New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-21
FORD AMENDMENT ADOPTED
SENATE REvERsFs THE ACTION OF
THE RAILROADS COMMITTEE.
A MAJORITY SUPPORTS THE DEMANDS OF
THE AMsTERDAM-AvE PEOPLE


FEATURES OF THE DEBATE.
rBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNEl
ALBANY. March 20--The State Senate to-nignt
after a three-hou debate adopted senator
Ford's amendment TO the Faliows bill from '"'
Assembly. Intended to prevent the ruhni"s
of trolley-cars on four tracks In AmsCero""
ave This amendment declares that the Suprs"'
Court shall have Jurisdiction in an acton
brought by the Attorncy-General 10 oe,cr"
n Il is for the public interest that any railroa'
tracks shall be entirely removed from Am
sterdar-ave. "and In such case to order tne rs-
rnoval thereof upon due compensation, TO oe as
Contained nv a Jury OF three commissioners ~
tho cour, shau direct and 10 assess the owners
~ anv railroad remaining in said avenue tut
navment Of such compensation. n any IN pr"
norton 10 benefits received from such removal
Rv this action the Senate dropped the bau'
bach amendment which the RAILROADS N'
rnttee had adopted.
The opinion was expressed oy seNei" 80
In the course OF the debate that the ro'u 60"
ment would crowd the Third Avenue r'"''O"
off Amsterdam Senator Fords H'ep
.,,o, o> q was that IT would permit the Tnr'
,arra Railroad to continue to operate its pres'
emf horsecar line, but would prevent
having trolley road, thus giving 'he
no,tan Street Railway Company the only trohe'
franchise on the avenue.
The debate on the bill was marked by the m
PRODUCTION Of three amendments one oy "e"a
TOR Ford. already described one by Sena,''
Rrown intended to he compromise ~ '"7
claims or the rival railroads. and one py 0'""'''
Raines intended to insure the 1hTo A'e"'
Railroads retention Of its horsecar hhe. i"'
amendments Of Senators Brown ana Ha'"-'
were rejected and then the amendment OF oe"a
tor Ford was adopted by vote OF 20 10 81. -
WAS subsequently retained I'm the DILL "ne"
senator R,nes strove to strike 1t out, by vote
of 21 10 y. -.
The measure first came up IN Conn"Uee -
the Whole Senator Higgins presiding
FORD AMENDMENT PRESENTED.
sanator Ford opened the debate by ohenns
his amendment TO the bill and making motion
,ba, the Railroad Committees amendment gen.
eralv known as the 'Lauterbach amendment
in the interest Of the Third Avenue kahroau'
should be stricken out. He then said:
7 suppose Senator's easily recognize that THIS
Is a motion to strike out the Lauterbach anenn-
ment and substitute the peoples alneuulne"e-
II is unfortunate that this bill shouid peco"e 20
part of the contention OF two rallroaus ~.
course the people of Amsterdam-a ave. are not
interested in the railroad fight, but they , WISH
IN he relieved a
To get these two railroads 70 agree. nav
spent three days in trying to get them 70 asree.
We would agree to anything they woulo agrse
70 If our object was Accomplished o"' '"''
differences seem rreconcilaole -.
The amendment is fair IL Simply sNeS .ns
Supreme Court jurisdiction TO compel the re-
moval Of one set OF tracks ana deteri'ipe ,naa
pensation therefor. The Third Avenue kaiIoaa
COMPANY says: THAT means US tmhk ~
does mean the Third Avenue. THESE Two Two roaos
cannot be put on the same level ,dne me Net
o.,r,la
though the Third Avenue nad Q chatrsl ,,o." ,r.
1873 II did not get there until iH5t 80; rh,ra
ropotan welcomed. In 1871 .he nn'a
Avenue invaded the avenue and put down
second set Of tracks. At that time the people
were not so worked up about the tour trachs.
but they brought an injunction sult. ne ,.s .a'
never proceeded further than the lower courts.
because the injunction was denied. tne uschS
not being considered dangerous then. Inc Me-, Me-.
ropolitan put in the underground ,toi.sS' .ar 80
the Third Avenue began 70 put in electric po~s,'
suits vere AT once brought 10 prevent the puhu-
ing Of this new trolley road .,..
The object OF this amendment is not 20 taHe
auav any existing right Of a company, out We
40 nor wish 10 confer any rev rights lhe
Third Avenues right 70 run horsecars ls nos
disturbed. Now they have no rsnt 10 ope,,
a trollev-line in Amsterdam-ave. II the Lesis-
iature should grant TO the Third Avenue tns
authority 10 run on the Metropontan uarhs !"
would grant new right. PersohaIy 1 na.e ~
ob,eotion 10 IL hut let look at the facts
rbe NetropoIitan furnishes sufficient trolley ac-
commodations The Third Avenue cannot eet
the right 10 change this motive power no" tns'
,ts irtent Is known. Every day there is with
dYayal ~ the former consents man VINO
would grant consent now TO the running OF troi-
ley-cars four separate tracks on AIns.Sruain ~
aya would be in danger of being lynched by
bis neighbors The attorneys OF these two rail-
roads debated in my presence Tor nours various
compromises. but could come to no sgreemen,,
You therefore. have got TO go ahead ana taks
the rights Of some one company.
Have you any figures showing the best way
for the Third Avenue to run II permitted 10 run
on Amsterdam ave ?" inquired Senator Brack-
EFT
The Netrooolitan company" answered Sem
ator Ford now runs a car every two minutes
and will soon run cars quicker. The Third Ave-
rue can run cars up the Boulevard. II you shut
II out Of Amsterdam-ave. it will make the
Boulevard its trunk line"
RAINEs HAD AN AMENDMENT TOO
Senator Ranes offered an amendment provid-
ing that the bill should not affect any road using
q bor.ecar line in Amsterdam ave. and asked
Senator Ford IL he would accept IT, Senator
Ford said he would not because the Third Ave-
nue's rights in this respect We're not affected BY
the bill Why should accept an amendment
which would mangle and tangle my amend
ment?" he said in conclusion.
Senator Raines then argued that the Lauter-
bach amendment ought 10 be- adopted. as u
would do Justice 10 both the companies affected
Senator Ford he declared had argued that four
trolley tracks should he prevented yet he now
asserted that only one railroads rights Should
he considered Senator Ranes maintained that
the rights Of both roads should be considered
Did the Metropolitan Company pay 3 per cent
Of its gross receipts 20 the city, The Third
Avenue did is it TO the interest OF the peo-
ple" continued Raines. that the grab Of the
Metropolitan should he sanctioned by the Legis-
lature? Which is in the interest ~ the peopler'
SENATOR BROWNS SCHEME.
Senator Brown offered another amendment to
the bill giving the supreme Court power 10
.o.,to ,ha Apsterdam-aXp matter. nN COM