New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-03-08
MUST PAY FOR FRANCHISES.
THE BRIDGE AND RAILWAY BILLS AND
HUCKLEBEJRRYo BILL NAY BE VETOED.
GOVERNOR FLOWER SENDS SPECIAL MESSAGE
TO THE LEGISLATURE, OUTLINING 4 GEN
ERAL PLAN FOR COMPENSATION TO
CITIES FOR SUCH PRIVILEGES.


ERAL PLAN FOR COMPENSATION TO
CITIES FOR SUCH PRIVILEGES.
vBY TELEGRAPH TKIBCSE.i
Albany, March 7.--Ciovernor Flower gave notice
tonight to Edward Murphy, jr., chairman Of the
, Democratic State Committee, in special message
addressed to the Legislature, that he could not
sign Mr. Murphys bill giving the latter the enor-
mousy valuable franchises of the street
railways in the Annexed District Of New-York
Mr. Flower also, in the same message said the same
thing to Boss Mclaughlin, of Brooklyn, con-
cerning his bills providing for the erection Of tive
big bridges the East River and the con-
struction in connection with them, of an elevated
railroad three miles in length in New-lOrk. Mr..
Flower says that he will not sign these bills UNI
less they are amended as to give some compen-
sation 10 the city OF New-York for the valuable
franchises conferred. The bridge and elevated
railroad bills, as is well known, are now In the
Governors hands Tomorrow they will either
be recalled for amendment as Mr.. Flower desires.
or Mr.. Flower will veto them. The Governors
ultimatum is, Accept amendments which will give
New-York and Brooklyn something for this bridge
and elevated road franchise, if 1t proves valuable.
or will veto the bills
II is said that Governor Flower and Edward
Lauterbach the counsel of the bridge company
There is little doubt, therefore, that Assembly,
man sullivan who introduced the bridge bill and
the supplemental elevated railroad bill, will intro
duce a resolution IN the Assembly tomorrow. re-
calling tie bills for amendment. The substance
of the amendments will be the payment of money
to New-York and Brooklyn for the franchises on
an advancing scale-that is, the more the bridge
and elevated railroad company receive, the larger
is 10 be the payment to the city for the franchise.
One of the interesting features OF the conf1ict
over the bill, it is said, was the political pres
sure put upon the Railroad Commissioners Cover
nor Flower referred the bridge and elevated rail-
road bills to the Commissioners, and asked
their oninion OF them The Commissioners
replied that the elevated railroad certainly ought ID
be compelled to pay something to New-York for
its franchise Then political pressure was put
upon the Board of Railroad Commissioners, and III
is reported that two of it's members, Rckard and
Beardsley, modified their report TO Governor
Flower. expressing the final opinion that the ele.
waited railroad bill was all right as it was. But
Commissioner Baker is reported TO have stuck TO
his opinion that the elevated railroad company
should compensate the city OF New-lork for us
franchise, and be subject 70 taxation.
Senator OConnor, in view Of Governor Flowers
quiet intimati0n in his message that he would
not sign the Huckleberry" railroad bill-that
is. the Annexed District Street Railroad bill Of
Edward Murphy, jr.. the chairman of the Demo-
cratic State Committec-thought he would solicit
information concerning that bill from the city
authorities of New-Yorl<. Accordingly, Mr. O'Con-
nor presented the following resolution to the
Senate:
Whereas, The daily newspapers Of the city Of New
York. almost without exception have repeatedly chargea
Assembly bill commonly called the "Hucke-
berry Railroad bi the Senate for consider.
Ia Wit thont preeed
siye citizens Of the Annexed District and that is
proposes confer gra;uity individuals in whose
said bill is sought to be passed privileges and
franchises Of great value in conformation OF existing
laws therefore,
Resolved and Controller OF the city Of
the Commissioners Of Public Works for the
Twenty-thrd and Twentyfourth Wards OF said city be-
they hereby seyeraly respectfully requested "
forthwith In writing 10 the Senate WHETHER
In their opinion. the said bill Is In any respect cetr'
mental to rights interests of the said city or TO
the taxpayers Of said Twentyhird and Twenty fourth
ward. and whether the same ought to become a law.
Senator Cantor, who was in the chair, had no
sooner heard this resolution read than he said:
The Chair objects TO the introduction OF the
resolution"
This objection ruled out the resolution. But
how bad d bill must be when Tammany Hall
Senator objects even TO information aDont IL
being solicited from the city authorities of New
York Here is measure which confesSedly de-
prives New-lork of royal income from an cnor-
morsly valuable street railway franchise; yet
Senator Cantor would prevent the city authorities
of New-Yerk from expressing their opinion of 1t.
How does Senator Cantor reconcile his duty 10
his New-Yorli constituents with this attempt OK
his TO suppress necdful Information asou. sucn
an important measure?
Governor Flowers message was read in both
branches of the Legislature, and was listened TO
b, hnf craf
lie calls their attention in this message 10 the
fact that there are bills pending before the Legs
latnrc which confer enormously valuable fran
chis,s ON certain corporations, without any COM
uensurate conversation" Then Mr.. Flower turns
upon "ribald press, and slaps his breast, and
solemnly declares that he is not scared by any,
thing they have said about those measures. lie
declares, with brave air: Il have no SYM
pathy with that immodefate concern for public
interests which sees bogy in every corporate
enterprise OF public character. Nor do l ap'
prove that Wholesale denuncation OF men and
motives with which well meaning but some
what short-sighted and hystercal press evidently
considers it a duty to greet every corporate at
tempt 10 obtain municipal privileges. Yet MI.
Flower agrees with hysterical press" that the
Bridge bill and the Hucklebcrry' Railroad bill
need amendment.
Mr.. Flowers interesting message will be found
given in full below
ia tho Legslaturo There bills awaiting Ex-
,, action and others still pending in the Legislature.
rcctns nubic interests in the cities OF NewYork and
rookyn which said " bestow upon certain corpora
lion. unusu, privileges and valuable franchises without any
.nsu,ats CONDENSATION TO those municipalities. cali
,hs attention Of the Legislature 10 these measures. be-
,usc in nv Judgment the public is not only avcr-e To
LEGISLATION for favored individuals, but demands practical
and Intelligent comprehension the part OF the lawmak.
, 80. M tho relation that should exist between the
municipality which has lucrative public franchises TO
grant and the corporations which seek them for the emou'
ments they are expected To yield The great cities OF
yewyorx and Brooklyn have passed beyond the expert
ro,,,l stage of their growth and development. ThelP