New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-23
THE CHAMBER SPEAKS OUT.
NO UNCERTAIN TONE IN IT'S OPPOSITION
TO ELLswORTH's BILL.

|
| sroNERs DENOUNCED BY Ex-MAY-
OR HEWITT J. HARsEN
RuoApEs AND OTHERS.
| Tho Chamber OF Commerce entered n vigorous
| and emphatic protest yesterday against the Dill
| introduced by Senator Ellsworth to legisiate the
| Rapid Transit Commission out OF Office ana 10
supplant II by bipartisan Board 10 be appointed
| bv Mayor Van Wyck The protest was timely. for
| the reason that despite the opinion held In many
| quarters that the bill had been practically
squeched by Governor Black lnt!mating that ne
opposed TO IT. II was reported yesterday Una.
both Senator Plat and Mr. Croker had issued
orders that there should be no abatement IN the
efforts 10 remove the present Commissioners. with
one exception the views expressed by the members
of the Chamber OF Commerce were severely dehuh-
| catory OF Senator Ellsworth's measure and or the
Interior consideration which had prompted 'he
bringing forward OF such bill. The exception re-
ferred jefferson NJ. Levy. one OK the ieadihs
lights of the Democratic Club and an ardent Tam
many man. Mr.. Levy offered an amendment 10
the effect that the Commission should be requested
TO resign. but as he unable to find seconder,
the members Of the Chamber were not called upon
to vote the amendment down. Mr.. Levy has been
conspicuous before in his opposition TO the Com
missions plans OF rapid transit
Following the attitude he has taken In the matter
Of the Ellsworth bill. Alexander f. Orr the presi
dent OF the Rapid Transit Board and also president
| OF the Chamber OF Commerce, not present at
| yesterdays meeting. In his absence Norris x.
Jesup presided and large and representative gath
erng Of members attended the meeting.
THE RESOLUTIONS.
As soon az the assemblage had been called to
order John Crosby Brown with few preliminary
words. presented the following resolutions:
Resolved That the Chamber OF Commerce OF the
State OF New-York learns with indignation OF the
bill introduced in the state Senate 10 egislate out
/ NJ of ira fhn mid f,nl I'd
Resolved, That such Bill has no support in public
se'im6nt ana Is anS3,ey wtmoqt 0tneT }nstca
unwearied labors by its resolute determination to
lessen It's efforts because of the numerous obstacles
earnest and wise administration OF tho trust re-
posed In II. has deserved and now enjoys the con-
Resolved. That in the opinion Of the Chamber OF
Commerce. an early and adequate solution Of the
in office Of the present Board and that the proposal
to remove itS present membets can proceed from no
other motive than the desire to prevent real solu-
ton OF the rapid trarsit problem. and to secure,
expense OF the masses Of the people OF the city
Mr.. Levy jumped to offer his amendment The
preamble OF the amendment asserted that the
that the underground project was surrounded by
legal. physical and financial obstacles. that the
missoners should be- reounsfed 10 tendnr ibeir
designations. Having read his substitute Mr.. Levy
Sndr eaM S' SdFn TO Dta hs
upon the feasibility OF the tunnel railroad where
upon he was called TO order by the chairman. He
persisted, however, in condemninc the plans OF the
though subdued evidences OF strong dsapproval
Mr.. RHoADEs's ARGUMENT.
In secording the original resolution J. Harsen
RAoades made a forcbic argument in its favor.
and was frequently applauded After referring 10
the fact that effort being made at the
dctatlon OF political boss 10 turn the Commits
sioners out If office, he proceeded
The charge that these Commissioners have not
done their full duty to the public is false. For
years they haye worked hard and patiently 10
solve a most 1ntrirAe problem. They have been
fought persstntiyN ptg every hand and every
turn by those who .n'yarious ways generally from
selfish interest, opposed to underground transit,
and If it were not that the members OF this com
mission were able. determined and well-trained
men they would have been defeated long ago, and,
should d be PUN pGOpe Of New WY s I'M
faithfully and Vet nav 40 '''''' ''''
But wnst is tits attempt gentlemen, after all.
but part and parcel OF the general damnine process
against reform and reformers going in con-
in NewYork? Tammany Hall turned over o i'''t this
city to the reform government wit lis public build
inadequate, its departments badly managed, its
streets rocking in flth its public improvements de-
ment apparent everywhere. 1t returns to power to
find that free and liberal expenditures have been
made by the reform administration. largely rem
dered necessary by their own shortcomings when
the needs OF the people with those things which
they themselves, ought TO have given and which
And now. because OF a shortened treasury and a
constitutional limit to expenditure, finding them,
development, they put upon themselves the bor
rowed robes Of virtue and ondcavor to hoodwink
Of reform Mayors and honest Commissioners. and
In Iy tbair ap6a
Tammany Hall did all it could to defeat rapid
transit when it in power; and now when its
efforts seem to fail 1t seeks to remove honest
TSpd transit for Years 10 come ' or put If under oG thy
control OF Obcdient commission; ana let this
by law upon the Board OF Commissioners are nm
precedented in their extent, and If lodged In the
ties OF fraud ana backmail and Of injury to the
city would be a constant menace Full time is IT
angry protest should be made. fuU time that the
merchants OF New-York should put the seal OF
their condemnation upon acts such as those and
be assured. gentlemen. that these acts are but a
concerncd history will but repeat Itself man -
MR. LEVY TO TAMMANY's RESCUE.
No had Mr.. Rhoades resumed his seat
than Mr. Levy sprang 10 his feet again to make A |
defence Of Tammany Hall. He proclaimed himself
n Tamnany man and a Democrat. and asserted |
that Tammany Hall had left the city in a splendid
financial condition and had always favored genu
Inc rapid transit.
He was followed by ex-Mayor Abram g Hewitt
II was apparent that Mr. Hewitt had been stirred |
to Indignation by Mr. Levys words He evoked |
tremendous applause when he remarked that he |
"a well rs Mr. Levy. had been a member Of Tam |
many Hall and Democrat, but he had |
always supposed II the desire and habit OF tho
members of the chamber when they entered It's |
meetings 10 leave politics behind. Proceeding he |
dared that OF all the measures which the bosses
had ever put forward In his time. the in |
troduced at Albany was the most barefaced and |
nst praise OF the character. ability and standing in
the community OF the commissioners, and said IL |
WIS Incredible that any could have the hard
hood 10 propose remove such men from the |