The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1899-03-24

cent cont ntion involving the Elevated road,
New York is now going through the throes of
another heated controversy on the local traffic
subject. In this case, however, it is the people
versus the corporations. The railroad cOmpa-
nies have long tried t. lay four electrician
tracks on Amsterdam avenue. and the people
who live in the vicinity. and especially on the
thoroughfare, strongly object. Four tracks on
this avenue will make it a dividing line and
practically barrier between the neighbour
hoods east aud west of it, almost preventing &C
cess to Riverside Drive, on which the city has
spent its money so lavishly, and will render the
street practically impossible by women and
children unattended. All traffic convenences
really required by the pubic can be secured by
switches and the intarlacing and double use of Il
portion of the tracks owned b. the Third Ave.
and Metropolitan Tract IN Company. But the
matter has really grown from local dispute
to a contest involving principlc-the right
of corporate encroachment against the express
ed will of the community. The city has not
been so stirred for years. and when last week
IL delegation was called to support the ANTI
Grab" bill at Albany, over seven hundred citi-
zens responded. 1t is doubtful if the capitol
ever witnessed such demonstration. The bill
passed the Assembly, but in tho Senate the
complicated amendments that as one said, the
subsequent litigation necesSitrted by these pro-
vialons. would eventually entail almost as
much devastation of property and risk OF life
as the laying Of the additional tracks would
incur. At present the supporters of the street
car corporation seem to have the majority in
the Senate, but Gov. Roosevelt expresses the
belief that the amended bill wilt eventually
reach him. All the newspapcra, Of course, have
enthusiastically enlisted in the fght, on ore
side or the other, party politics have been large
~ lost sight of, and Amos. all the prominent
ministers OF the city have come out DO dIy on
the citizens side both in and out OF their pulpts.
DR.. Peters, of st. Michaei's led the crusade, and
all creeds have been represented in the supS
porters who locked to his standard. For two
SUNDAYS sermons have been largely upon the
ethics involved in this civil issue. Besides
numerous local assemblages an liz mense mass
meeting was held last week in Durland's Riding
Academy, at which cX-Mayor Strong presided,
and addresses were made by nun Der of the
city's most prominent laymen, as well as min
listers. This subject has occupied by far the
largest share of time and attention at Albany,
and is still under heated discussion, but ley lSa-
ton, of course, has meanwhile been accom-
plished along numerous other lines. Necessa.
rily so, for the Assembly was confronted at the
beginning of the week by calendar contain
ing nearly two hundred bills. Many of these
have now been disposed of, among them, differ
a long and heated debate, 4. C. Brcnnan's bill
to authorize the construction of Il bridge over
the East River, including all provision necessa-
ry for its use by railroad companies, bicyclists,
carriages, etc: the much contested Till restrict
ing the sale of beer to that manufactured from
pure barley, malt or hops and providing that
it shall be stored at least two months before
being put on the market; the incorporation of
the Salvation Army. inve sting it with the right
to establish Homes, Farm Colonies, etc. and ex-
emptng all its property from taxation, and
much of similar interest. Hearings were given
the bill presented by the Rapid Transit Gem
of N. Y. City, permitting it to sell the right If
constructing and operating the proposed I'M
derground road to private capitalists if the city
declines to undertake the task. Numerous
hearings also have been given AssemblyLnan
Miles measure reducing the legal rate of in
terest in the State from to per cent. This
has the support of the farmers generally
| throughout tue State, but is bitterly opposed
by the Board of Trade and the Merchants As
ISOLATION of New York, as well as by similar
associations in other large cities. The hottest
| kind of a fight is expected on the floor of the
Assembly when the bill comes up for final
passage, as the farmers intend to send delega-
| tions from all sections of the State to watch
and direct the conduct of their Representatives.
Large banking and other financial interests
protest, of course, that the reduction of the
legal rate of interest would be a fatal blow to
| their business, and they will make a determin-
| ed effort to defeat the measure. Senator Ford's
| ~ nj INF Fpr drt1t
| ctarks was unanimously passed. Hereafter
| the limit of their days work will be six hours
on Sundays and holidays and ten all week days,
except Saturday, when twelve hours is allowed.
Mr.. Coughtery's bill prohibiting corporal pun
| ishment in public schools was defeated by Il
| vote of SO to As. And so the legislative mill
| grinds on, the Kaleidoscope view of human in
terests and human motives behind every eve,
making Il wonderfully absorbing panorama
for anyone at disinterested distance.
Quite a little teapot" tempest was brewed
last week in Chinatown (as the region about
Pell street is locally called, by the proposition
of the board of the Local Board of Improve
ment to widen several of the streets there, and
in so doing make way with some of the wretch.
| ed tenements swarming with Cinnamon and the
worst element of English-speakingp people. The
movement is opposed, of course, by those
among the residents who know what is going
on outside their street, and Il delegation OF
, Celestials called on the Mayor to protest. II
, is violently opposed by property owners in the
vicinity because, filthy dens though most of the
f houses are, they bring good incomes, being
rented to persons and for purposes that coul(
in few other localities obtain housing. Fathcl
McLoughlin, whose parish partially include
this section, attended the public hearing lately
given the subject, and spoke of the locality a
one of the noisest and most disorderly in thecity
He could see from his house, he said, sever
f gaming houses that were never closed, bu
e were winkcd ut and in fact Guarded by the pJ
e lice. indeed" he added, "!n every respect
c don't believe there is vler nest of iniquity il
) the city than this" His opponents protesta'
+ that simply widening the street and tearn
= down few houses would not necessarily re
l. generate Chinatown. Nor would it, but On
IS letting in of sunlight on any subject is alway
wholesome, and if not actually regencratiV,
II may possibly prove preventive. Pell street
l. narrow cut of less perhaps than half mil