New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-27
WHO'S BEHIND THIS SCHEMEi
BILL FOR A RAILWAY IN FIFIH-AvE
REMARKABLE PROPOSAL OF A GENTLEMAN FROM
ULSTER CoUNTY-THE LONG ISLAND

q
ULSTER COUNTY-THE LONG ISLAND
CITY SCHOOL BILL
yRoM REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE 1R1BrsEl
Albany Feb. 2e.-Mr Rice. who lives in faraway
Ulster County, presented a bill to the Assembly today
authorizing the construction OF underground, a
face, and an elevated railway In Fthave. New
York. from Forty -secondst. southwark 80 Washing
ton Square. Doubtless Mr. Rice would be willing b
have his bill amended to permit the closing-up
of fhe small gap az Washington Square between the
elevated railroad companys line In South Fhth-ave
and the new line which he proposes. There Is II
space Of oaly about blocks to fill at the
Square and then he elevated railroad company would
have clear track up Church-st. South Fiithnve and
Fifth ave to Forty secondst and thence 10 the Grand
Central Station. OF course, II such elevated road
Is built across Washing Square, the magnificent
Washington Memorial Arch must be torn down. Then
also an elevated railroad structure In front OF the
Fifth Avenue Hoel, at Twenty ST.. Flftave. and
Broadway would not beautfy the landscape.
But then this is of progress ana
improvements In New-York, under the beneh
cent leadership of Richard Croker, Hugh
Mclaughlin Of Brooklyn and Edward Murphy, lr
of Troy Have not their servants In the Legislature
lust done all In their power TO provide Ncw-fork VIII
three miles Of elevated RAILWAY structure IN the
soutbern part OF New York; under pretence OF giving
the proposed Brooklyn bridges some approaches !!
Does not Mr.. Murphy himself consent TO take the
street railways OF tlc AlDeAcu DstilVt "'i"N' 49,
personal care provided the Legislature controlled by
him relieves him of any obligations to pay for the
enormously valuable franchise! Mr.. Rice, therefore,
cannot be considered presumptuous although he Is not
an Assembly man from New-YOrk in introducing biu
AUTHORIZING some unknown capitalists to build an
elevated railway in Of the handsomest parts OF
New-York
where did you get that bllli" said the Hon.
"Tm" sullivan the distinguished representative OF the
Five Points Of NewYor to Mr.. Rice rs that gentleman
presented the Fifth Avenue bill to the Assembly.
al got it," replied Mr. Rice, with an air Of imrhrt
ing important information, from men who mean
business" The phrase "men who mean business
greatly amused the Democratic members of the AS
sembly, aud they roared with laughter. All OF them
have been conscious the last week that they were
being forced by eminent Democratic politicians, men
who mean business to pass good many bills which
if they become laws will put enormous sums OF money
into the pockets of those eminent politicians
Men have not forgotten that amazing
scene on Wednesday last, when Edward
Murphy jr, stood in the room of the Speaker directly
Off the Assembly Chamber, and engineered the favor
able action of the Democratic Assembly upon the bill
freeing the street railways of the Annexed Dsrc' @"
New -York-rnlways lin which Mr. Murphy has n large
pecunary Intersection any obligation to pay IN" CITY
of New-York anything for their franchises or any OF
the ordinary taxes imposed street railways for pay
Ing the streets through which they pass.
Rice's bnll Is it possible that Mr.. Croker and Mr.
Murphy are dabbng In this scheme alsOl Mr.. Croker
saws that he in favor Of the Annexed District Railway
bill of his friend Murphy Is he also in favor OF
this bill of Rice's put elevated railway in fhth
ave?
Mr. Rices bill is an amendment Of Chapter 3'l OF
the laws OF 1875 which prohibits the construction Of
any kind of a railway in Ffthave., underground sur
face or elevated The phraseology Of the bill indicates
that possibly all three kinds OF railroad are Intended
The bill Is given below:
Section l. Section OF Chapter 81 = 1885 entitled.
"An act relating the Fth-ave. in thc city Of New
York" is hereby amended ~ as read a. follows:
A.. Except for the necessary crossings q rail
roads laid be laid upon the FfthaNe al the hu r
.ccon o-or streets. fallrOld shall be ihd upon
above or along any part Of Fthave In the city OF New
York except upon. above along uat portion Of Fifth
ave- lying southerly and below Forysecond-s end upon
above and aong portion only upon the consent@ IN
writing acknowledged proven In such forms A. entie
deed, Of real be recorded Of the owners OF onhf
in value OF the property bounded and the consent o's
o, the municipal authorities having control OF uat or
ton Fh-sve upon which 1t may be proposed 70 Con-
struct and operate such railroad be first oboined"
2 THIS shall take effect Immediately
Mr.. Bush the Democratic leader in the Assembly
this morning attempted 10 defeat Mr.. Weeks's bhi ap
propriaiing $4,000 for more schools for Long
island City, unless Mayor Gleason should be deprived
Of pend hs pr Of this Mr hush
amendment transferring the supervision OF the eXPcndi
lure of the money 10 other Democratic officials
in Long Island city. The Assembly recognized That
the amendment attack upon Mayor Gleason,
but refused 10 join in IL, rejected the amendment
and passed the bill
Among the bills reported IN the Assembly today
Mr.. Conney's approprauns 5000 Tor the
Museum Of Natural History, New York, providing tha
il keeps open free Of charge Sunday afternoons ana
two evenings: and MIR. Websters, alolishing the 0re
of Aqueduct Commissioners in New-fork City, ana
transferring their powers to the Commissioner of PHb
lie Works. .
that New York Aldermen shall be elected for two
years.