New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-02
CITY OWNERSHIP UPHELD.
SHOULD POSSESS ALL FRANCHISES,
SAYS SENATOR FORD.
HE WOULD HAVE THE MUNICIPALITY OWN
NOT ONLY RAPID TRANSIT SYSTEMS.
BUT GAS AND ELECTRIC
PLANTS AS WELL.

The municipal ownership of all the public
franchises In the city of New-York was openly
advocated last night by Senator John Ford In
a speech made at the first annual dinner or the
Harlem Board OF Commerce. The dinner was
held at Ellerslle Hall. No. 81 West One-hun-
dred and-twenty- y-sixth-st. About one hundred
members OF the Board and some twenty invited
guests were present.
William A. Martin president of the Board
presided. and with him at the table OF honor
sat jacob A. Cantor. the Rev. Merle ST. Croix
Wright II. c. F. Koch, Senator John Ford
Morris F. Holahan, Charles Bandy, the Rev.
DIR. George r. Van De Water John w. Keller
Commissioner of Charities, and Assembyman
S. S. Slater.
Among the others present were former Mayor
Thomas F. Gilroy former Postmaster Charles w.
Dayton Isaac A. Hopper, Atmore L. Baggott,
John ]. Sperry David NJ Williams, Sllas c.
Croft. ]. b. Ketcham. ]. NJ Horton. A. J. Ship
man. Thomas b. Simpson, G.. W. Wallace
Charles B. Morris. Charles We.de. s. M Brown.
Albert F.. Crabtree. Alderman Elias Goodman.
A. p. Ketcham and Rabbi Morris II. Harris.
HOW THE BOARD WAS FORMED.
When Mr.. Martin arose to begin the speaking
he said that his part was merely that or MS
toran. The Harlem Chamber Of Commerce, he
formed to induce the New-York Central Rail-
road to build suitable station at One-hun-
dred-and-twenty- Nth-st After this work had
been accomplished the members Of the commit
tee realized that they could advance many other
needed improvements and the Board OF Com
mcrce was formally organized under Its present
name In September 1896.
Mr.. Martin then introduced Charles Blandy'
the toastmaster, who spoke Of the success OF the
Board, and said that all 1t needed was larger
memberships membership which would give
the standing it deserved in the community
Senator Ford, who responded to the toast
Rapid Transit" said In part:
am glad to know that such an important organ
see here evidences of its strength. Such orgahzSa- IA
tions this of the greatest assistance 10 sne
the Assemblymen and Senators can most clearly
determine the real sentiment OF the people as 10
can be Of incaicuiabIe benefit to Harlem; and am
glad to have the oppSruny OF sPeakS PEI KIN re et
to the people of his part 93 the have
no doubt that the underground road Will be built
enough for US TO enjoy some OF It's comic %comI9r,s Is
built by the city or by private capital If the city
builds it the municipality will have vested con, .1
G 81 "a s;S sv f6s d!aiS EaBd IS
{rsnchse for another twenty-five years, and at the
end of this twenty-five years tne lTdHchse may
again be extended. ~, .,
for the road now and that Is the debt limit We do
not want any barrier to the many other pubic I'M
provements that so sorely needed Iherefore
| think II would be advisable for the city 10
let priyate capital build the road, which 1t may
aco,re M the end of nifty years by the payment
of whatever tho road Ia worth AZ.
want to see liberal policy OF expenditure Tor
public improvements. such as schoolhouses ana
better streets This cannot he done II the city gets
too close TO the debt limit by issuing bonds for the
building Of the underground road
SHOULD BE OWNED BY THE CITY.
II Is my opinion that should repossess our
selves OF all the great municipal privileges such as
gasworks electric-light works and telephone lines.
This city should not only own this one railway but
should own every street railway within Its border
All the vast revenues OF these big corporations
should belong to the public and should go into the
public treasury. instead of the pockets or rev
individuals | want 10 this city reach the PROUD
posIton of Glasgow Scotland The system We nave
OF permitting this of franchises when pelohg
the benefit of a few stockholders In corporations;
] believe that within a year the WORK ot ny ~
ra pd transit system will be under way, Wnether IL
is built by the city by private capitai. Inns
means more for Harlem than any other improve
ment that | think OF.
Senator Ford was followed by Jacob A. can
tor. who spoke on Harlem John W. Keller
on ''The Need Of New Hospital In Harlem
and the Rev. Dr. Van De Water, on New
York" DR. Van De Water said that, as bad as
some persons said New-York was, 1t was goou
enough for him.