New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-03
RAINES MUST GIVE TT Up
PRELIMINARY VICTORY FOR THE AN.
STERDAM-AVE BILL.
SENATOR FORD GETS THE MEASURE OUT
OF THE HANDS OF A HOSTILE
CONrNfrTT-E-F
ley TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE

ley TELEGRAPH T9 THE TRIBUNE
Albany. March 2-Senator Ford to-day won
the first round Of his fight to force through the
State Senate his bill to compel the Metropolitan
Street Railway Company and the Third Avenue
Railway Company to abandon their present plan
OF running trolley cars on four tracks in Am
sterdam-ave., New-York City. The Senate was in
turmoil over the matter for a large part of
the afternoon.
The Railroads Committee whose members are
Senators Raines Parsons Chahoon. Wilcox.
Bracket Coggeshsll. Godsell. D. f. Davis
Feath, ,-son. Coffey and Douglas had not yet
made any report on the bill. either favorable or
unfavorable Senator Ford had been making
earnest efforts 10 get some sort OF a report. but
the bill was in a condition Of slow s,rangula-
ton this afternoon when Senator Ford offered
the following resolution
Resolved. That the Committee on Railroads be
instructed 70 report Senate bill No. ~, en-
titled An act to regulate the laying and using
OF street surface railroad tracks upon AM
sterdam-ave.. in the city Of New York. for the
greater safety Of the lives and limbs OF the
citizens Of said city.
Senator Ellsworth. catching sight Of the
resolution. attempted to adjourn the Senate bat
Senators Ford and Grady protested, and Sena-
tor Ellsworth. perceiving that he would he bea t
his adjournment motion. withdrew It.
Then Senator Ford described at length the stu
alton in Amsterdam-ave.. and the great danger
10 human life which would follow the establish
ment Of a four-track trolley system. No one
was against the bill except the Metropolitan
Street Railway Company and the Third Avenue
Railway Company The people Of his district
were keenly interested. and he appealed 10 his
fellow members TO pass the bill.
40 Senator" said Senator Ellsworth. should
vote for bill on personal grounds What ef-
forts have you made to get this bill out Of the
hands Of the Railroad Committee"
Il have repeatedly appealed 10 them to report
this BILL" answered Senator Ford and the
chairman (Senator Raines) has repeatedly told
me that he was favoring the bill Yet when II
required only one vote to get the bill out Of his
committee he did not give It. My bill is tied up
in that committee and it is tied up by the Third
Avenue Railway and the Metropolitan Traction
Company"
81 have never told Mr.. Ford that Iwouid vote for
his bill" answered Senator Ranes and want
TO tell him that -hrre were rot sufficient votes
by more than one TO get his bill cut Of my COM
nittee The courts are considering this matter,
and we thought it We'll 10 defer action al least
for a week 10 see how they would act. Mr.. Ford
SAYS the trolley roads run al the rate or thirteen
miles an hour. They only run at the rate Of
eight miles an hour II these roads are detr-
mental to public life, Mr Ford's constituents can
apreal to ne courts. l do not deny, however,
that there may be merit in this bill"
Senator Ford laughed and answered: 81 re-
member how the Senator from the XLIld CMr.
Raines) has taken me 10 one side and expressed
his profound sympathy with me in my desire
to save human life and has otherwise joed
me along, but he knew that only one vote was
needed TO get my bill out of his committee and
then adjourned that committee Last year IL
was Senator Raines who compelled me TO
amend my bill. He against it then and he
is against II now"
Senator Raines said he resented Senator
Fords attempt 20 put him in an attitude Of
hostility 10 the bill.
can you tell US when the Railroads Com
mittee will be ready 20 act upon this bill2'
asked Mr. Ellsworth. turning 70 Senator Raines
NO: I cannot" answered Raines.
The Ford resolution was then adopted by
practically unanimous vote. This insures the
senate getting at the Amsterdam-ave. bin next
week