New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-03-03

expectation of inquiry into the companys
affairs by Grand Jury, if not by the District
Attorney, becomes more confident and the pub
lie demand for such investigation more
urgent
Run1ors and charges of mismana cement, of
waste and of political holding up Of the
Third Avenue are heard on every hand
One of the latest ard most amazing of the
reports has as its central figure William II.
Mooney. for many years reading clerk of the
Board of Aldermen. whose chief notorety in
the past derived from the fact that he
acted as the 'gobetween" in some of the cor
rupt transactions which attended the gre ting
by the Doodle Aldermen" in 1884 to Jacob
Sharp and his associates of franchise for
street railway in Broadway. On the culmina-
ton Of that great public scandal Mooney went
over the border into Canada, where, like some
other American citizens before and after that
time he found a larger liberty and more
salubrious atmosphere than NewYork City
might have afforded him. Several years ago,
however Moloney returned to this State. pur-
chasing costly home at Bayport. Long Island.
where he lived in fine style although when he
gave up that home more than a year ago he
owed money right and left in the village even
his washerwoman never yet having been able
to collect the debt due her. But he unques-
tionabiy spent a great dea, of money at that
time. and story purporting to answer the
query. Where did he get it?' published
yesterday. the gist of which that he got
great sum from the Third Avenue Railroad
Company
The story goes back to the time when the
Third Avenue made its first application for the
Kngsbrdge franchise. Not for the first time
in the history of the "Boord' opposition was
raised by Aldermen the granting Of the fran
chise, and it animated to the company
that certain must be seen" and that the
private view would come high The sum of
100000 raised and intrusted to Moloney
Ghe story goes), whose peculiar talents for go
between" operations had heen so conspicuously
proved in 1854; but Moloney. according to this
astonishing tale. saw" nobody, but quietly ap-
propriated the $500 GOO and betook himself to
Long Island for its placid enjoyment Not yet
weary Of well doing. the Third Avenue men
raised another 100000 insure the securing
Of the franchise which would able the rail-
road company 10 extend its lines and benefit
the public, and this placed" with the
proper persons, the franchise being granted by
the Board OF Aldermen. Then an injunction
was obtained. the franchise was rescinded and
after ALL the Third Avenue had to purchase 1t
at public auction at cost of nearly an addi-
tionai 100000.
MR. cRIMMINs DOES NOT BELIEVE 1T.
When John D. Crimmins asked about the
Moioney story he said:
That story about Billy Molorey was cur
rent about the City Hall, think some time
ago. 1t absurd to j do not think
such sum as $500 900 would be placed In the
hands OF Moloney."z ; .---s.- 4--.-.--
Another story current yesterday was that the
Third Avenue Railroad Company, as long ago as
early last fall. realizing that its arrangement
with Naughton & Co. was costing It an excessive
in proportion TO the tangible results in the
streets offered the contractors 81 900 900 to
surrender their contract. but that Naughton 6,
Co, who find their profit in percentage of the
amounts expended for labor and materials, de-
clined the proposition. The laxity OF supervision
and the superabundance and slothfulness OF la
borers have long been matters OF common OBJ
5ervation and gossip among the people living
ssd doing business on the thoroughfares in
which the electrical equipment OF the Third ave.
system has been proceeding.
Much has been said about the difficulty ex-
perienced by the previous contractor In securing
permission TO open the streets In which the
work Of changing the motive power was to be
lone, and the surprising with which such
permission obtained by Naushton & Co.
the leading member OF which firm is a man
high in favor in Tammany Hall.
But yesterday the not surprising assertion
was made that all these street opening privi-
leges had cost money, and II was declared
railroad company had been obliged to pay
100000 to--somebody. Still another tale was
that leading director had ensconced in minor
rlerieal places in the Third Avenues Offices sew
sral of his relatives, whose salaries aggregated
k100OO0 a year, while If the posts had been
filled by persons without pull" their combined
salaries would have not been more than 5000
yearly. The purchase OF the Union Railway
Company CHE "Huckleberry" road) by the
~
probably furnish material for a big scandal
when the books of the latter corporation came
TO be examined by the receiver; and perhaps
also by the Grand Jury If current reports and
predictions come true. For it is asserted on
what is said to be high authority that the pur-
chase was made at a cost OF sc, 600, 600 although
1t could have been effected at about 81. 600 600
the result being the virtual wasting of 50 O0O
300 of the Third Avenue stockholders money
Temporary Receiver Hugh ]. Grant visited the
offices Of the Third Avenue Railroad Company
there until IL. when he went downtown. HI
would not discuss any OF the matters pertaining
TO his receivership.
RECEIVER HAS NO MONEY
The receiver has no money for current ex
penses for meeting any claims against tht
property, and he can obtain it only by an issu,
Of receivers certificates. An application will
soon be made to the Court to authorize such al
issue, which will be underwritten by Kuhn
Loeb & Co. and certain other banking houses
associated with them. Mr.. Grant yesterday after
icon had a long conference with Judge Lacombe
NAfv 1YKI