New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-12-15
WAR on STATEN ISLAND.

During the last two days there has been Il
lively fight in progress on Staten lslahd De'"e'"
two transportation companies for the possessioh
OF thoroughfare in which each was ahAio"s
10 Law n track for its own exclusive USE Ne'h''
had secured a franchise and TO this extent they
were on equal terms; but one appears TO nave
had n kecner eye open TO the main chance than
thc other. for on Saturday night it began prac-
ticoI onerations with large force OF men. But
its rival, though caught mapping. developed Il"cI
energy when it had once walked up ana al'er Il
nosv though bloodless scrmmage caused the
arrest of several hundred Italians on the charge
Of Sabbath breaking This was enterprsing ana
resOurceful. but ii was not conclusive 'o' DIS
the Italians were marched of 10 the s'a'io''
house others took their places. Inc EQUINE
process Of furnishing bail and forwarding re'"
forcements to the scene of conflict was coi'ih"'u
during most Of the night and when the Sappa'h
broke il was seen that the Sabbath-breakers
had obtained considerable advantage or posi-
tion The day seems to have been characterized
nv n dlspay of mastery il Inactivity Oh the part
Of the original transgressors. but al one iiiih"e
after the ensuing midnight. deserving their CAMP
fires they resumed operations with rehe"'"
v;cor There was still one weapon left how
ever. in the legal armory or thelr au'tiNa'''H'
at whose instigation the police arres'e" Il i''hc
number of them for digging up the street WIFI
ont n hermit. But these likewise We're released
without delay and forthwith went back 10 wofh.
This humorous proceeding repeated at ire
nueut intervals during the night ana all GA!
Yesterday. we believe. and at last accounts II
was confidently predicted that the job would pe
finished before the enemy could proculN an IN
junction.
Eor ouoht we know TO the contrary. the people
of New Brighton and adjacent parts OF Staten
Island NAV be in desperate need or JUST snch
TRANSFORMATION facilities as one or both OF these
companies can furnish. and their clallhS 10 '''e
franchise NAV be so evenly balanced mat 500
mon himself would be puzzled 10 decide winch
Ought TO have it. But is there any good reason
why corporations should be allowed 10 raise such
a disturbance keeping the police ana Tie inaslS
trates busy for two days and nights ana making
the law look extremely foolish: IT TWO iiidNiu-
nails should engage in such a performance I"r
the promotion of their own alleged interests. they
certainly would hot be permitted To get one-hnii
50 much fun out Of IL. 1t is only fair To say tlat
this was not nearly so gross an exhibition as -
frequently witnessed when transportation com
panies are engaged in a track-laying competl-
| tion Sometimes both sides are armed. ana a
considerable amount Of miscellaneous shooting
is INDUCED in, whereas this Staten Island com
bat was not diversified by any serious outbreak
of violence Nevertheless. to laymen II wears
an appearance OF lawlessness which the pres
ence and activity Of the companies legal al
visers do not disguise.
f,ornorations and especially railroad COM
panies. are very quick 10 appeal TO the police
| and the courts when their property and rights
are molested. and ii is bad policy as we'll as bad
morals for those who control them TO transgress
the law and disturb the peace in pursuance OF
their own ends. We are aware that strategical
operate ns Of this sort are common, almost a
matter of course in railroad development. but
they have always seemed TO us to he exceed
ingly dscreditable to the officials who order
them. They ought to be stopped