New-York tribune., 1896-05-26
PRICE THREE CENTS.
COMMISSIONERS GIVE UP.
ADDRESS OF THE RAPID TRANSIT BOARD
TO THE PEOPLE.

TRANSIT UNDER THE PRESENT Law, 3.
RESERVATIONS ONLY DEFERRED. IT
is SAID. TO HEAR THE IS
ELEVATED ROAD
PROPOSITIONS
AS result Of the decision of the Appellate
Division of the Supreme Court in the rapid
transit case, the Rapid Transit Commissioners.
at their meeting yesterday. suspended all fur
ther operations of the Board as to routes under
consideration. and. 1t was understood. only de-
ftrred Placing their designations in the hands Of
the Mayor so that the Manhattan Elevated Rail-
way Company might have an opportunity to hle
an application for permission to construct It's
proposed extensions and connections on both
sides Of the city. The counsel chief engineer
and secretary gave notice that they would make
no claim for compensation after May 81. and the
secretary was authorized to surrender the lease
of the Commissions Offices in the Postal Tele-
graph Building. in Broadway, on that date. An
address to The people Of New-York was issued.
setting forth the reasons which had caused tho
Commission to adopt this course.
There were present at yesterdays meeting
President Alexander E. Orr Mayor Strong and
Commissioners Seth Low. John Cafiin. John H.
Starin, William Steinway and John II. Inman; E.
NJ. Shepard and A B. Boardman, of counsel;
Chief Engineer w. B. Parsons and the secre-
tary, l.. l.. Delaield Controller Fitch was the
only absent member Of the Commission The
session held behind closed doors and nearly
two hours and a half spent In discussing
the situation and reading over the address.
The counsel reported that on May 90 the Ap-
pellate Division of the Supreme Court had re-
fused to confirm the report OF the Commissioners
appointed by the Court TO determine whether
at.fI
structed. Certified copies OF the opinions OF
Justices Van Brunt and Rumsey were also laid
before the meeting
The address which had been prepared was read.
and after some changes in the phraseology. It
adopted by unanimous vote of all the
Commissioners except the Mayor. who heard It
read. but excused himself the ground Of q
pressing engagement before the vote on adoption
was taken. Secretary Deiafeld said. however,
that the address met no objection from the
Mayor. ~
The resolution passed at the last meeting ask
Ing the Board of Estimate for the transfer Of
certain unexpended balances amounting to about
$4,000 was recalled The secretary was author
lied TO have the minutes OF the Board properly
indexed and bounds
Before Mayor Strong withdrew from the meet
Ing yesterday he stated to the Board that he had
received certain propositions from the Manhat-
tan Elevated Railway Company, which were as
yet indefinite. but the Mayor hoped that he would
have something in definite form from the rail-
way company to present to the Commission at
its next meeting The Mayor made no statement
10 the Commission indicating what the PROPOSE.
tions contained
Before going to the meeting Of the Commission
Mayor Strong said, regarding the Manhattan's
propositions, that he should not present them
until he had another conference with Messrs.
Gould and Sage about the plans.
They do not come up to my IDEAS" said the
Mayor. Perhaps don't quite understand them.
but | have not had chance. 90 the matter will
have to go over until can sea them
The Commission did not adjourn to any set
time. but the Commissioners expect to be called
together 10 hear the MaIhattan's application next
Thursday.
WHAT IRE ADDRESS SAYS.
The address was as follows:
Under the present lazy rapid-trans railroad
n, - 10 S"S n ] ng, ere a h b',i1,
only by the city Of New-York at It's own expense.
ed in 1894 the provision for the sale Of franchise to
a private corporation was 10 become inoperatve In
case the people should the election Of 1894 vote In
favor Of municipal construction The people did 80
vote; and under Section "a OF the act the new
city itself The duty was devoved upon the Com
mission to devise such r9ad to prescribe terms
Of the city and II possible. to secure contractor
A condition Of the construction was the consent Of
the owners OF a majority Of the abuttns property
the Appellate Division The consent Of owners
would have obv.ated the necessity Of application %
the c@ 'e have BEEN obtained only T BY enor
nous overpayment from public funds to Broadway
pS1S 9 p5e s to y Df
This Commission eould not assent to that and jurs-
dction Of the question was thus given to the APP
the what It holds to be the business inter-
Of the city. seems to us TO be as effectua pro-
been decision that the Rapid Transit act was un-
constitutional indeed more effectua for II The Ap-
tlonal, that ruling could be reviewed by the Court
Of AppeI M gh s s cdnssson 1sSn tn Ss
the road when complete Will not furnish a complete
the other that IS doubtful whether any large por-
ton OF II he built with the money now at the
exppenditure of the vast sum OF money even now
authorized by the Legislature will take away the
work, however necessary and may possibly so Inn
pair its credit that Will not be able TO recover in
the course g, many years
EFFECT OF THE REFUSAL.
This refusal TO permit the expenditure OF the
amount authorized hv the Legislature and by the
authorities and people OF the city renders useless
the consideration OF any plan involving nearly
as great $4,000 oco on the other hand, the Court
condemned the plan. a-d with no less emphasis, be-
cause It did not furnish complete system
from one end OF the city 10 the other" The Court
prescribed as condition OF its consent that the
whole length of the city shall be traversed and de-
cares that no system OF rapid transit will be use
full or meet the wishes OF the people unless 1t shall
traverse the whole city and connect end with the
other" This requirement OF the Court would add
e;eyen miles OF road the eighteen miles which
the Commssion proposed. II the rapid transit rail-
road must be far longer and must cost far less Y =
impossibe for the Commission TO devise road which
viii meet the approval OF the Court unless II be
a road very much less expensive than any useful
,rriereronnd road But municipal construction OF an
elevated road, as a practical matter, is quite as