New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-02-01
Mr.. FARQUHAR'S SCHEME.
A NEW RAPID TRANSIT ACT INTRODUCED
AT ALBANY.
IT PROVIDES FOR NEW BOARD OF CoMMIS s.
soNEIs TO BE APPOINTED BY MAYOR
GILRoY-GREAT POWERS PLACED

y
soSEHs TO BE APPOINTED BY MAYOR
GILRoY-GEEAT POWERS PLACED
IN T,MM>NY'S HANDS.
fyRoN rHE REoULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE IRbuSA
Albany, Jan. 3I.-percival Farquhar, one OF the
Tsmmany Hall Assembymcn, arrived here from New
York this morning. bringing with him new Kappa
Transit act 1t abollsles the present Rapid Transit
Commission and substitutes for II new Boaru OF
Rapid Transit Commissioners of five members TO be
appointed by Mayor Gilroy. Apparently Mayor Giroy
can appoint five sachems OF Tammany Hail. II he de-
sires 10 do so, as members OF this powerful board
Mr. Farquhar's act seems TO have been drawn With
two-foM AIM One object Is to authorize the present
elevated railroad companies to build spurs from thcr
present lines on Third and Sixth aves, eastward ana
westward to the ferries nearest those lines. These
"spur' railroads doubt intended TO serve as
feeders TO the main lines. second aim OF the Dill
Is 10 authorize the granting of franchise to some
corporation build a rapidtranst railroad In New
York unrestricted to the amount Of bonds or stock
1t shall issue to confdlng financial public
The bill says that In cities having over 10000
population meaning New York, the Mayor OF such
city may at any time after the passage Of this act
appoint five persons shall be residents OF such
city, who shall be Commissioners OF Rapid Transit
under the provisions OF this act Tint those "ho
drew up the act had some thought OF political advan
tage is evident from the fact that clause Is stricken
out of the Rapid Tmnst act which In effect declared
that whenever there should be n vacancy In the
Rapfd Transit Commission 1t should be fillod by the
Mayor With some citizen "whO shall belong to the
same political party as did the Commissioner whom
such appointce succeeds" Even II Mayor Gilroy
should appoint Republican Commissioners. therefore,
some succeeding Mmmanv llal Mayor could I'LL their
places In OF their rcslSning or dying with TAM
many Hall Democrats.
But perhaps the most Interesting phrase In the act
Is that which authorizes the extension Of the elevated
railroads to the ferries. The bill says:
Nothing in this act shall authorize the construction OF
an elevated railway in the City Of NewYork south OF
hundred twcnty-sxthst and north OF Bowling
Green except in exterior streets in the portions OF
streets occupied elevated railways. and except IN
poons OF said city cast OF the present socalled Third
Avenue Railway and west Of the present So
called Sixth line for running east and west
respectively existing ferries.
Another Interesting feature OF the act Is its pro-
vision for theyeversOn OF the rapid transit ROAD Duilt
BIZ the corporation which obtains the franchise to
build 1t to the p, session OF the city The act says:
Tho terms Of sale also specify the maximum
rates OF fares and freight which corporation
charge collect for the carriage OF persons ana prop
ery AL sales such rights. privileges and franchises
shall be made definite term OF years not exceeding
$50 years and the Board Rapid Transit Commissioners
may practicable In the terms OF sale, provide that
at the end OF the railway and franchises shall
revert to the Mayor. Aldermen and Commonaty OF The
city Of New.Ycrx revert subject "a any mortgage
other lien upor the property. of such corporation
Mr.. rarquhar in his act has taken pains to sweep
away certain restrictions upon the sale Of the STOCKS
and bonds Of the proposed rapid transit road although
he provides that "neithcr stocks nor bonds shall
be issued except for returnablc consideration in money
labor or property In order, apparently, that the
labor done by the present Board OF Rapid Transit
shall not be lost the following new
section Is added to the RAPID Transit act:
Section s7-in any Board of Rapid Transit Rail
rosd Commissioners constituted under tns oct shall ADOPT
tho route and ecnor9 pau Of construction de-
lssmned By any board previously constituted under tho
provisions OF Chapter Of Laws Of 1891, II shall not
necessary the application for consents Oh the
Common Council Of the property owners appointment
n commissioners the General Term Of the Supreme
Court or confirmation by said provided In Sec
asa hereof but said route routes and general plan
u construction adopted by said board constituted under
he Act shall be deemed eheady consented to Dy the
Common Council and by the court and the sad
board shall purpose be deemed the successor Of the
aid previous board. as II said law were not repeated
There is also another section, No. 80. II says:
Section ss-Any corporation formed under this act
shAIi he exempt from until year from the
commencement of the operation of its railways or pOr
ton thereof.
After sending his bill to the desk. Mr.. Farquhar
spoke In part follows:
Mr. Speaker This bill based upon the bill Of 1891
have taken tina, bill and made the changes In the
marginal notes and In addition that 1t VIII be perfectly
car examining it just what those changes are
IL provides for appointment the Mayor OF new Rapid
Transit Commis The for this change Is per
fecty evident any who has read the comments OF
the papers upon the makeup Of the present Rapid Transit
Commission. The why the plan sdopted by the
rand Transit Commissioners put through. the
why capitalists de lined to into IT, was on account
a certain restrictions ss 70 ksuing SOCK ana
doing WORK. This bill removes those restrictions IL
recognizes the present need OF rapid transit and gives
absolute freedom TO any company that takes franchise
60 build . to issue amount OF stocks and bonds
10 may require. giving however. the city guarantee
that will BE- built Tho people OF lie city OF New
York particularly above Fifty nnthst, are 30 much dis
hsarened a. 10 the possibility Of getting rapid transit and
thew are 20 anxious improvement in their SER
vice that they lie willing TO allow the elevated ROADS
% be built up the boulevard the west Emu
we and Riverside Drive, or anywhere. II is
perfectly evident any one who thinks
.bout the matter that even II any more
slsypted railways built in the city Of New-York 1t
would merely result in giving the people more seats IL
rould not result in giving them quicker eervice This
NH viii permit third track streets where railroads
IL will permit the elevated roads TO be extended
nom their present tcmin TO the northern limits OF the
,isy 1t will permit spurs TO be built to the ferfies but
n viii, not permit u railway the Boulevard railway
10 Sevcnthave or railroad on any u our sfce'' "a'
re not marred by them
II we do rapid transit now through sorne sucn
,iu a. this II will be put of for long term OF years.
mi. bill permits the Commission adopt the plans OF the
Commission Of 1901 This will from three to six
months in time and under this bill actual rapid transit
would not be much further away
Assembyman Fish here asked Mr.. Farquhar this
question
al would like to ask the gentleman IL there Is any
ntimat1on or prohibition In this bill as to the reap
sentiment Of the present Rapid Transit Commits
a~nersf"
mo there IL not the answer.
az DO not wish 20 sandbsg Manhattan stock any |
urther to-dayn replied Mr.. Fish. $50 will ask no
urther questions"
Mr.. Maiby, the Republican leader, added the follow
M "a the remarks that were made on the till
In "a far as the bill provides that the present Com
p,sioners ore TO lie deposcd from Office and others
uuoiuysd I most heartily agree with It, That is ono
4 the tnas necessary do to secure rapid transit for
IA n<>v Of Now.York and ! am thoroughly convinced
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