New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-01-23
RAPID TRANSIT sNAG.
WHALEN OPPOSES LEGISLATION
SIRED BY THE BOARD.
COUNSEL SAYS 1T 10 0-'
NECESSARY AND MAY CLOUD THE
BOND ISSUE

When the committee from the Rapid TRANSIT
Board consisting of Controller Coler' Ooiii''i-1
sioner Rives and A. B. Boardman OF cou"ss
reaches Albany to-day for the purpose OF se'
ting the Legislature to amend the city cnarlei
SO that the Municipal Assembly VIII nave NJ
voice in the issuing OF the bonds which must
be sold to pay the contractor who is construct
ing the tunnel. it will find that lively opposi-
ton to its plan has sprung up When the de-
sired amendment was adopted on Saturday py
the Board 1t was announced that 1t had been
submitted to Mayor Van Wyck and other city
officials and that they approved H. II "Ouiu
seem as if Corporation Counsel Whalen cOulu
not have been consulted. for the unexpected
opposition comes from him.
Mr. Whaen had a consultation yesterday Win
ex-senator Thomas Creamer. who watches for
Mr. Whalen all legislation at Albany anectlhB
this city, and the result was that Mr. Whaleh
instructed Mr. Dreamer to oppose the bill. TO
the reporters Mr. Whaen said that while he
had not examined into the subject exhaustively'
he was of the opinion that the amendment was
needless and might prove harmful
BAD MOTIVE SUSPECTED.
Friends of rapid transit who had talked with
him, he said, considered the amendment 10 De
i'll advised and likely to cloud the bond issue.
The Rapid Transit act was passed before power
was given to the Municipal Assembly to pass
on bond issues, and that law distinctly says that
the Rapid Transit Commissioners may from time
to time make requistiOn on the Board OF Est-
mate. which shalI-and Mr.. Whalen laid en-
phasis on the shall" saying that the statute
was mandatory and not permissive-lssue
the bonds at such times and in such amounts
as called for by the Board. Mr.. Whalen
does not think therefore, that the Municipal
Assembly has any voice in the matter at all
and he said it had been represented to MIN
that the proposed legislation was urged by
somebody who either too Jealous Ier OF
who was at heart opposed to rapid transit anu
wanted to kill it,, Moreover, Mr. Nhalen pointed
out that Section No 40 of the Charter ALREADY
expressly provides that nothing therein con-
tained shall be construed to repeal or affect
the Rapid Transit act.
MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLY TO ACT.
Some members of the Municipal Assembly
seem to feel that reproach is being put upon
them without cause. An effort will be made at
the Assemblys meeting to-day to nave Doth
houses pass resolutions pledging the Assembly
To vote for the issue of bonds for the construc-
ton Of the underground rapid transit rallrOau,
A large majority of the members or both houses
are now friendly to the scheme, 1t is SAID, ana
willing to vote for the bonds, but the Tammany
leaders fear that political or other compIca,,
lions may arise to cause holdup or the tuhnel
bonds so they want to put the Assembly on
record.
There will be a hearing before the Municipal
Assembly committee February on the ap-
plication of the Manhattan Tunnel Railway
Company for a franchise ito use certain streets
in the borough of Manhattan for the construc-
ton and operation Of a tunnel railroad under
meath the surface thereof" The proposed line
begins in Chambers-st., one hundred feet east
Chambers-st to the shore line of the Hudson
River, and thence through tunnel or tunnels
underneath the Hudson River to the State
boundary.
OTHER TUNNEL PROJECTS.
This application, as we'll that for the pro-
NJ fhA Railway
pie, may have had the effect of moderating the
| request Of A C. Hume, representing the Ter
| minaI Railroad and Tunnel Company. who has
| hitherto been asking for franchise In per
| petuity for his tunnel. by which he plans to
| connect Brooklyn Manhattan and Jersey City.
These tunnel interests will probably conflict. and
| Mr.. Hume is now willing to take seVenty-nVe
| or fifty year lease terms similar to those
| about to be granted to John B. Mcdonald. Mr..
! Hume intended to ask for the Endorsement OF
| the Rapid Transit Board yesterday, but the
| Commissioners held no meeting. as it was an
| nounced they would do. Mr. Hume is quoted
| as saying:
! I do not think the Endorsement Of the Commits.
| sion is absolutely necessary. but it would be Of
Of the enterprise, as, for instance in obtaining
o feel t M e such eand Saf eon Gf ap aP
| franchise to the Municipal Assembly, or the
aufborties In order to forestaIi any ossibIe OBJ
lection interference we would also apply to the
those portions Of the Of the rivers which are
GtSR TSs nd6rsemeG Of the Board Would
likewise assist US In hghting rival tunnel projects
a GT Ra%sy Rhs there is Of
! for more than one tunnel the project Of the Long
! both plan to connect with the railroad company 5
station in Flatbush-ave, Brooklyn.
John B. Mcdonald, the successful bidder for
the Manhattan underground road. is so besieged
| by sub-contractors and persons seeking employ
ment that he has in self-defence hedged him