The evening world., 1895-08-15
FRANCHISE FIGHT ON.
Metropolitan Traction and Third
Avenue Roads After It.
Both Seeking 10 Run Cars on the
Upper West Side.
Claim that Aldermanic Committee
Cannot Act in the Matter.

The old fight between the Metropoli-
tan Traction Company and the Third
Avenue Railroad for the franchise to
extend their lines over St. Nicholas
avenue and Kingsbridge road to the
Harlem River was renewed to-day be-
fore the Railroad Committee Of the
Board Of Aldermen.
The hearing began at 1890 P. NJ.
when Chairman Parker and Aldermen
Goodman. Brown. Murphy and Robin
son were present.
There were also present Lawyer Ed
ward Lauterbach, representing the
Third avenue line; ex-senator Luke f.
CoEans and Leopold Leo. Senator Lex
ow's former law partner, and a num-
Der OF others. representing property
owners along the proposed route Of the
extension.
Ex-senator Coaans. at the opening of
the hearing, protested against any fur
ther proceedings. claiming that the
Railroad Committee had no Jurisdiction
In the matter. as the question had not
been properly referred to 1t.
Chairman Parker, however, decided
that the Committee was authorized to
60 on with the hearing and ordered the
case to proceed.
Edward Lauterbach said he was ready
to 60 on with his argument, and Law
yer Page. his associate, began by tell
Ing the Committee that IL the franchise
for the extension was granted to the
Third Avenue Company how the city
would receive much greater revenue
than II 1t. was given to the Traction
Company.
He argued that the granting of the
pany insured a possibility Of some bid
ding at the auction sale Of the fran
chise. while to grant the application Of
the Metropolitan Street Railway Com
pany simply meant a concession to that
Company Of a monopoly of the bidding.
whereby it would obtain the franchise
at q nominal sum.
The Third Avenue. Company. to meet
the objection that the west side of the
city, south Of One Hundred and Twenty
nth street, would be left unprovided
for in the case 1t obtained the franchise,
to transfer passengers from Its new lines
every passenger Of the Third Avenue
tan Street Halfway ' Company q aa e'sS1I, Would
wsics that system af.ords. a%"dfnsifes snd Whies
ss Se. OF se Seud b aoSd HHens 6u ss9 m
y u
for one fare.
Mayor, that the granting of the fran
chise to the Third Avenue Company
might involve some disadvantage on the
subject of bidding. had been removed
by a clause IN the Application covering
every one Of the Mayors suggestions
and had been incorporated In the petit
tion. that the route which lies upon One
Hundred end Twen.y-fifth street and
Manhattan street and connects the two
portions OF Its extensions, should be used
In Common by any street surface rail-
road company other than itself. which
might purchase the franchise at any
subsequent sale.
It was claimed that the city treasury
would be better off by S150,ooO IL the
Third Avenue Company's applica ton
were granted instead OF that of the
Metropolitan Street Railway Company,
and Mr.. Lauterbach offered to pay to
dition to the purchase price which 1t
agrees to bid II the application Is grant
Luke F. Cozans in reply to Mr.. Laut-
erbachs argument. presented to the
committee a statement signed by Fl. H.
Ereeland, President of the Metropoli-
tan Street Railway Company, In which
1t was stated that the extensions pro-
posed offered more extended and bet
ter connected route than any of those
proposed by the other side for the ac-
section OF the city lying north of One
Hundred and Twenty-iifth street and
west of Eighth avenue.
Lawyer Page contradicted some of
Mr.. CoZans's assertions, and the hear
ing was closed.