The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-15
enrAron 1rNurrr,s RAEp.
MN. Attsshi-r Clty nsirwsy ana Lsrhttsr
Counpnutep.

49, 1NA1oNAs 80 e
Coupasies.
ALBANY, Feb. Ex-senator McNulty Dsm.,
Kings) has come to the front as q leader in tho
Bryanite assault on capital and property in
which the Democratic members OF tho Legisla-
ture have been revealing since the first day of
tho session. McNulty is nothing II not q Dry
ante. He was ono of ave Democrats to bolt
the caucus last year which nominated David b.
Hill as the party candidate for Senator. He
did this because Hill did not support Bryan in
the national campaign. He also Joined Sena-
tor McCarren Dem. Kings) last year In pro-
testing against the continued leadership In the
Senate Of Jacob A. Cantor, the only gold Demo.
crat in the body.
Senator McNulty has now introduced two bills
which threaten to wipe out the profits and the
property interests Of all the street railroads in
Now York and Buffalo. whether horse. cable, or
trolley lines or elevated roads, and which men.
ace In the same way all tho gas and electric
lighting companies In tho two cities. The bills
are as sweeping as they could BIO made. They
authorize the cities to establish and construct
railroads and lighting plants, which alone would
furnish a ruinous competition to tho private
companies in which millions have been invest.
cd, but they go further than this ana contem-
plate the seizure Of existing plants and prop.
critics. which the cities are authorized to ac-
quire by condemnation. Finally. they provide
70. the operation Of these vast franchises by the
Commissioners Of Public Works. This would
mean simply the turning over to Tammany Hall
and to the Democratic Administration in Buf.
falo of thousands of places In the pubic service.
All tho employees Of the railroads and lighting
systems In those cities, which comprisetwo- thirds
OF tho population Of the State, would become
ardent workers throughout tho highways and
bywaysf which ,Sa their callinEs cause them to per.
racy In the State this fall and in the nation in
1900. This vast political machine might well
with It's PIVOTAL position In a national election,
over to the enemies of property and social order.
NV, Whether me any serious attempt is made to pass
harassing tho vast interests affected, which are
nnegnalled even by. any Of the bills, which Mr..
duced this year. Tho menace is made more
significant by. the fight that was made in the
year they were sent to the Cities Committee
where they properly belong, as they apply only to
cities aud deal with municipal ownership solely.
ever. is Senator Stranahan, one of the ablest and
most conscientious men in tho Senate. This
Gov. Woodruff, but Senator McNulty objected.
Although the bills are drawn in precisely tho
same terms. he moved to refer each to a differ.
ent committee. He wanted the bill affecting
gas and electric lighting companies sent to the
Committee on Miscellaneous Corporations. This
is the committee which gets all the bills attack
Ing gas companies. telephone companies. cleo
trio lighting companies and other similar In.
terests. The other bill he moved to refer to the
Railroad Committee. There was n small at
tendance of Republicans mt the time. and ON a
close vote Senator McNulty succeeded in carry
ing his change of reference.
Besides these bills of McNulty's a bill assail-
ing trolley companies throughol at the State in
troduced by Assemblymun Gibney dem,
Westchester) seems feeble in comparison. In
itself, however,, it is u matter OF some magni-
tude. 1t would put the trolley compar les to
the expense Of thousands of dollars by compcll-
ing them to put closed vcstibules on their cars,
although, 1t Is needless to say, no popular de.
mand for this change has ever made itself up.
parent.
The more general attack on corporations en-
Rineered by Senator Cantor as an avowed party
policy is expected to get fully under way this
week. when the annual monster hunt is to be-
gin, under the rival auspices Of. Senator Cantor
and Senator LeXow. A hearing has been set
down on Senator Cantor's anti-Inonster bills in
tended to overcome the objections of the Appel
late Division TO the proceedings under. the
Lexow unti.Iponster law of last year. These
proceedings, 1t should be understood, consist in
hauling:up the corporations which are even sus-
pected OF making none! and compelling them to
make q general showdown of all their business
affairs. The proprlety of tlking action on the
pionts involved, when they are shortly to be
passed upon by the Court of Appeals, is not
taken into consideration by Senator Cantor, who
wants the monsters to come up to Albany and
be baited forthwith.