New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-15
ANTI-GRAB BILL HALTS.
RAINEs's COMMITTEE STILL SITTING ON
THE MEASURE.
LAUTERBACH PROPOSES SOME MORE
AMENDMENTS SENATOR GRADYS
OPPOSITION PETERS OUT.

bach. counsel Of the Third Avenue Railway
Company, appeared before the Senate Railroads
Committee this morning and argued that the
bill Of Senator Ford and Assembyman Fallows
in regard to Amsterdam ave. should have an ad-
dtional amendment which would give the Third
Avenue a right to the tracks Of the Metro
potan Street Railway Company He offered
such amendment The committee meeting
Of great interest but neither Mr.. Lauter-
bach's amendment nor the latest one proffered
by Senator Ford was adopted. The committee
adjourned until tomorrow morning without do
ing anything This may mean another specimen
OF dllatory tactics in dealing with the bill, In
tended, II possible TO defeat 1t.
OF the members Of the committee. Senators
Ranes, Parsons, Wilcox, D. F. Davis. Cogge-
shall. Goodsel and Featherson were present. and
Senators Bracket. Chahoon. Coffey and Doug
las were absent. Senators Grady and Ford at
tended the meeting.
Senator Raines the chairman read the amend
ment which, he said had been agreed on by the
lawyers of the Amsterdam Avenue Association
and the other interests concerned. Turning 10
Senator Ford he asked:
Does not this contemplate the absolute 70
mova Of the tracks OF the Third Avenue road
from Amsterdam-ave on the payment to the
company of damages"
II does not apply 10 IHt lnifu avenue any
more than It does to the Metropolitan" replied
Senator Ford.
Senator Raines insisted that one road or tho
other must get out Of the avenue. and Senator
Ford assented. Senator Raines asked why tho
amendment said that nothing should affect tho
first section OF the act. Senator Ford explained
that the first section limited the distance Of ths
tracks from the curb
GRADY's GRACEFUL RETREAT
Senator Grady interposed that he regarded Uss
amendment to the Faows bill as designed to
take the Third Avenue road off Amsterdam
ave. and have the Metropolitan pay damages.
so that there will not be any confusion" he
went on. II will say that / shall not offer my
amendment to the Fallows bill. but It must be
understood that II Senator Ford moves his bill
instead | will ask that my amendment go with
the Ford bill. | not involved In this new
controversy. The committee can deal with the
new amendment without being influenced by my
amendment"
Mr. Lauterbach then began long review OF
the controversy from the time that street cars
were first run on Amsterdam-ave. He declared
that the Third Avenue road had paid the tax Of
3 per cent yearly to the city. and that 1t
the only road that did so previous TO 1884 1t
had paid for the right to exist in doing this and
/
hands Of the committee.
Il am here 10 protect absolute rights. the
rights Of the Forty second Street Railway to the
occupation Of Amsterdam ave-" he said. I'VE
ask nothing and we take nothing that is not
| own. We TO be let alone to enjoy the
| suits of the vast amount OF capital we have in
vested. and that is all II any grabbing is being
done it is from us. We are not the grabbers
IF we have to take up our tracks on the ave-
nue. we ask that you give the right TO
on the tracks Of the other company and pay
them or the city for the privilege
! Mr. Lauterbach said the Ford amendment now
offered for the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of the Metro
politan Street Railway Company He asked that
| the bill be further amended 10 provide that IL
should not affect any horse railway unless there
should be change in the motive power. His
company, he said had bought the Yonkers and
Union Railway. and Amsterdam would be
absolutely essential to the plan 70 give one con-
| tinuous ride for one fare from Yonkers to New
| York.
| LAUTERBACH THE LIFE -PREsERvER.
He then assured the committee that his COM
| pany proposed to every possible pecaution
protect life IL 1t should have the privilege OF
using electricity on its present tracks.
| Mr. Lauterbach said his amendments would
! permit the company 10 go on getting consents
! and 10 use the tracks Of the other railroad and
would provide against its being disturbed un-
less there should be change OF motive power.
That would also apply to the Grady amend
ment wouldn't it?" asked Senator Ford.
Il have nothing to do with the Grady amend
ment nor with the amendment of the Saturday
cabal" retorted Mr. Lauterbach.
Senator Raines asked If that amendment did
not drive the horsecars from the avenue.
MY amendment" answered Mr. Lauterbach.
makes us secure. and provides that no other
road shall gobble us up"
! Senator Ford declared at this point that n the
bill should he amended otherwise than as he
proposed there would be no hope for its passage.
Why" asked Mr.. Lauterbach.
There is no need to explain that TO YOU"
said Mr. Ford
is it because my amendment is just7" put in
| Mr.. Lauterbach.
Senator Ford said his bill absolutely tair
to both companies. II was A matter or public
policy TO remove the tracks.
Now we have the truth" said Mr. Lauter-
bach only five minutes ago you denied that
that your object.
Senator Ford said the people had agreed 10 his
amendment, and that the Lauterbach amend
ment would Kill the bill Mr. Lauterbach had
said he didn't want legislation but" cried
Senator Ford. the people demand II. horse
railway has rights whatever as against the
public interests in a public street IL has no
rights to anything but compensation for the
money IL has actually invested there.
Senator Ford asked. in closing. that the COM
mittee report the Fallows bill with his amend
ment for consideration, just as II had reported
the Ford bill
The committee decided to lay the whole mat
ter over until tomorrow. Ii will meet at S:3o
o'clock
THE LAUTERBACH AMENDMENTS
Following is the full text Of the amendments
proposed by Mr.. Lauterbach:
Sec l. That in the event IL shall prove I'M
practicable TO construct and use the other rail-
road tracks now upon Amsterdam-ave. witnin
the width OF said street remaining after comply
ing with the restrictions contained in the nrsc
-. ..-a u.,l 4 H. I,atfA