New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-19
TAMMANY AND MANHATTAN.
Mr.. CROKER SAYS THE ROAD BROUGHT
ALL THIS TROUBLE on ITSELF"
THE VARIOUS ATTACKS on THE COMPANY
THE DIRECTORS SAY THEY HAVE NO
STATEMENT TO MAKE AS YET
OPINION OF WALL STREET

>
In his Impressive Grafton pronounced at the
great meeting held in Carnegie Hail last October.
in advocacy Of the principle Of freedom OF the
judiciary from political coercion, w Bourke
Cochran. discussing at the moment the specific
topic OF the possibilities Of boss government,
uttered these words forecasting with singular
accuracy a condition now patent to all men:
and all these things he Will do without
ever maulfesfing sign or giving expression % a
hostile word. II is only necessary for an individual
10 fal under his dlspeasure TO have ten thousand
sets of wits planning to attract the favor Of the
boss toy devsing methods Of annoying the OBJECT
10 mention the name n the corporation that he had
just marked for destruction. he has but 10 troWn
10 discover a reason for assailing IT, and quickly
discover conditions that affect values and SEND us
securities down
Richard Croker when seen yesterday about
the war that Tammany Hall is waging on the
Manhattan road through the city government
professed to know nothing more about the case
than what he had seen in the papers. Il don't
know what the result would be-" said Mr.
Croker, If the Manhattan people took down
their elevated structure in Battery Park. This
IS a subject 20 tax the brains Of the railroad
officials. not mine OF course l realize that
without this connection it would be hard for
passengers 10 and from staten Island and South
the railroads lookout however. Now, this rail-
road has brought all this trouble on itself. The
company had eaky old drp-pans. and has dis
regarded all requests to make its tracks and
property in the Battery and elsew where look bet
ter. 1t has been suggested that the railroad
company may buy land which 10 run its
trains. but have no knowledge Of its inten-
ton"
Mr Croker was asked II it were possible for
the elevated road to secure the right 10 run
along some other street and reach the Battery
terminal in that way. 1t might" he answered,
slowly Il don't know much about those things.
] don't know whether It would have TO get per-
mission from the State Legislature or from the
city authorities"
NONE OF HIS BUSINESS HE SAYS.
When asked il it would be possible for the
Manhattan officials 10 buy Battery Park, Mr..
Croker said testify: Il don't know. I don't see
why / am asked about these things Il is none
Of my business I had nothing TO do with Pres
ident Clausen's order. The Manhattan Company
must obey the law 1 understand that it never
pays its taxes except under protest
In answer 10 the question as 10 whether or not
there would be any further orders regarding
the Manhattan company. Mr.. Croker replied.
Il don't know II any / don't hear Of anything
until see I'm the papers that the heads Of the
departments have decided on a thing. There
has been some talk % prohibiting the railroad
company from, securing a large revenue from
an advertising business that is not provided for
in their franchise: but I never believe in perse-
cutting any one I don't know that the advertis-
inz in the cars does any harm. The advertise
mtnts don't drip on people. OF course the ad-
uiristration is asked TO make the elevated road
Go great many Impossible things but we try
to be fair and square and not to persecute any
one"
Mr. Croker again. and in emphatic tones de-
MED that the steps taken hy the city govern
rleut were for the purpose # battering down
the price Of elev.tod stock SO that certain big
Tammauy officials who are short Of Manhal-
tan might make money Re declared that the
idea was prepos,erous, ana added, 81 do not
know of a Tammany man who IS short Of the
stock"
THE CHANGE ~ MOTIVE POWER
The directors Of the Manhattan Railway Com
ranv on February / decided 10 change the
motive power of the elevated roads. while leav-
ing in 10 President George J. Gould 10 decide
which of the suggested new systems Of pro-
puls'on might most advantageously be adopted
hv the company. and they also decided 70 recon-
mend 10 the stockholders for ratification by
tb.ro on February 2S proposition for the
issue Of S1NN0OOO new stock, part of when
should be applied 20 the expense Of introduc-
ir, the contemplated improvements. It was an
nounced in the daily press on February I that
President Gould had reached decision IN favor
NJ electricity. and that the work Of installing
the new eouipnent would be prosecuted ~ rap
idly as possible.
In the papers q the next morning appeared
t,,o items affecting the Manhattan Railway
Conpany. one being d report by Dr. NJ Is.
Teenav ~ the Board of Health. in reference 10
the need ~ drip-pans under the elevated struct-
,,~- AT Greenwich-st and Battery Place ana
also in Battery Park and the other, bill IN
troduced al Albany by a Tammany Assembly
man. providing for forfeiture Of unusued char
t-rs and franchises granted 20 elevated roaas'
this bU having previously included street sur
face railroads" and in its amended form being
aimed at the Manhattans privileges on the
East side beyond the Harlem River. Ihe next
dav another bin was introduced In the Assem-
tlv providing that trains on all the lines ol
the stetan, should run all night \ day or two
later some OF the Boards Of Local Improvements
rassod resolutions asking the Municipal Assem-
llv 10 compel the Manhattan company to put
drfr,-nans under its tracks at all street-cross-
,,gs and 10 inclose all its stations Since that
time various city departments and oihclals nave
made demands as follows: That rubber floor
ing De substituted FOR the presen; rope mating
in the cars 4 ne Manhattan road. that each or
the $50 drip-pans now in use be- repaired that
drip-pans under its tracks at all street cross
ure for its entire length. and that the company
be- forbidden TO store cars on It's tracks. Pres
ident Coogan of the Borough Of Manhattan, VINO
on taking office a few weeks ago complained
that ne had nothing to do, has found IN the
Manhattan Railway Company panacea for ms
woes and is busily engaged in preparing plans
for bringing it to justice, his latest idea being
f. draw up resolutions for Introduction in the
Nuuicipal Assembly. one prohibiting the use
~ a third track and another compelling the