The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-03-08

B,n Until Provision ~ Made for Pay
ment to New York and Brookiys.
ALBANY. March 7.-Gov. Flower sont an i'm
portant message to tho Legislature this even
ing on the sale OF public franchises. 1t wa
meant especially to give his views on tho Eas
River Bridge bill and its elevated railroad
trailers. The Governor says in his mes
sage what he said to tho BROOKLYN
delegation Friday. that he does not be-
licve in giving away public franchises
and that all franchises should pay rcgu!a,
revenue to tho municipal treasury. This is
understood to mean that he will not sign either
the East River Bridge bill or the elevated
road bill In their present shape. as not only
does neither bill provide for any payment to
either New York or brooklyn. but both the
fridge and tho elevated road structures arc
exempt from taxation.
THE MESSAGE.
There are bills now awaiting Executive oc-
ture. !anectnE public interests In the cities OF
stow STOW upon G certain eorporations unusual Drvi-
leges and valuable franchises without any
cali e e Hfss
turet these measures because In my judgment
the temper Of the public is not only ayerse to
manJs practical and Intelligent .comprehcn..
sion on the purt of the law-inaking power of
municipality which has, lucrative public fran
chiscs. to grant and the corporations which
s s @ 'hf hs epeas sss s iey YORK
and Brooklyn have passed beyond the expert
mental stage Of tne g0wh on asd I dsys
Viii continue to increase and their power
and Importance will become greater year
tho measure Of. their attraetiveness in tho
years to come dcnend largely upon the lar
sightednsss and wisdom Of the present gene
The need Of to day. is to build for the future.
uppernost in regard the pesrmansnt comfort
nnd rTosn,esrity OF tho people OF these great
The present condition of the cities of New
York and Brooklyn. rs ii Affects municipal fran
chisos. is somewhat critical Their ultimate
rossessors OF public privileges. such as the use
Of streets for railway purposes. having made
maining municipal franchises as yet unhe..
slowed possess great present va ue. or. II not
Offering hop, q being inmeda a., u lucrative
vail va!ue il the future Whit shall be the cities
Sde 1igard when seek
have no sympathy with that immoderate
concern for public interest which sees hogy
in every corporation enterprise Of public
donunciation Of men and motives with whichi!
and sih ysterieal press evidently Considers Il
duty to erect every eorpTrate attempt to obtain
! nrSe sa hs 'DGsen Shi9
praiseworthy. and its exercise has pre-
limited r. but in
excess. it has retarded public. improvements.
has placed the great metropolis OF the country
transit and other public services. and has re-
suited In riyetng only the more tightly the
D nd
1.-THE largest city OF our country.
think the people believe in the encourage
nf,f v,rI, fyr,n nvnro ont S I tnH thnv
%ndertaken at private expense and should Be
are aVerse 70 ho Of % es
snry or arbitrary restrictions which will ham,
ehey
T. be surrounded with reasonable safeguards
s%rste with the value q ths privileges STantea.
and 9 the Interest," Of HS anu far
sighted legislation: commend to the ntten-
nipal FRANCHISES. and respectfaly Suggest tIat
e ncW peSna IL the
an reached in good faith and with the solo de-
Careful Confederation. am sure, will suegest
will neither condemn municipality fol-. eX-
sssEs ts the Of its
position Of too severe restrictions.
Years ago BY the exposuTes q corruPton in
adne snrses on IN
New York, the Leeislatlrs passed what is
feature Of which. so far, as it relates to the
money value Of street railroad franchises was
h ss tho hs latter hs snSad b "a sold rheo
highest bidder is sound in principle and ought
ia Ss nsor s act has o.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT. It has favored existing tran;
nff rrs
force responsible and honest Companies to BUY ~
Int hssn by
from tho rise in real estate values which al
ways accompanies improved means Of inter
ture has actually retarded public o impr tsie
Values in New York and BrookiyPp OF
IT may 60 to the other and ega
snme time to ofrer ENCOURAGEMENT to private
whetlior wise solution q the problem Is not
table to be- found in careful scheme Of mu.
earnings rather than a'eu upon pon p as.aTa
estimated nm and uncertain yplu:s Of privileges
difficult matter to calculate public fran.
chise WHICH to-day may seem OF little or no
value. q Or g privilege which to-day men would
value Capital Is timid. and will POI. take
arse return save r T,h thS eSrGrfation oi
franchises to dispose Of. must. for its own Sn
welfare. encourage their disposal and should
not not befrudge rGaasonably large returns for
profits; when profits, accrue from privileges
which 1t has granted: Tho most sensible atti-
which Welcomes improvements BY Withhold.
insists that II e franchise granted shall prove
This is. a business proposition. which in its
general principle ought to satisfy both the
makes the interests OF both common.
The working out in detail OF such general
scheme Of municipal compensation must
Il! auth9rizing the bestowal Of various Kinds
public improvements would have been none
share at least. Of the. IMMENSE
proRfs pOyv aarpad NV alavofad roiIrn,5,