New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-23
90 1 ns"s Of successes xssss
C0lgate's
Soaps and Perfumes:
EFFECT OF THE DECISION.
OPINIONS OF CITY OFFICIALS AND
OTHERS.

THE MAYOR SAYS THIS is THE OPPORTUNITY OF
THE MANHATTAN ELEVATED PEoPLE-wIIAT
RAPID TRANSIT COMMISSIONERS SAY.
City officials not disposed to be talkauVe
Yesterday regarding the adverse decision of the
Annellate Division Of the Supreme Court in the
Rapid Transit Mayor Strong preferred
not to speculate on the situation IN which rapld
transit for the city might be left by the decision
He said. however:
II have had as yet opportunity to read the
decision of the Court. but it seems that 'he
Justices are unanimous in their conclusions IT,
as / understand 1t does. the decision places All
estoppe upon the plan of the Commissioners 50
far as the Broadway route Is concerned, an eX-
cellent opportunity is now offered the Manhattan
Elevated Railroad Company 10 come for"aru
and give the people Of the city the increased
facilities for rapid transit. both on the East ana
West sides, which have been the subject OF re-
cent consideration. In two years the Manhattan
Company could complete their extensions anu
connections which would vastly improve our
means Of transportation between the Battery
and Yonkers on one side and Mount Vernon on
the other The Manhattan people should lose
no time now in presenting their propositions for
extensions on both sides OF the city FOR con-
Meeting their lines with the Brooklyn Bridge and
tho ferries on the North River, and doubt not
they would have immediate consideration by the
Rapid Transit Commissioners. am or the
onnion that this course will be adopted by the
elevated management without unnecessary de-
lay
The Mayor doubtless speaks from his impress
sons gained in his interview with George j.
Gould and Russell Sage, who have been twice at
the City Hall to confer with him on rapid transit
subjects Mesers Gould and Sage. as representa-
tives of the Manhattan Elevated Company. nave
submitted plans and maps as we'll as some sug-
gestions but these have not yet been made pub
lie. Nor have any propositions from the Man
haitian Company been laid before the RAPID
Transit Commissioners. As generally under
stood. the Manhattan Company proposed to build
an extension from the City Hall station up Cen
tire to Canal-st.. across Canal TO Desbrosses con-
Meeting with the Sixth and Ninth-ave. lines;
through Desbrosses to West-st.. and down west
TO Pier No. l. with a loop connecting with the
Sixth and Ninth ave lines al Battery Place.
The Mayor desired that the line down West-st.
should connect with the ferries and he proposed
that stations be built at intervals in Weet-st..
with bridges across the street. that the travel
ling public could reach the ferryboats without
danger Of crossing the crowded roadway. The
Mayors plan included also extensions on the East
and West sides. The Mayor has frequently ex-
pressed his confidence that rapid transit could lie
obtained In the shortest time possible by acqul-
escence In the plans OF the Manhattan Company.
He can see no reason for any delay on the com
pany's part in pushing the extensions and con-
nectiors proposed.
NOT RENEWABLE. SAYS Mr.. SCOTT
CORPORATION Counsel Scott said yesterday that
II the decision of the Appellate Division in refs-
ing to confirm the report of the special Commits
| cd n, If IA ~ involving
questions Of law it was not renewable, and the
case could not be carried to the Court Of Appeals.
Mr. Scott said that the in re Kings County
Elevated Hallway Company. 50 y. y. 90 which
was approved In in re East River Bridge Com
pany 143 ~ Y. 249. settled the question that
the Supreme Courts jurisdiction was exclusive.
and that there could be no appeal from the de-
cisiOn.
Mr. Scott added that until he could examine the
text Of the opinions OF Justices Van Brunt and
Rumsey he did not care to say what the effect OF
the decision would be upon the future OF the
Rapid Transit Commission. II, az II seemed TO be
understood, the plans which have been formulated
by the Commissioners are untenaole. they could
still go on and create new route for submission
70 the Court
The records OF the Finance Department show
that since the creation Of the first Rapid Transit
Commission In 1871, Its cost to the city has been
over a quarter OF million Of dollars. The exact
amount of the disbursements on account OF the
expenses OF the Commission ssh from July. le9l to
money paid out for counsel fees. Commissioners
pay, clerk hire, stenographers' wages. rent OF or
fees, surveying. mapmaking, etc. up to the be-
ginning Of the current month. Bills amounting
/ to $4,000 TO $4,000 are yet to be audited
THE CONTROLLERS VIEWS
Controller Ashbel p Fitch was seen at his
house. No. 10 East Eghtieth-st last evening
regarding the decision in the rapid transit case
II do not know" said he. that can say anything
new on that subject. for the reason that was
not satisfied with the plan as laid out by the
Commission, and have not therefore attended
any Of the meetings for more than year. did
not like the route proposed, ending II seemed to
| me nowhere and paraeling existing lines Of
rapid transit like the NewYork Central for in
stance. But see that Judge Van Brunt dwells
particularly upon the matter of the cost. and
that is after all the crucial question. The Con-
stitution provides what the limit OF the ctys in
| debtedness shall be, fixing II at something like
| $17O,OO0OOO. We'll. the present city debt. II
everything were added together. would approach
| very close TO Sl15.0O0O 900 Now IL was proposed
| In this plan to expend something like $50 600 600
| Once the limit Is reached. everything must stop.
Not dollar can be raised for that purpose or
any other.
I'VE should spend right away from 81 600 600
to $5.00O.000 for new schoolhouses. We need
them to keep the children off the streets. We
could build more station-houses. No more en-
gne-houses could be erected yet require four
or Ave more at this time. Work on the park
| properties would have TO stop, and the new parks
are needed. especially the one near Hester-st
But more than that the city's credit would be
! teopardized. Bonds outstanding would be ma
turing. and II they were taken up, none could be
issued in their place. for the outside world would
be saying that New-York City had reached the
limit Of her liability. II the matter were to be
taken up again de novo by the Commission I
would gladly attend the meetings, for am in
favor of rapid transit AS to the route. would
be willing TO follow the lead Of Abram S. Hewitt.
who favored the Elm-st route. for | have the
highest confidence in his judgment. I presume
that the Broadway scheme may be looked upon
as effectuay disposed OF by this decision"
SETTLED FOR THE PRESENT.
William Steinway, one of the Rapid Transit
Commissioners. said yesterday Afternoon, when