The sun., 1897-05-15
BLOCKING FRACTIONS WAY
OLTIzENs PROTEST IGAIN5T FREE
TROLLEY FRhNOHISES,

And Urge Before tho Atdermens Railroad Com
raittes That tho City Exercise Its Rights and
Buy the sixth and Eighth Avenue Lines-Mr.
Rheades Raps the Reform Administration.
A public hearing given yesterday by the Rail
road Committee of the Board OF Aldermen on
tho application OF tho Metropolitan Street Rail
way Company for permission to change tho mo-
tive power on tho Sixth avenue, Eighth avenue,
Madison avenue, and other lines developed very
serious opposition to tho proposed change with.
cut adequate compensation to tho city. 1tcould
not bo charged, either, that tho opposition all
emanated from the Third Avenue Railroad,
which IL the business rival OF tho Metropolitan
Company.
Tho first speaker was Francis B. Thurber,
who, on behalf Of tho Board of Trade and
Transportation, presented tho resolutions re-
Gently adopted by that body protesting
against the granting Of the privileges be-
foro the city shall have exercised its rights
under the franchise agreements with the Sixth
and Eighth avenue roads, by which 1t may ac-
quire both at tho original cost OF construction,
with 10 per cent. added. Any grant for a
change Of motive power should be coupled. he
said. with condition to pay an adequate sum
to tho city for the privilege.
John Brooks Loavitt, on behalf Of the Social
Reform Club. said that so far as he knew not q
single city official, with tho exception of tho
Aldermen, had taken any active interest in be-
half Of the city in this matter. despite the mil
lions Of dollars involved. It is regrettable, he
said, that Corporation Counsel Scott has not
been able to form an opinion about the rights of
Something" said he, "should bo done to
prevent change OF motive power before the
assertion ON Of the Sitys rights s under the 0ld CON
tail great additional cost on the city. and con-
sequently Lessen the benefit to be gained BY a
The Commissioner OF Public Works, hc said, is
esns %ho s.d hss
ooiIusion n With tho Third Avenue Railrod Com: n
grace from counsel Of the Metropolitan Com:
pany. but not from the legal representative of
Mr.. Leayitt said that the power to acquire the
roads exists in the old franchise agreements
ana sat%6 oe eeneiSned CITY official an
preached on the subject says he can do nothing.
Mr.. Scott says he must have legislative euthor-
pie in this matter. Instruct your Corporation
Counsel to take the necessary steps to preserve
the city's rights. He must act then and stop
quibbling., II he does not act under instruction
he will be liable to removal"
wich Savings Bank and q member of the Com
mittee Of Seventy, then made argument in
favor Of the city's taking the roads. Incident
Be helped to create. very smartiy over Tnhe the
knuckles. Mr.. Rhoades said that be appeared
in the first instance as an Individual and a
to the change of motive power on the Madison
avenue line and. secondly, as citizen. demand.
under the old franchises Of the Sixth and Eighth
Avenue lines. Among other things he said:
lists in our municipality. A great corporation.
namely, the Metropolitan Street Railway Com
sTasd bS Srs By
and guided by the best legal talent to be had, is
making a bold-faced demand for new franchises
Sixth, Eighth, and Ninth avenues, and Fifty.
ninth street-and hardly member OF this reform
citizens rights or protecting their interests.
It is true that in all these fve thorough
fares this corporation now, operates rail-
for these horse railroads were granted
Ing was in its infancy. and when little iSh or noth
Ing OF compensation was secured to the city for
the rights q which 1t granted 1te Now after forty
this corporation and asks the city authorities
and every citizen. taxpayer and rent payer for
Of substituting electricity, far cheaper mode Of
traction, for Its present horse power. And for
and the citizens what Compensation Not
cent. And in return for these franchises what
are the authorities. guardians Of
his Sot n one scents' eens demanding OF
What is the attitude Of the authoritiesf Let
claiming lack Of authority, acquesced, absolute.
y without any attempt to secure fair compen.
;stion to the city IN this eorporatons demand
and Ninth avenues and Fifty.ninth street. So,
100, the Commissioner of Public Works. for
ted without opposition to the demands of the
company; Fer nothing did he give his consent
he Metropolitan Street Railway Company to
exercise their new privileges on the Eighth ave
I'M Inra he ifv'a intn
"Why are the authorities standing mute
These franchises. these rights are ours they |
aed them They are nof et ess
aad merely for the asking; For what reasons. |
iment Of their duty to the pubic, Whose se ser
always it is to care for the interests Of the citi
:ens, yield to the demands of this companyi |
blame this corporation for asking for these
precisely as it is doing II is business II it can
ret these franchises for nothing, why should IL |
'ffer T to pay for themi There are, however, in |
corporation and the Metropolitan Street Rail.
yay sy Company; Y, In this first corporation all the
they may be said to be stockholders. The direo.
ors Of this municipal corporation are his Honor
Of Public Works. the ComptrolIer 1as dI
md you, the Board Of Aldermen.
isk, or rather to demand, of these public d. |
ectors the same zeal and Ingenuity in protect
n9 public interests as they would exert in pri- |
'ate businessi The citizens believe that now
yhen this corporation seeks new franchises
hey should only be granted on terms that will
insure to the city a fair return for what 1t gives
hat now is the fit time to make new terms with
his corporation on the basis of the present and
uture value of these franchises.
This Is an administration of REFORM an ern
i good government, so called. An administra-
Ion which neRlects ihe interests of the city
and speak with all respect for those in con-
rob is no reform administration. Good govern
nent is not that government which surrenders
or nothing valuable franchises such as these.
he authorities of this city have no more right
o give away these franchises than they would
ave TO give away the assets OF a private cor
oration. II they do it, and IL no law can be
oupd to prevent their doing 1t, a day of reckon
no is bound to come"
William McCarrOll and L. ]. Callahan of tho
soard OF Trade and Transportation, James W.
'ryor of the City Club f. A. Ford of the Kings
,ounty Democratic League, Marion NJ. Miller Of
he Peoples League, and Patrick j. Collins and
Vlli"m Martin also spoke. and Lawyer William
! Trull presented an opinion of Robert Earl ex.
udge OF the Court OF Appeals. In which the lat
Or said that he had examined tho matter thor
ughly and had become fully persuaded that the
ity has the authority to purchase the two roads
q question.
Mr.. Rhoades. when asked concerning his re-
marks against the municipal administration.
aid: What said was an attack ON whomever