New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-29
METROPOLITAN'S OFFER.
OBJECTIONS TO SOME OF THE STIPU-
LATIO\S.
THE RAPID TRANSIT COMMISSIONERS SEEM
TO FAVOR THE PROPOsrTION-CRIM-
MINIS SYNDICATE NOT LIKELY
TO BID AGAINST THE
METROPOLITAN.

TO BID AGAINST THE
METRoPoLITAN
Il was made further evident yesterday that the
Rapid Transit Commissioners regard with the
utmost favor the proposition Of the Metropolitan
Street Railway Company for the building and
subsequent operating of the underground rail-
road The statements which Alexander F.. orr
and George l.. Riyes issued on Monday when
the terms Of the offer Of the Metropolitan com
pany were made public, clearly indicated the at
titude of the Board. Those statements went to
show that the Commissioners in their desire 10
see some tangible result Of their long and ardu-
Gus labors were willing to give Mr.. Whitney
and his associates practically all that they asked
for within reason.
II was learned yesterday also that the memo
rial to the Legislature which the Boards coun-
sci were instructed to prepare and present FOR
consideration at "A special meeting of the Com
mission to-day will embody appeals to the Legs
lature to make such modification as will permit
the Commission to grant to the railroad com
pany practically all that it asks. For the most
part the general feeling expressed yesterday was
one Of gra;ifcat that there was at last far
prospect of the long suffering people Of this city
obtaining the additional travelling facilities
which arc imperatively demanded. But at
the same time there were some who we're In
clined to look askance at the somewhat sweep
ing demands Of the Metropolitan company.
While it was agreed that the Metropolitan's pro-
posals offered many advantages the city.
many taxpayers did not hesitate to hazard the
opinion that the benefits to he derived from the
road were not all on one side The statement
was made in many quarters that the Commits
sioners should not allow themselves to be
blinded by their enthusiasm at the possibility
of their plans at length coming to head to the
enormous intrinsic value Of the privileges sought
for by the company.
RESTRICTING CLAUSES NEEDED.
Although no decided opposition has so far de-
veoped toward the conditions laid down by the
Metropolitan company. there is no doubt that
unless some restricting clauses are introduced
and some change in terms is made. there are
likely to he many and forcible objections made TO
the scheme and these objections may result in
the baking Of the understood plan to rush the
bill to permit construction by private capita!
through the legislature
While there is undoubtedly good ground for
many Of the contentious which Elihu Root
makes as to the advantages and increased pros
perity which will accrue to the community IL
the Metropoitan's proposition is carried out
many people were saying yesterday that this
ctys experience Of that company in the past
has not been altogether Of the kind to inspire
unqualified confidence. NeW-Yorkers recall that
the company ha not always shown the best
consideration for the people who permit its
tracks to occupy the most important thorough
fares Of the metropolis. They remember that.
despite continued public protest. the company
still dumps out passengers. no matter what the
weather. at the carhouse at Fiftieth-st. and
Seventh-ave.. at Houston-st and other points
on its routes They recollect among other
grievances that the company persisted in run
ming its so as 10 endanger life and limb
around the Fourteenth-st curve until 1t was
compelled by the authorities to abandon the dan
gerous practice. and until II became clear that
it could never hope to appropriate a huge por-
tion Of the Union Square Park for it's tracks
People are not reassured by the Independent
attitude which the company now takes upon the
tunnel plan We will not amend our PROPOSE
tion." President r. n. Vreeland frankly states
nor will We enter into competition with any
other company. The city can take it or leave
it, just as II fit"
PERPETUITY OF THE FRANCHISE
Apart from these things. however. there are
several conditions in the proposed franchise
which will inevitably encounter opposition. one
of these is the perpetuity OF the ownership of
the underground road. BY gaining possession of
the tunnel. the Metropolitan company will prac-
tically obtain a monopoly Of the travel facilities
Of this city. But the attempt to secure to them
selves this monopoly forever will assuredly be
opposed. both here and in Albany. especially
when it is remembered to what enormous value
IT., rs-ffI
few years carry these franchises. and in return
the company proposes 70 pay only a compensa-
ton to the city Of i per cent and that. too. only
provided the receipts are sufficient first to meet |
certain fixed charges.
The proposition submitted Monday provides |
for the construction Of the tunnel by com
pany. which will lease 1t in perpetulty to the |
METROPOLITAN Railway for per cent Of It's cost, !
including such generating and other plants
the new company may acquire from the old one. |
This scheme it was pointed out yesterday will /
allow the Metropolitan TO unload all of its real !
estate and power houses at their full cost value
and under a guarantee of a . per cent return In |
short it will mean that the tunnel company,
in other words the Metropolitan company will |
have an opportunity to invest $300OO0OO at )
ner cent interest practically guaranteed. The
first lien on the tunnel receipts will be the rental
TO the construction company. Until this is forth
coming no taxes will be paid and no compensa
tion made TO the city. Another great source Of
revenue which MI. Whitney and his fellow-cap-
itaIsts will derive from the tunnel will be the
stipulation in Article Of the submitted propo-
sitlon which provides that "the new company
To be entitled to use the side galleries and other
spaces in the tunnel not necessary for railroad
purposes for any wires, tubes or conductors au-
thorzed by law belonging either to itself or
others and to receive to its own use any rentals
which may be derived therefrom"
The income drawing possibilities of this clause
cannot be estimated People yesterday were not
alow 10 grasp it's full meaning. They pointed