New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-24

the reason thar az east three OF the Commissioners
would have RETAINED from voting The form 81
the certificates granting the franchises 10 the rail-
road agd containing the only conditions on which
the applications Of the Manhattan company would
be allowed presented 20 the meeting IN the
shape Of a typeWrtten draft. Some Of the mem
bers following the statement made by Mr.. Coler
that he could not vote the franchises until the
terms upon which they he issued were ex-
amined by tho engineer Of the Finance Depart
rnent. also expressed the opinion that they would
like ~ have further time to consider the certificates
before voting Yesterday afternoon printed copies
Of the certificates placed in the hands OF all
the members az tho Commission and OF Mr Coler
and the engineer OF the Finance Department.
no DEFINITE ACTION TO-DAY.
The chances are. however. that definite action
will be taken at the meeting Of the Commission 20
be held this afternoon. The policy Of the admin
lstraiion and Of the Manhattan company at this
time is delay ard the chances are that Mr.. Golfer
will assert that in the short interim which has
been allowed him he has not had enough time TO
make himself sufficiently acquainted with the con-
tents OF the certificates to vote Oh them. SO far
from having anything OF a critical nature TO say
upon the stand taken by Mr. Coler. the Commits
sioners think that his course was justified In con-
nection with this Lewis L. Delaneld. the secretary.
said yesterday
Il think Mr.. Coler's action was perfectly proper.
The document long and complicated one,
dealing with matters Of much importance TO the
city and private property holders which tho
Controller had had no opportunity 20 look mo
before he came 70 the meeting He was Justified
in refusing 70 vote upon II until he had made him.
self thorough AGA ;ain;ed with its contents 1t
seems 70 NJ II was reasonable and proper for the
Controller to ask for time TO consider the certih-
Gates and 10 submit them TO the chief engineer OF
the Finance Department"
An efTori was made yesterday by Tribune re-
porter TO obtain copy Of one Of the forms OF the
certificates but Edward NJ Shepard. counsel to
the Board who has them in charge. said ne had
decided not 70 make them public until after To-
rcylsions would be decided upon.
As pointed ont in yesterdays Tribune, no
policy Of obstruction that may ne resolved upon Dg
the administration Will be allowed WIN the pIauS
with Charles stewart Smiths resignation 10 ast
upon. II necessary, and with the power "i electss
ing successor with four votes me memn .f Da
the Board can at any moment dispense WIN ,., me
vote OF either the Mayor or the Controller WITH
out delay. the Commission will offer the seven
allow that corporation only one month In "nIch
10 eGcSP or 81 ad Msmhatsn. action the COM
mission Will proceed with Us underground scheme.
Contrast is now nearly finished. and rs soon as
the order Of he Appellate Division IS entered step,
Will be begun 70 obtain bidders for the work or
constructing the tunnel
THE DEBT-LTM:T CRY.
The constant cry Of Mayor Van WICK that the
debt limit has been reached and the city cannot
issue bonds for any further bic improvements does
not dlsconccr, Ihe Board I'm the least. Edward NJ.
Shepard and the Commissioners have carefully
looked into tho financial .ltion OF the city ana
have satisfied themselves that when The taxes and
assessment, Of the enlarged city have neen equal
tied more than adeuuate margin VIII remain
roy tho Construction Of the underground road.
George J. Could is AZ present out OF town, ana a,
his office Yesterday II was said that ne was NOT
expected to rcttrn for about a fortnight. tonse-
quently II Is out Of the question thnt any dcclSlVe
answer will be- sent by the Manhattan company
until after then Marcelius Hartley. one Of the
members - th. corporations Extension commit
,ea said YESTERDAY mat no consideration Na4 as
Vet been given to tho acccntance or rejection or the
franchises He added. however. that the com
,'anv'e ENGINEERS had heen asked 10 draw ~ esti-
mates whether The new roads could Re Pc hG,t
r.rcentagos which the Rapid Transit Commission
Id decilnd rrllef be nal u - liN