New-York tribune., 1899-04-26
MAY ENTER MOUNT VERNON
ALDERMEN GRANT A FIFTYYEAR troll
LEY FRANCHISE.
STORMY SESSION OF THE BOARD AT WHICH
THE FRIENDS OF THE NETWORK,
wEsTCHEsTER AND CONNECTICUT
TRACTION COMPANY WIN.

The Aldermen OF Mount Vernon after of
the stormiest sessions on record. last night
granted a ffty-year franchise to the New-York.
Westchester and Connecticut Traction Com
pany a branch of the Peoples Traction Com
pany of New-York.
The franchise enables the company to enter
the city, privilege for which 1t has been strus-
Cling for more than a year. The franchise Is
over the following streets: Beginning at South
Fulton-ave.. through Columbus-ave. and East
Fifth-st to the Pelham boundary. through Co.
lumbus-ave and South Tenth-ave. to the New
York City line. These all residence streets,
and their use will enable the company to get
from Pelham. where its franchises now ter
inmate to its Chester Hill line. 1t agrees to
give a five-cent fare to New-York, sprinkle and
pave between the tracks and two feet on either
side. pay annually to the city 3 per cent of its
gross receipts and to give bond Of $3.50 to
complete the work in a satisfactory manner.
AS soon as City Clerk Hoyt had finished read
ing the ordinance. Alderman Connor moved its
adoption and Alderman Hayward seconded 1t.
Alderman Dollard chairman of the Railroad
Committee quickly moved an adjournment. HIS
motion was seconded by Alderman Grant, Pres
ident Of the Council. Then followed an exciting
discussion. Mayor Fiske. anxious to get the
franchise through, insisted on a vote on the pre-
vious question
This is an outrage!" shouted Alderman DOLL
ard Il demand a vote my motion to ad-
journ."
Mayor Ffske then permitted a vote to be
taken. and the adjournment was defeated
Alderman Grand asked: us it a fact that this
thing is all cooked? declare it an outrage"
Alderman Dollard then moved to strike out
the enacting clause Of the franchise.
Mayor Fske at first declined to entertain the
motion. but the commotion was so great that lie
allowed 1t to be voted on. 1t was also iost. Iheh
the Mayor called for vote on the franchise
Alderman Cline said that the franchise was
being put through in hot and indecent haste
He referred to how former franchise FOR the
oomnanv had been railroaded through, and said
that thirty days later those who had voted lor
II were glad to run to cover, and had finally
voted to rescnd 1t. He said that the pachets
Of this franchise had never permitted IL to NC
considered in open committee. and that some
men who had advocated 1t most strenuously hao
had great difficulty in pointing out the routes
over which 1t Is proposed to go. The Alderman
then declared that the Traction company had
not a mile of track built anywhere in New-York
and Westchester County.
IF there was ever a BOlu Orlch Soiu W '"'
city of Mount Vernon this Is one!' he exclaimed
in closing his speech.
"There ia not decent or honest man In
Mount Vernon" shouted Alderman Doliard'
"who wants this franchise granted. Some peo-
pie are interested in the city only for the dough
trey can get. We. lsherer under gag rule OF
the previous question:
The Alderman then launched into causuc
criticism of the franchise. He said that In the
haste to get It through it was not even speci-
fed what power should be used. The company
might run horsecars II it wished. The tracks
were also not restricted or specified. double
track road could be put through the residence
streets and the citizens had no redress
II am dsgusted and discouraged, saio AZ
derman Grant This is one or the greatest OUT
RACES on the people in many years. just th1nk
Of t. The Aldermen are asked to give up iih1
streets for fifty years, that nave never peei
considered in the Committee of the Whole. Al
derman Grant closed his speech by saying .nat
his pOckets could he bulglnS II he mad Voteo on
street railway matters the way some people
wanted him to. e,o.
The vote was taken amid much confusion.
the following Aldermen voting for the IRAN
chise. Anderburg Hayward. HeImes. Wallen-
der Roadel. Connor. Aldermen Cllhe' urah''
Howe and Dolard voted no. ~
There were both shouts and Kissing wnen
Navor F1ske declared the franchise adopted, .
10 The meeting broke up IN wrangle, ana
some Of the Aldermen continued TO berate each
other after they had left the building.