New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-12

The Mayor attended only meeting OF the
Board and that was a short time ago. when
the offer Of the Metropolitan Traction Company
to build the road made.
At the hearing the Long Island Tunnel bill
| on Wednesday the Mayor remarked that the
bill afforded a more feasible plan for a tunnel
railroad in Manhattan than that presented by
the Rapid Transit bill
STATEMENT BY THE BOARD.
The following statement was issued yesterday
by the Rapid Transit Commission:
The Mayors veto puts definite end TO the dis: Is:
of rapid transit A rapid transit railroad must
now be built by the city itself or not at all The
pose The Rapid Transit Board has duly pre-
scribed the route and plan Of construction; they
Authorities and by the Supreme Court. and the
route and plans, 1t may be added, nave received
But one thing is now necessary to reach rapid
transit and that is the cooperation of the exeeu Gu
Mayor and other members Of the Board OF Esti-
mate and the Corporation Counsel The contract tract
for construction in form for public advertising
was submitted 10 the Corporation Counsel thir-
teen months ago. and the law requires his formal
approval The Board cannot move until ne shal
act The new assessment will create debt-in,
curing capacity OF the city suieiehf & Ior raP1
pledge to rapid transit so much as IS necessary
and the Corporation Counsel VIII return II me IoTm n
stantIv proceed Otherwise this Board is abso-
lutey without further practical powers
NOTICE OF THE RESIGNATION.
Before the statement was issued notice of the
resignation Of John Clafin as Rapid transit
Commissioner received. Mr.. Claim had
filed his resignation with the Secretary OF state
and he sent a letter to the Commission stating
that he had taken the action In order that the
Commission might be free to elect Alexander Il.
Orr to fill the vacancy, Mr. Orr having ceased
to be a member of the Commission upon retiring
from the Presidency of the Chamber OF Com
merce. Mr.. Cahn had not heard OF the action
of the Mayor in vetoing the Rapid Transit bill,
and he wrote the following:
The recent legislation clearly authorizing con.
structions BY sections all reasonable doubt
as 10 the ability of the city to construct tne SUP.
way without at any time exceeding It's legnl unit
urgently demand an underground road to be buut
with the citys money, and to be built at once the
the Rapid Transit commission will be able to carry
out it's carefully rnatured plans.
Mr.. Orr was elected unanimously as Com
missioner in place of Mr.. Clafiin.
Lewis A. Delafeld presented letter resigning
his post as secretary Of the Commission. giving
as the reason that his private business demand
ed too much of his time. His letter contained
the following:
In order to avoid the slightest confusion or in
convenience | have provided, as you will observe.
that my resignation shall not take effect until the
appointment OF my shs bnYe been appoInted
! shall expect to assist him In every possible way
until he shall have acquired thorough knowledge
OF the duties of the office
CORRESPONDENCE MADE PUBLIC.
Alexander f. Orr yesterday made public some
correspondence which he had recently with State
Senator John Ford over interview In which
Cd hat No Of
Rapid Transit bill ratified agreement pre-
viously made between the Rapid Transit Com
missioners and the Whitney syndicate, and that
he knew that four Of the Rapid Transit Com
missioners had favored naming the Metropoli-
tan Street Railway Company In the amend
ments. but one member had objected TO this as
too bold Mr.. Orr wrote to Senator Ford on
April q asking IL the Senator had been quoted
correctly and asking authority for the state
ments. Senator Ford answered on May that
the published interview was substantially cor
rect and added the following
OF course cannot give the source OF my infor-
nation but rest assured that had noe sed nae s me
Debats n the Lesslatsrsn ssxs ,nd is IA, Pry a
ed yo9 wns s eefVs of the se S
sion and their counsel before the Governor TO nave
I assure YOU do not hold you in anywise respon-
sibie for IT, Ny conversation with you In the Ex.
realize what It's effect would be. ! cannot say "a
much OF some OF your colleagues however. tnaL "
now ali past and gone. and you and can wei
afYord TO close the chapter. There Is so much SOHO
and serious work ahead.
MR. oRR's REPLY.
Mr. Orr on Wednesday sent another letter to
Senator Ford, containing the following state
ments:
7 am perfectly aware that debate In the Legis-
latt,re IN "prvileged" which means that memDers
cannot be sued for slander. But the Consutuuonn
cannot protect members from the just eHect Oh