New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-04-11
AFFAIRS IN BROOKLYN.
ALDERMEN QUARREL OVER FRANCHISES.

ALDERMEN QUARREL OVER FRANCHISES.
CASH OFFERS FOR RAILWAY PRIVILEGES DIS
REGARDED-AN EXCITING MEETING.
The Brooklyn Board OF Aldermen held an excited
meeting yesterday afternoon There stormy
debate over resolutions granting franchises to tIe
surface railroad companies recently organized by
p. II. Flynn and In which number OF Democratic
politicians arc Interested and they were finally put
through by a majority vote Of the Railroad Committee
and OF the board. The original application oil the
Kings County Electric Railway Company. OF which
Flynn is president made several weeks ago. ana
covered "A large number OF uptown streets Ihe
company has already secured valuable franchises IN
Flatbush and Flatlands. but has not built a mile OF
road As many Of the streets asked for were partially
occupied by the Brooklyn City Company or are con
uguous to its lines. that company put In an april
cation for the streets and others and offered 10
pay $3.50 900 to the city franchises. covering
forty miles OF streets. Later This ofer was
divided. and the Brooklyn City Company offered $50
900 for the streets covered by the application OF
Hymns company and 100000 for the others.
A fortnight ago company was organized
under Tie OF the Nassau Electric Railroad Com
pany. ostensibly because the Kings County Company
had only a small capital. and new application was
put in covering most OF the same streets as In the
former one and Flynn was made
president Of this company. and some OF the leading
men I'm the Brooklyn City Company interested In
1t. together with the politicians who were In the
Kings County Company The Brooklyn City Com
pany withdrew its application covering the same
streets the Nassau Company's application, but 1t
was not announced until the meeting yesterday
afternoon.
At noon yesterday a majority Of the members OF
the Railroad Committee. consisting OF Aldermen
McGrath McCiarry and Jordan held secret meeting
and voted grant the franchise asked for by the
Nassau Company. The other two members Of the
committee. Aldermen Thomas Rep) and Wafer
Dem.). received notice OF the meeting yesterday,
when the three "Ring" Democrats took their action
When the Board OF Aldermen met later In the day
Alderman McGrath presented the report OF the Rail
road Committee granting the franchise asked Tor by
The Nassau Company. Aldermen Thomas and Wafer
protested against the reception Of the report saying
that they had not been Informed Of meeting OF the
committee. and that fake' meeting must have
been held. Alderman Pickering opposed The adoption
Of the report and said that throwiL; away
@25O,OOO TO grant a franchise TO the NasSa~ Com
pany as the Brooklyn City Company had offered that
sum for the franchise. lie did not propose TO be
party TO any suit this waste Of public
money.
Alderman McCrath replied that the Brooklyn City
Company had withdrawn It's offer.
Alderman Wafer denounced the granting OF the
franchise the most outrageous legislation ever at
tempted I'm the city, There had been an unholy al
lance Of the interested companies and 1t was pro-
posed TO make the city a party to the deal.
melton to rec"mmit the report was voted down
BY 1o TO g. and then the rule Of the previous
question the resolution granting the franchise was
adopted by a vote OF 10 TO 5. Those voting In the
negative were Aldermen Heaney, Wafer, Meyers
Pickering and Thomas
A resolution then introduced by the Railroad
Committee granting the application OF the Kings
County Company for franchise covering Rockaway
ave-, Broadway and COOperave., and this was oh
jectcd to In the same way.
An exciting occurred when Alderman Black
moved the previous question to cut of debate. Alder
Heaney, Pickering and Wafer were all trying TO
speak at once. and President Coiey used his cavcl
In vain TO preserve order. Alderman licancy shouted
4" Is member to be allowed to say anything IN
this natter"
sit down. Numbered C0ffev.
:" won't sit down." shouted IIeancy. al defy the
chairman TO compel 10 sit down. l know my
tights I'm this body"
C1ney pounded the desk and cried. "St down
Sit down !" while the members wranged and shouted
Finally Alderman Wafer said p Let them put
through their outrageous legislation. They have the
thirteen vOtes' and the resolution adopted by
that vote
The request OF the brooklyn City Railroad Com.
pany for franchise covering streets MT included
In the Nassau CcmpanyS Application was amended
10y The Withdrawal of streets where tho opposition
instances. In Putnam and Greene aves. going 50
far as to secure the passage OF bills excmpting the
streets from railroads and the offer OF 800 900
reduced 10 $50 600 In this form a resolution grant
ing the franchise asked for was adopted by the
cote Of 10 to 5.