New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-29
NFTROPOLITAN'S OFFER.
Continued from arst page.

streets. oo - MONDAYS
MAYOR Van vycks presence at Mon"'S
letting the first he ever ATTENDED, an" HIS %
80 rho Metropolitan's proposition would
o~, ~ indicate that the company mas no on
s,.ce TO fear in Tammany
OTHER COMPANIES MAY BID.
:, anticipation Of the probable passage Of the
go, NV before the Legislature empowering the
-...,,ission 10 employ private capital for the
.s,r,ction Of the underground system AZ
-. TWO syndicates were preparing to make
80. .or The contract John D. Crimmins was a
- .or ~ one of these combinations Of capital
- and in an interview on Monday night. when
- ,.arned Of the action Of the Metropolitan
o,v he intmated that despite this his
ua,cste would make an offer for the tunnel
ling better terms 10 tho city. When Mr.
Sann,ins was seen Yesterday he refused to COM
-s,t further upon the matter He declined TO
v whether or not the interests 70 which he
,,fe,red on the previous night would make
..oond nroposition for the franchise. But, while
NJ Crjmnins was unwilling to commit himself
=, WAS learned Yesterday afternoon from another
source that Mr. Crimmins and the men asso-
ciated with him had definitely relnqushed all
idea ~ competing with the Metropolitan COM
pam!
Commenting Yesterday upon the probability
Of a second offer. President II H. Vreeland Of
TIE Metropolitan Railway Company said: NO
one can make a better proposal for one else
can afford the community such transfer faCin-
ties II may be that an offer will he made to
the city which is better than ours from fnan-
cial point Of view. but when Il is considered
that the primary object Of rapid transit legisla-
ton to afford transit facilities for the people
r. her than TO afford a revenue. II will he clearly
seen that our plan cannot he surpassed. II has
been stated enormously that we are now open
ing negotiations with the Rapid Transit Com
mission No. have closed our part Of the
negotiations. Our offer is final: they are 10 take
It or leave It. We will do no more until we see
VIVA, they will do II they agree we will call
meeting Of the stockholders Of the Mctropoli-
tan COMPANY . ratify what We have done The
law makes that necessary. but ii is really only
a formality in this case. for the men who make
the offer control the Metropolitan
They are Messrs Whitney Widener RYAN
Elkins Dolan and myself They will be back Of
the tunnel company. ! don't say that they Will
be the company. or that they will organize il
tu' they viii he in II. and will be its financial
strength. The offer made TO the Rapid Transit
Commissioners a year ago. and which was with
drawn when they began to decker with the Man
haitian and when we began to he abused for our
offers was not the same as this. It was merely
preliminary offer. and did not 90 into detail
This IS perfected and a fnality."
Mr. ORR's STATEMENT.
Alexander E. Orr president Of the Rapic
Transit Board said yesterday: II did not know
absolutely until last Saturday that the Metro
rolitan proposition would he formally submitted
10 us on Monday. The matter. however. has
been under consideration for some time. and I
think that the offer which is now made is fair
q the city and fair 10 the company. 1t is not
what would like for still believe that munic-
ipal construction would he the best but under
the conditions which present themselves the
Metropotans offer is the best that can he done.
do not anticipate any opposition. but If the
amended Rapid-Transit bill should fail the re
sponsbility will he placed where II belongs The |
Commission has done its part" Asked if he eX- |
pected any other proposition or bid for the tun- |
mel he said he knew Of none.
Woodbury. Langdon another member Of the |
Commission. said: While are not committed |
to ttiF offer. We think well Of it, We would |
rather have the city build and own the road, but |
unfortunately there seems 10 he no way of &C
compnshing that in the near future. We do not |
think the Metropotans offer is unreasonable |
taking into consideration the amount Of money |
70 he invested and the necessary risk and delay |
before there are any returns
II was not possible yesterday 10 obtain any |
hint as 10 the feeling Of the Manhattan people |
The regular weekly meeting Of the Executive |
Committee Of the Board Of Directors was held |
yesterday morning and at its close George J.
Could loft his office for the day. Like other di-
rectors If the company who seen. Russel, |
Sage refused to make any comment upon the |
Metropolitans proposal When asked as TO the |
merits Of the franchise itself however. he said.
Il am Of the opinion that perpetual franchise |
IS had in principle. It takes from the people the
power 10 correct abuses Of public rights. 1t
would be difficult for the city to interfere with |
management which ignored public rights if
that management operates under perpetual |
franchise"
The Board Of Rapid Transit Commissioners |
viii meet this afternoon az . O'Clock for the |
purpose % considering the draft Of the memorial |
70 the Legislature. which tho counsel were in
s:ructsd 10 prepare.
yAMMANY's ATTITUDE
Mr Croker at the Democratic Club last night |
declined 10 say anything Cor publication about
tire interest Tammany Hall is taking in the |
Iro1ect Of the Metropolitan company to build |
the underground rapid transit railway. |
prominent member Of the Democratic club and |
Of Tammany Hall said, however that the |
Metropolitan company had been a good friend |
70 Tammany In the past and il would not be |
surprising Il the city administration would |
hep 1t along IN the project If II could do 50 |
no tstly.
The Metropolitan has been almost Ike |
CITY department 20 Tammany,' SAID h. and |
during the reform administration IL gave us |
about I'll he patrona e We got The of1clals |
n the rlilvsy ar al Democrats and whenever |
they huild a road open trench. or haze labor |
ers. or even conductors ana gripmnn 10 give |
places L. Democrats get the most 81 the places |
DistTic' leaders, Aldermen and others go 20 the |
metropolitan for Jobs for organization men Just |
a. thew 90 20 the heads % city departments. and |
they get Jobs TIE Metropolitan has even ar |
ranged It's construction 50 as 10 give Jobs ont |
about election time.
So Tarmanv men have a warm place in