The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-02-05
IS WANTED.
PETITION SENT IN TO THE BROOK
 LYN COUNCIL CHAHBER.


 sented to the Aldermen and Then Adopted
 Revoking the Acknowledgements Made
 to Apnul the Charter.
 Brooklyn, Feb. 4.-Martin J. Connolly and Andrew Collins, of the strikers committee, arrived at the city hall at 2;90 D. m. MT. Connolly carried peti- tion under his arm wrapped in an old newspaper. He was detained in the hall for five minutes, and was then ad- mitted to the council chamber. The pe- tition which he presented was as fol- lows:
 Whereas, The city of Brooklyn, through the board of aldermen and mayor, has granted to the Brooklyn Heights, Atlantic avenue and Brooklyn, Queens County and Suburban railroads as common carriers in the said city for the convenience and accommodation of the said citizens and permitted them to charge the citizens a rate of fare that has enabled the said railway com panies to become enormously wealthy; and
 Whereas, Said license or privilege granted to said railway corporations is worth millions of dollars; and
 Whereas, Said valuable privilege has been grossly abused by said railway companies who have violated the laws of the state and have used the privilege granted to them in such manner as to result in vast loss and injury to the interests of the people of said city; now
 Resolved, That we, the undersigned citizens of Brooklyn, do hereby respect fully petition and request the honorable board of aldermen and mayor of the city of Brooklyn to immediately revoke and repeal the license and franchise to build and operate electric and other railways which have been granted by your honorable body to the Brooklyn Heights, Atlantic avenue and Brook lyn, Queens county and Suburban com panies.
 The following resolution was present. ed to the aldermen for adoption:
 Resolved That ordinance No. ---, granting the privilege and license to the Brooklyn Heights Railway conn pany, the Atlantic Avenue company and Brooklyn, Queens County and Sub urban Railway company on January il, 1892, to build and operate electric trol- ley railroads in the city of Brooklyn be and the same is hereby revoked.
 After the regular business of the board Alderman Walsh presented a long preamble, reoiting how the orig inal grant to the railroads to use horse power was made and the latter one of January il, 1892, to change to electricity and ended with a resolution to revoke both grants.
 Advocating the resolution, Alderman Walsh said that the companies had violated their franchises and the state law. They had heaped abuses upon the heads of their employees and imposed upon them outrageous hours of labor. It was time to give the poor laborer a chance. The board, he said had the right to say whether or not corpora tion could operate cars in the city that were a menace to its populace, For two or three weeks the destiny of the city had been in the hands of three men and they had brought disgrace to the fair name of Brooklyn.
 Alderman Carr opposed the resolu- tion, declaring the board had no power to annul franchises. It was absurd, he said, to take action that would in- million inhabitants just to please a few thousands. There were ,0,000 unemployed non-union men and he thought 1t would be more fitting for the board to try to help them than to legislate for a lawless few thous- ands. The companies had honestly fTi ind fn ko +I,e;. by union men.
 The council chamber was filled with strikers and their friends, and the re- marks of MT Carr were greeted with rounds of misses from the rear benches.
 Several other aldermen expressed the opinion that 1t was only buncombe to adopt the resolution as it was uncon- and would not help the 
 The board, they declared had no right to deprive these companies of the right to operate their cars It was finally suggested that there was no harm in passing the resolution and letting the courts decide the right of the aldermen In the premises. On motion the resolu- | ton was then adopted by vote of 10 | to 8.
 The resolution now goes to the may pr, who, it is expected, will veto it. To | pass it over his head will need a two- thirds vote.
 The action of the board, even should | It escape the mayors veto, is not ex- | pected to have a serious effect on the | The power of the board of | aldermen to summarily revoke rights granted common carriers is questioned | md the aldermen themselves are some-- what hazy as to how they can enforce heir action.
 Should the proceedings before the at- .orney general result in the forfeiture If the companies charters the action If the common council to-day would be- come operative, but otherwise it will nave little effect.
 Justice Gaynor granted a writ of al- ernative mandamus to-day against the Atlantic Railway company. A peremp- ory writ was applied for last Friday. The company will have twenty days to lnswer. The grand jury for February vas charged by Judge Moore to-day. He said:
 You should see to it that whoever las destroyed property or obstructed he tracks of railroads or committed assaults and violence is taught that law