The evening world., 1894-05-02
The new YORK BILLS.
Subject of a Hearing To-Day Be-
fore Gov. Flower.
A Strong Delegation Represents the
Anti Tammany Interests.
-=-
Assistant Corporation Counsel OPP
poses All but Rapid Transit.

III. 20 this morning, was delayed by the
late arrivals OF the men who were to
speak.
Assistant Corporation Counsel G. A.
Blandy, Assembly man Butts and Senator
O'Donnell. who are opposing the anti
Tamrnany bills, were IN the city last
night and were on hand early this morn
Ing. Others present were Senator Sui
Ivan. chief Engineer Green. OF the Dock
Department: Benoni lockwood. Will
lam Hartman Brown, Alfred Bishop
Mason, Rev. Charles n. Parkhurst. Gen.
Wager Swayne. Lewis Delatield. j. Au-
gustus Johnston. j. II. c. Nevius. Arthur
H.. Ely, w. Harris Roome. William Is.
Hornblower. a. II. Won Ericsson. Francis
NJ. Scott. a. c. Fox, Richard Watson
Glider. W. Bayard Cutting. L. Fulton
stewart Smith, Alexander Il. Orr. j.
Edward Simmons. Henry X. Beekman,
Marcus A. Bcttman cortlandt. a. An
drews. A.. -. Hepburn, Jacob Wendell,
Silas NJ. Gid1ers, w. H.. Robertson and
others representing the Chamber OF
Commerce, the city Club and the Good
Government Clubs,
The Governor announced that he would
hear arguments on the Rapid Transit bill
first. but owing to the absence of some
of those who desired to- be heard the bill
was set aside and the Dock Department
MIR. Green. Chief Engineer of the
Dock Department. was first heard. He
spoke in opposition to the BIZ. II was
badly drawn. he said. 1t specified that
the work hould be given to the low.
est bidder. 1t gave he Dock Board
no discretion In the matter. 1t would
thu secure for the greatest %sc3undrel
Under the methods now IN, operation
New York City has u splendid system. OF
docks. The present Board has carried
erning it, IN ali It's operations.
John Monks, OF New York, u contrac-
tor, spoke IN favor Of the bill. He said
The work, by that method. could be done
Mt least 10 per cent cheaper than II Is
now performed for. In London, where
the dock system is far superior to that
tract and has been performed at II much
less cost OF construction.
John w. Flaherty. "A contractor of New
York city. also spoke in favor of the bill.
lie said that there was no combination
of contractors in New York-that Is, In
his line of work. and he reputed any as
sertion which had been made In that di-
%rcction. He thought that the city had
no right to come In competition with men
who were engaged in a reputable bust
ness. The Dock Department certainly
did. The bill would remedy the evil and
give to New York cheaper docks.
lie said that the argument was that the
city had "A large and expensive plant.
lie thought that the city would save 80
much If The new system was inaugurated
that she could afford to burn the plant.
But that was not necessary. 1t could be
sold for "A large amount.
Engineer Green here made n statement
relative to the CoStlincSs Of the Dock De-
partment plant, and held that 1t would
be "A great waste of public money to
abandon II.
The Governor said that any further
arguments on tho hill he would receiye
in briefs. ms there WAS a host OF other
bills to be- considered.
Tho Rapid Transit bill was next taken
speakc.. He explained the provisions OF
asked the Governor II he desired to
raise any, question to any of the provi-
sions OF the bin.
The Governor called his attention to
section 7 of article 10 OF the state Com
stitution. relative to the election OF ohi-
GERS. He asked II under that provision
should not the Rapid Transit Commits
s%ionerS be elected. The speaker thought
that they shprli not.
When Mr., hickman finished speaking
the Governor said the next half hour
would be devoted to those opposed to
the bill.
speaker. lie said the construction of
az underground railway, such as Is pro-
posed In the bill, would be %ruinous to
broadway as, "a street and, to the, prop
. ~ 'NtN lll'I' ! Nv 'lll lI'N w vi
nothing more or less than the loaning OF
tn" credit OF the city to the extent OF
countless millions, to n corporate body.
When she commissioners go on to Guild
the road. unless 1t is built for the city.
II is built on the City'S credit, loaned to
the said corporation.
Lawson NJ. Fuller said II an under
ground road Is built t tariff canot be i'm
posed, as is the case with the water
New York receives. The flve-cent fare
is provided. II some millionaire would
take the risk of taking II off our hands.
with his $50, 900, 900 or more. that would
be different; but no one would do this.
II would be impossible to find n million
aire in all his country who would invest
In AZ underground q with such com
petition as the present surface roads az
ford. If YOU want to grant the property
owners a blessing, veto this bill. II any
one thinks the city Of New York Is goinS
and then loan 1t to someone else to
make. money ON, he is a fearfully de-
Ccivcd person.
Charles Stewart Smith, President of
the Chamber of Commerce. said the
Chamber OF Commerce circulated a pc
titiOn which received names represent
ing 10000 voters of New York City fav-
oring the bin.
The laborers who opposed this bill un.
I'll the referendum element came in,
now favor II. Before indorsing his bill
tn" Chamber of Commerce had con.
suited the best counsel In the city OF
New York. n" lin is perfectly con
stitutiOnHl. ana is "A matter Of Judgment
only with the Governor. The opposi-
ton, Mr. Smith believed, came solely
from those roads against which the un-
dergrOund would be in competition, and
engineers declare this rOad win not NJ.
frct in the least building along Braoad.
way. Tho sinking fund viii redeem this
/ debt faster than II is created.
Alexander T.. orr. one of the Rapid
Transit Commissioners named In the
h.ll. said hat the time had COme when
the elevated rohi must Ice superseded
by SOm" other and better form OF tran
sit. As the elevated roads improved the
mode Of transit over tn" surface roads
SO does this scheme, and II will give To
New York the swiftcgt, Surrst, best
mode Of rapid transit He asked the
Governor, in the name of the millions
of New iuri., to sign the bill. lie said
that II he lid that hu would dc his
duty, Il could allow the Court of Ap-
peals. he proper body, To pass upon its
= @onStitutionality. If the Executive
slLn- the hill 10 would show that he
is in favor OF giving the people of New
York that which they have long needed,
long CrHNed.
Tho hearing Was then adjourned unit
2.3g o'clock.
Corporation Counsel Clarke said t1l,
n. "n.Gg htI' Asi~lan. Corporation Cuuu
SCI BlInIy hHl been sent to AlhAny bS
him I" present the city authorities a
IA hearings ON $cw York city bills he
Tor. ~" Governor, with instructions l.
opupsr executive" approval Of the May
or's Removal bill. the Dock TN. tn,