New-York tribune., 1899-04-26
THE FRANCHISE LIMITED.
RAPID-TRANSIT BILL CHANGED TO SUIT
ROOSEVELT
SEVEN REPUBLICAN SENATORS OPPOSED
TO THE AMENDMENTS - TAMMANY
MEMBERS ALSO DISPLEASED.

Albany April % (Specia).-The Senate this
afternoon adopted amendments to the New-York
Rapid Transit bill framed by Senators Ford and
Esberg and Assemblyman Gherardi Davis. after
consultation with Governor Roosevelt. These
amendments carry out the Governors recon-
mendation in his message of last Saturday that
no perpetual franchise be given to the corpora
tion which secures the tunnel railroad franchise
IL the city of New York decides not to build the
road itself
The Governor early this morning received
delegation Of labor men, who urged him to insist
upon franchise OF only twenty-five years
duration He told them that this was too short
a time to tempt capitalists to engage in such an
enterprise. At his suggestion Senators Ford and
Elsberg and Assemblyman Davis had made the
life Of the franchise fifty years. with the privi-
lege granted to the city authorities to renew 1t
for periods Of twenty-five years. revaluation
to be made upon each renewal.
COMPETITION OPEN TO ALL.
The Governors ideas also expressed in
another amendment to the bill designed to
throw open the competition for the franchise to
all suitable corporations. not limiting 1t to the
Metropolitan Street Railway Company or the
Third Avenue Railway Company. Senator Ford
said In the Senate to-day that he had been in
formed that the Metropolitan company was once
named in the measure as the corporation which
was to receive the grant.
The success Of Senators Ford and Elsberg In
getting the Senate to adopt their amendments
was partly due to the knowledge that the Gov
ernor, al his morning conference with the news
paper men. had said he would not sign the Dill
II It should authorize the Rapid Transit COM
missioners to bestow perpetual FRANCHISE Seh-
ator Stranahan read a message from New-fork
declaring that the Rapid Transit Commission
stood by the bill as it was. unlimited franchise
and all.
The debate disclosed the fact that senators
Ellsworth and Stranahan were opposed to the
Ford -Elsberg Davis amendments. they argued
that the Rapid Transit Commission could De
trusted to do what was right and carried their
opposition TO the point of voting against the
amendments. The Tammahy Senator'S also dis-
played great annoyance at the Governor s a',-
tude In the matter Senator Grady censured the
Governor as a Pooh Bah" who was debating
to the Legislature what bills It should pass.
THE FIRST AMENDMENT
The first of the amendments made was in re-
gard to Section 7, defining the thse ways in
which the underground road may be built Fart
Of the section read follows:
Or II the said board shall deem construction on, ,E oE
the city he impracticable for any reason "n,ch
In the opinion of the said board shall be sunclen.
then in its discretion either, secondly ny con-
tract with any railroad company then oWlhs OF
actually operating a railroad within the city, OF
with any railroad, transportation or business cor
poration having traffic or leasing agreement with
a railroad company owning or operating an exist
Ing railroad within said city such contract to be
mada betu sen the SID board and the saits COM
psny az prescribed. and subject to the mtations
contained In Section 30 Of this act or, thirdly by
grant TO a railroad. company then owning or
actually operating a railroad within the city or a
corporation to be formed under the provisions OF
this act of the franchise to construct and operate
tho railroad in this section hereinafter pro-
vided.
For this Senator'S Ford and Elsberg substi-
tuted the following:
Or second. II the said board shall deem construc-
ton by the city TO he impracticable for any rea-
son, then In It's discretion by grant OF the rights,
privileges and franchises to construct equip, op-
crate and maintain the said rapid transit railway
or railways to a railroad corporation already or
ganized or to one which may hereafter be organ
ized under and subject to the provisions or the
general corporation laws and the railroad law. ex-
cept as otherwise expressly provided in this act.