New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-03-27
THE ELM STREET IMPROVEMENT ACT.
A FORMIDABLE BLACKMAILING WEAPON IN TIE
HANDS OF UNsCRUPULoUS CAM
pAIGN MANAGERS

A FORMIDABLE BLACKMAILING WEAPON IN THE
HANDS OF UN sCRUPULoUs CAM
pAIGN MANAGERS.
Albany March 90 specaD. THE Elm Street I'M
provement act, as revised by James A. Deering for
Mayor GllrOy and presented to the Assembly by
Mr.. Webster. Is inst objectionable to the property
owners In New-iOrk as It's predecessors. IL las Ia"
three or four predecessors the present year.
The bill Is misnamed the Elm Street Improvement
act" for It authorizes the city authorities OF New
York seize property and widen any street In
New-YOrk. Indeed the words Elm Street. are not
used In this act This being the case. the measure
must be considered the most important one now
before the Legislature. Are the people OF Newlork
willing that the rulers Of Tammany Hall, the present
rulers OF the city, shall have the legal u'bority to
seize property in any street in New-York under a
prctence OF widening II to seize property In the
ncighborhood OF any park under prctence OF en-
larging 1t
1t Is true that the city promises to pay for the
land, but enormous damage could be inflicted upon
manufacturing business, for Instance. 1t were conf
PEELED to remove it, heavy machinery to some other
building In consequence Of the widening OF street
or avenue the enlargement Of park. The present
rulers OF Tammany Hall not at all scrupulous
about Matchmaking rcaestate owners now for cam
paIgn purposes; but this socaled Elm Street III
provement act7 would be cOercve law which they
would WELD with tremendous effect than any
ether like that they have heretofore OD'ahen
Mr.. behring's bill printed only last night by
the State Printer. Property owners Will be DESTROYS
Of knowing what powers 1t confers upon the Board
of Street Opening. Below are the chief ones:
Should the said board at any time. by thrcefouths
vote OF all the members thereof deem IL for the public
Interest that the the lands and premises required
for any street avenue. road public park SQUARE or place
heretofore hereafter lli widcned altered eNoehuei
or otherwise improved should be acquired by the Mayor
Aldermen and commonalty of the city OF New-fork at
fixed specified time the said board may direct where
no building. are upon such lands that upon the date OF
the filing Of the oath Commissioners of Estimate and
Assessment as hercnbcfore provided and whore there are
buildings upon such lands that upon day not less IMAM
six months from the filing Of such OATH the
title 70 any piece or parcel land lying within the lines
Of any road. public square, park or
plncc vested In the Mayor Aldermen ana COM
noncity OF the city OF NewYor AMI thereafter when the
said shall have taken ana nea soia oa'h
the Mayor Aldermen and commonaty OF the city OF New
York shall upon the OF such Ming where no buildings
ara upon such lands where there buildings upon
such lands upon the date specified by said board "a
aforesaid and bc seized In fee or the sai ahds
enemen.s and hercditalcns in the said resolution mea-
toned that shall be required Tor the purpose
of opcnlng widening altering extending or otherwise I'M
proving the said street road public square PARK
or placc or part OF or street. public
pork square place. the may DC the same to Do
rppaed converted and used u and FOR sch purpose
Accordingly thcreupon the sail Mayor Ala 'rmen ana
comuonalty OF the city OF NewYork or any person or
persons acting under their authority under the direction
OF the Commissioner OF Public Works, may Immediately
or NJ any time thereafter take possession OF the
same or any part parts thereof without any SUIT OF
proceeding at for the purpose In trust neverthe'
less that be appropriated and Kept open Tor ana
as part OF public street square park or place
,orcver I'm like manner as the other public streets
nues squares and places said city are and OF right
ought to be.