dent Of the Subscribers Telephone Association, and
myself expressing his approval OF Il and promang to
hand Il to Senator Hagan and Afsemblyman Martin;
that Mr. Croker said the delay In introducing il would
not Interfere with It's passage, and had asked me to
have copies properly prepared for Introduction, to bring
them " Tammany Hall, aud, If he was not there, to
leave them with Mioael +. DAILY, to whom Mr. Croker
Introduced me- left copies at Tammany Hall the
next day addressed to Mr.. DAILY.
"Three days after saw Mr.. DAILY and learned the
bills had not been sent TO Albany. lie was awaiting
the return of Mr, Croker. who sick. but promised
10 take them Mr. Croker that night The next
day saw Mr.. DAILY. who said Mr.. Croker had again
examined the bill, that he approved II, and copies
had been mailed 10 Senator Iiagan and AssemblyInan
Martin. Now, said to Mr.. Martin. IL Mr. Croker
wac sincere In his promise 10 us. no meant that you
should introduce this bill and pass It as soon us
possible
Mr. Martin assured me that Mr. Croker was an
honest man and that'n he had made promise OF
that kind no would keep It. But said he . can
not afford TO mako any mistake In this matter. II
Introduce this bill and they don't want 1t introduced
thero Will be trouble. do not know what the party
policy Is In this matter, and must % down 10 New
York and 500 what they want me 10 do with It,
well, said l. Il suppose there must be
delay In getting this bin introduced. He explained
that that day being Thursday the blu would not be re-
rrre before Monday night and We would gain nothing
BY having II nroducod then; lie LurtHeF sag Wordar
night and Introduce Il at once. will report It out
Of the committee Thursday, move It out Of Its orde
tho week, and there isn't any power that can stop
He explained TO me that he WIS a nchine man.
that hs believed In line machine In politics, and he
followed It as far as his Conscience w'nld permit
The ' next ext heard rom I'm was the following TUESDAY
when lie telognphcd 70 me from Albany that me tll
Vns regarded IA etrike,' aud he had decided to de-
elmo 10 Introduce it
Tho directors Of the Telephone Subscribers Associa
ton held meeting yesterday the Of the Board
OF Trade " discuss What Action should DO taken at tho
hearings to be givon IN Albany on Wednesday Both
the Senate and Assembly committees will meet on
Wednesday Afternoon a. dtnervut h0prs 70 that te
people who are advocating rto commission bill can
appear at both meetings and present their arguments
The directors decided TO 90 b. Albany themselves, and
10 pet as many other subscribers 70 possible. The
committee Of twenty five from the board OF Trade VIII
also appear before The committees, and with them viii
he REPRESENTATIVES OF ~ Retail Coal Dealers TX
change the Kings County pharmaceutical Association,
the Italian Chamber d Commerce. the staaoners
Bn nd OF Trade the Mechanics and Traders Exchange
and probably the Cotton Exchange With all these
they hope To make such formidable showing that tho
Iedslatnre Will no, dare % refuse the demands foo
Just and reasonable Legislation.