New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-09-30
NOW IT'S THE TROLLEY STEAL
ALDERMEN DISGRACE THEMSELVES.
GRANTING rERSICIoUs STREET RAILROAD PRlVI-
LEGEs WITH FREE HAND.


The Board OF Aldermen held yesterday one OF the
longest sessions In its history ana which VIII DC
regarded as the most disgraccfil since August oO'
1884 when the Broadway steal was consummhteu
Yesterdays proceedings will probably be Known 't' INC
Trolley steal. None but Tammany Hall Aldermen
voted for the nine resolutions which were passed giant
ing extraordinary railway privileges TO the Motro
polltan traction syndicate. In doing 50 the ooard
refused 10 prohibit the use OF the trolley system In
any OF the franchises granted lii each separate case
an amendment offered expressly prohmtihs INC
COM pany from usns the dangerous overhead wires Oh
this system, but every time the amendment WIS u'-
feated. That the were passed by the drec'
orders OF the governors Of the Tammany Hail or
ganizatIon 1t would be silly TO dispute. William g.
Whitney and John ID. Crmmns the representatives
OF the great traction syndicate, asked the right 10
introduce and operate the destructive trolley III Ne"
York City, and the masters Of Tammany acceded 10 te
request. The Alicrncn who voted for the Metro
poIltan Company's franchises we're mere clay In the
hands ~ their owners During the session free
rnchs was served In the anteroom and sometimes
II was difficult to get the members away from Tie
beer and sandwiches long enough to record ter votes
President Arnold called the meeting to order at
D. H. 1t was an adjourned session. called ostenSbiy
TO put through general orders for street improve
ments Nobody outside the cOterie In the confidence
OF Mr. whitney that it the intention to pass
the railroad grants. The Railroad Committee had pre-
viously met in room -, and against the protest OF
their chairman, Rollin NJ. Morgan, representing the
XXIs District his colleagues, Aldermen Noonan Hart
Harris Murphy and Wund. decided TO report at once
In favor OF the various petitions, the hearing having
been closed finally Wednesday Mr.. Morgan Is Il
Tammany Democrat. but he is a young lawyer of char
scter and superior intelligence He showed his dis
gust with the action OF his committee by leaving the
committee and refusing his signature to the re-
ports He opposed and voted against the resolutions as
they came up for adoption. Twenty members were pres
| III Mnrrig
Charles Smith, Tat and Van Colt In justice to the
Republican absenees Messrs. Morris and Van Cott 1t
should be- said that they remained In the hope OF
preventing n quorum. The other R"p'bllcanS Messrs.
Cowie and School, in their places and faithfully
| stood by their constituents, voting against all the
| grants.
petition against the use of Lexington ave. for rail-
road purposes read and Immediately following II
came the first report from the Committee Railroads.
II was signed by the members OF the committee lust
named. This report recommended that the Chambers
and Grandst. Ferry Railroad Company BE- allowed To
unite It's tracks through Pitt and Delaney sts. The
trolley system was not mentioned In the application.
| The connections proposed extended less than half
mile. Alderman Morgan offered an amendment. how
ever adding the words TO operate the road BY ami
NAL horse power. by cable, electricity or any
power other than locomotive steam power the follow
| Ing And this consent Is granted with the under
standing that It shall not be construed TO permit the
| head wires.7
Alderman O'Beirne opposed the report also and
proposed sending 1t to the Cooperation Counsel for
advice as b the powers OF the Board. His res luton
| defeated by vote Of IL Ia :.
| President Arnold. Aldermen Clancy Covic Morgan,
OBerne School and &. J. Smith voted for O'Bcirnes
| notion vicc-presidc mt Noonan and Aldermen Brown.
noolng. Flynn. Harris. Hart Martin, Mead Murphy,
Roche Rogers Ryder and Mead voted agarst IT,
| Senator c. W. Pmnktt Tammany leader Of tie
| s IIlta District active In tho lobby during
| tho voting, and its result plainly grathed HIM. In
| all subsequent votes c. j. Smith stood with the
| "TroleyitcS.'
| The committees report adopted by vote nj
| Is tO B. President Arnold aud Alderman Clancy
had gone over 10 the thirteen who had voted against
| the motion to refer so the Corporation counsel. At
this point Mr. O'Bcirne became excited. ana vclousy
| attacked Mr.. Morgan. You only complicat" mat
tors said shaking his fist at the latter President
| Arnold said soothney: Il think there IS sufficient
| protection against the trolley system in the per
| mission as granted But OBcnc would not be
| soothcd 81 am astoni-hcd,7 he said, that Demo
cratic body as this board supposed 10 be- should
vote away almost every street and In the city
| Of New York jus to 0blige a railroad corporation. |
warn you that some OF those present VIII i've
| to regret this action as much some OF the Alder
men W " attended that meeting August 80. 1884,
why this unsccmly haste today asked the
| Alderman from the lid. "WoId not tomorrow d
| Just as we'll. Tuesday We should not blindly
set ont Ia vote away such valuable franchises III Is
very suspicious to say the least and | repeat that
the streets should not be banded over 10 rich and
| powerful corporation without recOmpense."
| Report No. > from the Railroad Committee ADVISED
that permission be given TO the syndicate to extend
| It's line Of lease road from Ninthavc, and SAty-
| furth-st through Coumbus-ave. Ia onc-hundred and
| tenth-st and Though one hundr and SiXth-,t TO
| Amstcrdam-ayc. The routc In Columbn'-a'e. 1, en-
| tirey under the elevated road and was especially
| alluded TO yesterday by John D. Crimmins rs to be
part Of his trolley read between the Battery and lar
| lem The company asked the right to erect power
houses along the route. and promised To deposit
$500 900 In the city treasury a. guarantee tha inc
work shall be performed the satisfaction of the Com
| wIseionc, of IYbic Works This report n were ALL
was signed 10y the five Aldermen OF the committee al
| Alderman Morgan offered amendment like the one
he had offered to the tT, report p@ohlhng 'he u,'
There f. no conccalmcnt about this in Iuitous
system I have been falsely charged with attempting
10 block the passage OF eener1l ordrr' IL WIS 'n'
high hanaed schews was anSoNI us to 1or %pp2e
ON Alderman fKnns moon W. VT Mdr adnt"d ''I5 prns a
ann, dent Arnold IBIS time voted NO"
The application for road through Lexington rh' ave-
fourth. .t ferry Grand central station and Morning
ide Park ono hundred and - siXeenlh-,t,; wen, ven,
school CRcpaicans) and Morgan and oBeiine Tam
MANY gave the dI.seniIns bg,n yotr r mmu. for the
company. hal expressly stipulated lha ahe r ro%S ,GS
| ,honld not be used IN operating thlN ran put ,no
usual amendment prohibiting II was defeated DIV MI
Crimmins's AldermeS. - A., ,.
| President Arnold left the chair when the WORK
| was half done and Vice President Noonaa made uSe
~ ALI his energies 10 railroad the frauces as hls
| smrrrI0rs desired. The amendments excluding the
| trpllcv from The streets rapidly disposed Of
| under his ruling Mr.. OBeirne became restless IN
| view of his undisgused methods and cried OUT
You Will be laid upon the table. TOO predl,ct,
You viii be laid out first" retorted big " so)fr
| FLYNN who seemed to imagine that the whole JoD
| rss on his shoulders Tits between Flynn Noonan
| and O'Rerre frequent and sometimes amusing
| fr1,o II
! ing links undcr the elevated road In Flrythifd ST.,
Third ST. between sixttavc. and South Fifthav, ana
| from Br0omc st. south 10 Conalst. were all adopted
| Thcs. were the franchises granted, in detail FROM
| Twcnty third st. ard Broadway along Twentyt-hrh-
| 4 10 Lexington ave: mp LcXington1ve 70 Iwcny-
| seventh-gt 10 connect with line from Iilrty-hih-
st. 10 Twenty yseventh-st: on Lexlngtonave IN oraer