New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-21
,cA1NST THE PAGE BILL.
grNR1oUEs DENoUNcEs THE PRO-
POSED LEASE OF THE BRIDGE.
NOT THINK THAT TAXPAYERS WOULD
,n IT UNrRUsTwoRrHY MEN. HE
THINKS. WOULD FILL THE PLACES
OF PRESENT EMPLOYEES
OTHER REASONS FOR
OPPOSING THE


,.,rr bridge under the terms Of the Page
plo a.. uenrioues, the Bridge trustee. yester-
o"A .as the following statement. in which he
o." ..d the measure in unqualified terms.
.-,s no true Mr.. Henriques is at variance
..,,ora, members Of the Board, who are
VIZ ns IN favor Of the scheme to rush the
y" ugh and turn the Bridge over to the
rs,mann people. Rumors are free In respect to
-" .o,t,cal juggling Of the present measure.
v" ~. names Of those brought in who are
a"D ,.,. "a see the bill passed include Platt,
s..,hoch I-hlmann and President Howell. Of
n.,ace Trustees Mr.. Howell just before
Wv p,,drs meeting yesterday. denied all con-
Wv .,n with the political end Of the bill. and
..a n discuss the charges brought against
49, Nc a newspaper yesterday morning. with
-. ouark that they were unworthy of notice.
49, usrrioues makes no reference to names.
-, HE statement Is none the less significant.
49,, IN connection with the recent attitude
:, ,,os trustees who are suspected Of favoring
-. paee bill. The statement Is:
., cursory examination Of the proposed
,La,e bill reveals peculiar features and stamps
. a. an artistic legislative gem. 1t provides
a., . lease for fifty years (Section @ Article ID.
s..,ons and provide for building extensions
.,a connections in Brooklyn and New-York
c.c,,on & saws: The plans for such extensions
and alterations shall be prepared by said lessee
and shall be approved by said trustees Years
nav elapse before plans satisfactory to the rail-
mad lessees may be prepared Even when pre-
,.r.d further long. weary years may pass be-
fore a Board of Trustees. more amenaole than
the nresent one. can be brought to approve the
plans when presented.
DELAYS THAT MAY OCCUR.
even then. how long will it be after the plans
are prepared and approved before these extern
sious and stations can be completed? Who can
prophesy the delays caused by litigations and
injunctons: And the lessees GER look on Sc
renely, happy and Indifferent. for by Section 2
Article s. on the signing Of the lease the iessees
would Immediately operate the Bridge railroad
and receive the income thereof And the execu-
ton Of the lease Is an act precedent TO all
others authorized by this bill.
1.-THE lessees shall likewise pay as additional
rent an amount equal to s per cent per anhum
on the cost Of construction Of the extensions
hereby authorized says Section 2. Article g.
The coss Of construction in the city or broohiy''
including the acquisition of land for the heces-
Sy appuac 1es for elevated roads. will amount
to 3ce0oO and in New-York the building OF
the iron trestlework and station and platforms
over Centre-st will he $400, 900. making total
Of &,.s2o. 900. on which the lessees must pay
per cent provided the word construction can De
lee med to include the acquisition Of land. which
doubtful. But the cities must pay all dam
ges to property by depreciation Of the fee, and
d addition damages by depreciation OF the
entail value Of the buildings along the proposed
ines. I assert there is no provision In the pro-
'osed law whereby the railroad lessee can be
ompeed to pay the judgments or even interest
hereon In these heavy damage suits and the
tiles will be mulcted In these incalculable but
uesumaby tremendous expenses.
What an exuberance of healthful recreation
viii be In store for the essees when this bill shall
have become a law. Let us suppose this bill en-
acted. At the lessees take possession and re-
olive the income Of the Bridge railroad. Years will
probably elapse before travel without change Of ,
cars be an accomplished fact In the mean
time, the taxpayers of the two cities will view
With much complacency the profits Of their road
nllng the Golfers OF the railroad corporation in
stead Of going into the treasures Of the owners
Of the Bridge / denounce this bill as an at
tempt 10 acquire possession OF the result OF other
mems toll by cunning and legislative favor.
MEN CAN BE DISCHARGED.
The lessees will Immediately have the power to
dspace $50 men now employed In different ca
neities In operating the railroad
Picture for a moment the insane scramble for
nse $50 places, and the consequent results Of
Dsaing the standard Of public service.
"aurs to assert that Of these $50 men IS per cent
se tired and experienced in their various places
ana Will compare favorably with any other like !
eiass In this country for zeal and efficiency. The
e'ass OF men employed on the elevated railroads
20 unnt To perform duty on the Bridge. II re-
CURES men specially trained for the work. New
INC" are always trained under the direction OF the
hs competent employees until considered safe to
~. uasted. Gradually they advanced from |
~ .ast responsible places until they are capable
tsor ,sAmg charge Of trains All pass examina-
liz d. Inc absolute safety Of the travelling pub ,
,SSepehas on the enforcement Of this rule. The |
tnmoge railroad has carried to April /, 1885, over
onIv n oa and six millions Of passengers with
fhn vne Iatai accident: a record unparalleled In ,
"p sanas OF railroad travel
- s,,.,es the immense revenues under the bill. |
~ 'lng from the difference between the basis |
&C.,. .en' tnerein established to be paid by the |
nstSe ana the receipts anticipated by the COM
reaii,st ana by no means paltry sum to be |
r. eu oy the lease OF advertising privileges. |
iain trustees have always declined to enter
~ s.n propositions OF this character although |
49, s9ms have been offered for these prvi- |
prors Inc rule has been infexjble that public
49, snail not be used for any such pur-
lnch Ut the leS3eeS may not be affected by
,Sa. CONSIDERATIONS. Picturesque and gau1y |
NJ s"s WIN probably delight the eye. not only in
Dsds lara and stations. but probably on the
AN AUDACIOUs EXAMPLE
.. ~ sum up this marvellous highway. one Of
=. greatest productions Of mans engineering
u" OF this or any other time-costing the tax
.yers Of the two cities s2O ooo with all its APP
4. snances. will under this bill be utilized for
malicious example OF CORPORATE greed prese Dts
'sw ~ 70 my mind / do not believe that the tax
ri svss OF either city will tolerate this proposed
soS,sy 1t ie monstrous IN Its conception. and |
,or" pc lasting stain on the law-making |
'V ger that gives It life"
sivs commissioner r. b. Thrrber. Of the new East
Jtrcr bridge has sent long letter to Mayor
4 H. advocating the leasing Of the tracks |
A. 1s ondge to the elevated roads, SO that they
run trains to New-York City.
mr.