The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-03-31
THE FOUR TRACK FIGHT.
n CONFERENCE COMMITTEE OF III
LEGISLATURE TO SETTLE 1T.

The Adoption of the Amendment suE-
gested by Gov. Roosevelt Depends on
the Vote of observation-disclosures Will
Call n Special Session " tho Bill Fails.
ALBANY. March 3O.-The adoption by the
Legislature Of the amendments suggested by
Gov. Roosevelt to Assemblyman Fallows's
Amsterdam Avenue Railroad bill seems to de-
pend upon the vote OF Senator Nevada N.
Stranahan. q Republican OF OsweRo. He Is one
OF the three member OF the Senate end OF the
joint conference committee appointed to
pass upon the question. Senators Raines OF
Canandaigua. "A II Republican. and Coffey OF Brook
Ign. a Democrat. are the other members OF the
Senate representation on the joint conference
committee which is to consider the differences
between the two houses. Senator Raines will
vote to sustain the position taken by the Gov
ernor on the measure. while Senator Coffey all
along has voted In favor OF the Ford Metropoli-
tan amendment. II Senator Stranahan votes
in favor OF the Governors amendment. which
no one doubts he will do. Senator Confey will be
the only member OF the conference COM
mittee who will favor the Ford amend
ment, unless he realizes the unfairness
OF that amendment and changes his views
upon the question. Up to the present time
Senator Stranahan also has supported the Ford
amendment. not for the reason that he thought
It dealt fairly with both OF the railroads on the
avenue. but because he was afraid the Metro
politan Company was powerful enough In the
Senate to defeat any legislation to solve the
four-track problem unless 1t drove the Third
Avenue Company off OF Amsterdam avenue and
gave the Metropolitan Company exclusive
rights to transportation facilities on that public
highway. Now that Senator Stranahan Is as
sured that Richard Croker and the Metropolt-
tan Company are not all powerful at Albany.
and that a bill can be passed doing equal JUS
tice to these corporations. he will act according
to his own conscience when he upholds the
hands OF the Governor in declaring that the
courts and not the Legislature shall be the
final arbiter OF the rights OF the two compa-
MES in a solution Of this question.
Yesterday. when the Fallows bill with the
Ford amendment was returned to the Assem-
bly, for concurrence In the Senate amendment.
objection was made. and the bill was referred
to the Assembly Railroad mmit That
committee met this morning. and. after an
hours elaboration. unanimously decided to
report the bill back with a recommended
ton that the Assemble non-concur In
adopted by the House and a message
to that effect was sent to the Senate. with a re-
eSo comm t"as to meet tail a ike 'ccoommittee from. the
Assembly to consider the question. Upon
Senator, Raines's motion the request OF the
| Governor appointed Senators Raines. strana-
han and Coffey to, represent, the Senate. To-
semblymen to represent the House upon the
committee and, these viii be se,lect"d from
| anon. the members ofthe Railroad Committee.
Assembiyman Bedell vii, be- one ofthem, as he
is Chairma az tS of the GTbm mr. n6on ibe T r6e ,a 1enTes
c9mmittee viii all favor the Governors
amendments. as their vote upon the question
this morning in the Railroad COMMITTEES
ing the Senate ion the conference COM
mittee must be obtained in, favor OF
tSs,x19s 0 that 'n fath ePei BY S" the GoSera a0e
as well as n majority of the five representatives
al @ m 5he AIsem N Ike sP mem TH Ss fST from each if hSu IS;
must support the Governors amendment.
Simply a majority OF the committee: without
carry. That is the reason why Senator Strana-
hans vote is needed in favor OF the new
The conference committee ia not likely to
meet before next TUESDAY morning. when the
not be made public then. at least not with the
consent Of those Interested. II remains
with 1.-THE conference committee to determine
tuted for that Incorporated by the Metropolitan
Company In the Fallows bill. and upon the re-
made next Tuesday. each house will act finally.
In that event the Governor will send an emeE;;
ssiioWy the eS Fafiiow VI biz, With the new amend
ment. to be passed at once. notwithstanding
bee o S9t the fies OF the members in final printed
form for three legislative days before it can ba
1t is understood that Gov. Roosevelt feels
so strongly on the Amsterdam avenue bill
that he has, determined that II ths bill
fails to pass he will promptly call the LeRis-
lators together in special session to pass, a
measure to get rid OF two OF the tracks. The
Governor. while taking this position, does not
change from his former stand. in which he de-
clared that as between the two railroad COM
panies he wants justice. to be done. but he
thinks that it can better be done by tho courts
than by the Legislature. but that the nrst
effort must he to get rid OF the two tracks.
Mr.. Fallows said:
Under ordinary circumstances would
move to disagree with the report OF the Rail
road Committee. / care nothing about. the
strife between the two railroad corporations.
What I desire is to secure the relief demanded
By the people of the whole west side-the re-
movaI Of all possibility OF four tracks on Am
sferdam avenue. l stand for the rights OF the
people on Amsterdam avenue. which are para
mount to all other claims. and which must be
protected. But having been assured that some
modification Of the bill as II came from the Sen
ate must be made for 1t to become a law. and also
that a bill will be passed giving the people the re-
lief they demand. even should II necessitate the
calling Of an extra session OF the Legislature. ]
am willing to have the matter go to a confer
ence committee, where | believe a fair solution
satisfactory to the people. in a form which car
receive the approval Of both the, Legislature
and tho Executive, will be reached"