The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-18
ASKING TRACTION TO PAY
FOR LEAVE TO CHANGE M0TIVE
POWER IN 9TH AND 8TH AVENUES.

Traction Asks what the City HAS Got TO Sell
Denies Etc ltiHht to Reacauire the Ronds-
Companies wont state Cost or Coustruc-
tion-SInyor stands Up for Francis NJ. scott.
Tho officers Of the Sixth and Eighth avenue
surface roads sent letters TO the Sinking Fund
Commission yesterday instead Of appearing In
person TO explain why they had not fled state
ments with the Comptroller of tho cost Of con-
struction Of their lines. In the letters tho OFF,
Gers said they wcro advised by counsel that the
city had no power to compel such an accounting.
Tho meeting Of tho commission had been called
primarily to discuss with the officers Of the Met
r~opolltan Traction Company some plan by which
the work Of changing tho motive power of the
Sixth and Eighth avenue roads could 60 on with
ont preiudicing the city's right to acquire tho
lines. President vreeland and William G. Whit.
noy were there. and they brought Elihu Root and
James G. Carter with them to do the talking.
Mayor Strong opened tho proceedings by say.
ing that the Sinking Fund Commissioner wero
eager TO know whether tho Metropolitan Trac-
tlon Company was willing to pay anything and
how much for the valuable privilege OF opening
two avenues to install the underground electric
system on the roads In question.
Mr.. vreeland seemed to be surprised at tho
proposition and he turned to Mr.. Root for ad-
vice. The latter said that tho Mayors state
ment was tho first official suggestion he had
heard of payment on the part of his clients for
the privilege.
81 understood that the officials of the trac-
ton company had been invited to this confer
ence TO see IL some arrangements could not DO
mode for proceeding with the work on q great
public Improvement" he continued. MY
clients are simply tho lessees Of these lines, and
when they found q demand for an improved
service they obtained the consent Of the Rail-
road Commissioners and the property owners
along the line, as required by law. We have
city has anything to sell /" which we wish to buy.
II you will tell us what you have to sell, we will
take into consideration the question of compen.
MIR. Root then declared that the contract IN
rcacquire the lines, was, null and void. The
traction company, he said. had no substantial
propose to spend between 100000 and
100000 900 on their Improvement. The work
cause to c%ohtin9e It would be equivalent to ";
ing up so much money in litigation. He ended
Fight Stf to aeau i"s tho sE roads isV and ali II the talk about +
such right were fakes pure and simple. 3,
Eighth avenue roads. said that forty-hve years
were allowed to pass before any demand was
Of cons SpTn 10 Of their lines. This demand en- was
made on a contract which was never valid. be;
cause the legislature Of 1884 passed a general
street railroads throughout the state, which
confirmed the right OF the Sixth and Eighth ave
bhe ASNNtD w Tvs AAASbN cet SA ANSs 80
any way confirm tho contract expressed in the
original franchise giving the city the right to
reacquire.
"These statements" he concluded. ARE want.
ed by outside parties. who wish to use them to
fill UP a gap In suits against the traction COM
pnny.'
Mr.. Root spoke again. saying that IL the city
had anything to offer for sale the only proper
way to reach an agreement was to sit down with
pen and paper and figure out some basis on
which they could agree.
Edward Purdy declared that Corporation
Counsel Scott was neglecting his duties. His
manner was SO aggressive that the Mayor grew
angry.
Il want your organization to understand, and
all other organizations to understand. that am
under no obligations to them or to any ono else.
he said. Il came into Office as a perfectly indie
pendent executive, and / have always done my
duty in a manner which I considered was for the
best interests of the people. Railways do what ]
believe TO be right without regard to making
votes"
John Brooks Leavitt said that the Corporation
Counsel had not done his duty properly in de
Tending the city's interests.
IL don't think it reflects any credit on you tc
come here and attack Mr.. Scott behind hi.
back" retorted the Mayor. Il think he ha.
done his duty, and 1 am perfectly. willing t.
abide by, his Interpretation OF the law on thu
subject"
This ended the s~peechmaking. The board
then decided to ask Mr.. Scott for an opinion a.
to the citys right to acquire the Sixth anc
Eighth avenue roads; also to confer with thu
traction officials again concerning the change
OF motive power on those two lines,