New-York tribune., 1899-03-16
ASTORIA GAS BILL PASSED.
A RARE DISPLAY OF DEMOCRATIC ANTI
TRUST ORAT0RY.
nr.p1v All, THE REPUBLICANS VOTED
FOR THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. STILL
DrFIES CROKER.

,ha Astoria Light Heat and Power company a'-
thor,tv 10 build a tunnel beneath the East RIVER
and TO condemn land. II necessary, In Astoria 10,
the purpose OF running gas mains from "orhs "
contemplates building there to the tunnel Inc III
tent of this bill IS declared 10 he to concentrate
IN Astoria the works Of the Consolidated Gas com
many now IN New-York. The statement was mace
bv Enhu Root when he appeared before the As
semblv Committee on Cities in favor OF the Dill
Only two Republioans-Mr Adler, OF New orK,
and Mr. Russell, OF Rensselaer, County-voted
against the measure The Kings County Democrats
voted for H. and most OF the rural Democrats The
fortv-one votes against Il were nearly all cast py
Tammany Democrats Assemblyman Lyman w
Redington was the only Tammany member 10 Vo'e
for the bill. He represents the HHAlNtn Ds.Ilct'
which contains large gas works that ne salo He
wished 10 Danish to Astoria
MR.. HOFFMAN's AMENDMENT.
When the measure was called up an amendment
was proposed By Mr. Hoffman. 1t proVided 'ha'
the company should obtain the consent OF the
Municipal Assembly before 1t did any'hlns anu
should paw the city fair price for It's francnise.
u also providode that the franchise should not De
granted in perpetuity. but for term OF t"eh'!
Ave wears 10 conform TO the city charter.
Mr. Mazet opened the discussion, outlining "nal
tho bill proposed TO do. lie said the rsht 10 lay
mines under tho East River was some'hing tne
state alone could give and for this reason an ap-
islaturo in 1892 gave the East River Gas Nohpan'
broader mowers than were now asked for the Con
solidated Gas Company. and NOBODY had CUM
planned ,.,. .A,, +bo
NJ 1IoAnan then moved his resolution that inc
hill he recommitted to the Cities committee VIZ.
instructions to amend IT, and report II lorth"i'"
There was a discussion over the proprleT oi
amending y bill on third reading. Mr. Allds' the
majority leader, held 1t was proper ehous"
second reading but third reading j. wa"
privilege accorded only 10 the introuucei "
bill Mr. Hoffman contended that ne hau INC -
right in regard 10 the bill as any ot"e' 1
sneaker Nixon said he would allow the ai'enr-
~dort ~ ho considered. reservng the right 10 'u',
ont an amendment whose purpose was dlia'oiy ANY "m'
had for its object delay Of the passage oi ."e
.T believe tho charter should be respec'eu' si',
Ar Hoffman when you have charteI "''0"
provides that franchises shall ne taNeu -
mistake TO give away for nothing franchises .n1e
are worth at the lowest estimate S'V"V" ~
$500 cOo"
COLLINS FLAYS MONOPOLY.
<-....,,,,. L co,,rs smoke next He represents
Tho xXth New-York District. He thought the
House should know what it was about before II
proce eded I'VE are confronted with si'ua''ol'
he continued where It is proposed TO CONFER Oh "
corporation extraordinary rights, lnciuuins ,''o
right Of eminent domain. You are golns ~ b'''
q mstful corporation the right to take inc properly
~ tho state without compensation and solely for
purposes Of sordd gain"
startling situation had been created IN whicn
the chairman OF the most important committee o.
the Assembly had presented bill TO create q
gigantic gas and electric trust He was backed
up by the leaders Of his party. II was, IN other
words a political measure pure and simple an
effort OF the Republican party 10 create trust.
Mr. Collins declared that tho company would
come in conflict with the United States author
ities when It undertook to lay pipes under the
East River. at would sorry day he said
If We should insist on the grant In defiance OF
the Secretary Of War" The East River was full
OF contrivanccs placed there by the engineering de-
partment Of the Army. and now it was proposed
10 let this company put its pipes there in defiance
OF the United States Government
n TAYLOR Phillips, Of the lNth District, spoke
next against the bill. James +. Smith VINO rep
resents the XVIII District followed
sCoLDING THE COUNTRYMEN.
rs this why the people sent you to legisate
here~' asked Mr. Smith. Surely We who live
in New-York City know what we want but you do
not consult us. The man behind this bill posed as
a Mugwump and fought your party for many years
He said it was not sign Of public virtue to bcions
10 a powerful political organization ana ooey us
leader And now this Mugwump who fought your
party in the city OF New-York comes before you
and asks you to make this bill a party measure
If you are going to make IT a party measure VIC
are ready to meet you, on the issue and on that
VIZ S,oTtnr %t y evils Of Monroe Republican said:
! 1--WE are told that are surrenderins to trust
and all the fancfu injuries which ingenious III iHSs ms
people of NewYork. regard this as aIraLc an,
oasensSe I'd ms Gas s dmpany Is 3ny' in position TO
! nete with the New-Amst terdam Gas company
not %anyd aSd year a6S Goyeaor appovd
! bil giving similar powers 70 the AmsletGar, I'M
! thnso centlemen. or any protests? No
Mr. fIoffman answered thar when the East RIVER
]
provision PROV to reduce The pyiSc r Of s56 gas r n.vo
p1fnod his bill fairly and as thoroughly as Mr.
i au,ie has and have come TO the conclusion thaI
is sisSnffh MnIfh ssea Sc VII Tthout cent Of com
ns9 WY e non yo yST now PHI that y6S W be IN placed l
| in the minority in this Legislature next year If you
| pass this bill
REDINGTON STANDS BY HIS GUNS.
Mr. Redineton then said: There has been con-
siderable discussion as to my position on this bill
am in an anomalous position. 7 do not think !
ever experienced such a situation before In my
no have always beer an ardent Democrat and
! have been arrayed with my party on all occasions
When | first saw this bill 1t seemed 10 me that IL
would be a good measure. made up ny NINA 10
vote for g. 1t never seemed 10 me that II could BE
made a poltical measure It struck me as nothing
else than business proposition could not see
ANYTHING in its provisions so detrimental 10 the
locality represent that could not vote for IT, II
seemed rather benefit 10 the inhabitants OF my
! district II would remove nuisanccs which have
| bnen there for years would give employment 10
| thousands Of men; would unloose capita; might
saw many other things in favor Of the bill. hut II
! has now been made party measure. nave never
! hSen ANYTHING but a stanch party man. Ny ale
! glance 10 the Democracy has been eXtreme-so eX-
treme that once stood for Governor ot vermont
on the Democratic ticket. a friend said he thought
was too young for the place. But, l replied. !
shal be old enough before | am elected | might
say | regret that got into this position. but
must say that ! cannot vote against this bill. NO
! ono could make me vote against my honest opinion
! after had given my opinion forty-eight hours be-
fore" ~
! Gherardi Davis said an amendment had been IN
serted in the bill which Overcame his original OBJ
| icctons to Il. The city seemed 70 be fully pro
tected in its rights.
THE VOTE TAKEN.
Mr. Palmer. tho minority leader. and Mr.. Aids,
the majority leader, closed the debate. The AS