New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-01
BOODY AND THE FRANCHISES.
now DID THE MAYOR CARRY OUT HIS HIGH
SOUNDING GOOD INTENTIONs1

HOW DID THE MAYOR CARRY OUT HIS HIGH
SOUNDING GOOD INTENTIONS
Mayor Body has catalogued the giving out of
street-railway franchises in the last two years as
among the glories OF his administration. He re-
Gently said: When | assumed office | determined
that the revenue derived should be certain in
cr.as!ng and lasting 1t is worth while for the
citizens OF Brooklyn to examine and see how he
set about to carry ont that determine ton. At that
time there a law in force in this State which
applied to Brooklyn. known as the Cantor act.
which required that every street railroad franchise
should BE- sold TO the person who should bid the
highest proportion OF receipts for 1t. This was
good law. and would have insured certain. in
creasIng and lasting revenue to Brooklyn from
all new strcet-car lines. But II did not suit the
rcigning family in Willoughby-st.
On February H. 1891 when Mayor Body had been
in Office little a month. Senator McCarty
introduced a bill in the Legislature 70 repeal the
Cantor act so far as it applied to Brooklyn. and
10 allow franchises to BE- given away. This bill
created a good deal OF Indignation in Brooklyn. and
Mr. Body proposed as substitute that franchises
might be sold for lump sum. This however. did
not suit the Ring. and on March y Mayor Body
wrote to Senator Mccarty, saying that he was In
favor OF the bill proposed. and that simple re-
peal without Incorporation Of his proposed sub
stitnte was preferable to the continued application
Of the Cantor act to Brooklyn. So the bill was
passed. The Mayor and Aldermen were free TO
give away franchises. and the Mayor helped In CIV
ing them the freedom. r. at was strange way to
go about getting certain. increasing ana last
ing revenue from these franchises.
ANOTHER STEP Is THE STEAL.
Then came another step In the steal company
was formed by the Wiloughby-st. political club,
and appca ton was made for the franchise OF
t'nion-st. This company offered 10 compensation
Another company formed to test the question.
which offered 5000 for the franchise but the
Aldermen refused to listen to IT and gave the right
away 10 the Ring organization. This created
storm Of lndigna ton and the Mayor. after 1t had
been carefully ascertalned that II would be passed
over him. vetoed the resolution. Then the Alder
men passed II over the veto Mayor Body was, OF
course opposed TO this wicked act lie did not
want the franchise to be- given away, but never
theless he sent the Corporation Counsel into court
a few days later TO defend the steal Justice Gull
len however. declared the gift void. on the ground
that the Aldermen could not give away pubic
property when money was offered for II.
What. then dld the Ring do? They had pre-
vlously In anticipation OF defeat, formed another
company. and they asked to buy franchises for a
large number Of streets. on April 20 they held a
secret conference In the Mayors Office. excluding
the opposition company. and II was agreed that
they were give S9vo mile Tor the streets
night and the Mayor came down from his house
ana sat in The Council chamber. so as to sign me
bill AT once when tt should be passed ~ ,hmS
avoid danger from the courts. me OppoSlllofl;
however. obtained n1unctlon "nicn WIS server
on the Aldermen they sat with the Mayor III
their chamber.
EFFORTS or THE OPPOSITION COMPANY
Then they had to give a public hearing and receive
bids The Ring company bid 5000 "A mile ana the
MAYOR announced mat trat was the bd before
him lie had. already. when the repeal OF the can
tor act was under consideration. declared that
gross sum was the best compensation for the iran
chs,s So in accordance with these declarations
that this was the wav IN" bldg should be- put H.
tho imposition company offered N2.c" and se.W q
nile Al the same time this company sail thst u
any other system Of bids wer. 10 b" ddoptep II
wished 10 b. Informed. 50 that II might Dld uhher
the revised plan. =, til, ,.,,,o.
rh. lids were referred 10 the Railroad committee
NJ Inc common council which secretly adopt'i Il
ner ulen received ld from IN" poltcaI .coiu-
many on "A percentage basis per cent UP 20 s-",'p
:, mIlr OF earnings and an increasing percentage
shove ina, This bid was epted, without 5lVlns
the other company n chance To make d perc"htSr
ofr.r and rushed through the common Coutvll,
TN. oppostlon company lhii the Iacts p.lprr t,.
Mayor and offered 10 pay hlgh'r per ~.
he could not be Induced 10 veto the biil: ~ was
nnenlv said at the time that h" would no, hat' 10
vs,o il because enough Aldermen could nor DE-
secured % override his veto.
Sow Mayor Body claims credit Tor revenuyY
linton T.. less than what another company woulI
,be Cantor act which he had had r'peale, hiu
fnr n revenue forced upon him by me courts Will viii
n" was doing his bost TO let the franches DE sNsi
~, lie has indeed worked hard TO secure 10
No ciiv certain. liner Easing ana lasting teNe""
TN, Inc sale OF eet-railway franchises.