New-York tribune., 1900-01-24
WHALEN is APPEASED.
CHANGES MADE IN THE WORDING OF
THE AMENDMENT

RAPID TRANSIT COMMITTEE GOES TO ALBANY
TO-DAY TO GET QUICK LEGIsLATION-THE
REPORTED steel. CONTRACT.
Corporation Counsel Whalens opposition to
the special legislation desired by the Rapid
Transit Board has vanished. Controller Coler,
Commissioner Rives and A. B. BOardman called
upon him yesterday with the draft of the pro-
posed bill TO amend the city charter and showed
him that his fears lest the bond issue should be
"clouded" by the proposed amendment were
groundless. Incidentally some changes were
made in the wording of the bill. and Mr. Whalen
and the Mayor are both satisfied that all IS
well. The committee of the Board which in
tended to carry the bill to Albany yesterday will
therefore take it to-day, and will make a special
effort to have Governor Roosevelt send II to
both houses of the Legislature with emer-
gency message
The amendment to the city charter will In
sure the issue Of bonds for the rapid transit
road without the possibility of ''holdup" by
the Municipal Assembly. The amendment will
be made Section 40 of the charter. hy
adding provision that the entire issue of rapid
transit bonds shall he authorized at one time
by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment,
and specifying that the Controller shall have
power to issue and sell the bonds from time to
time upon the certificate Of the Rapid Transit
Commission that the money has been earned by
the contractor. The Controller said yesterday:
As matter of bqsGsss sss 5 Ehen the the G city y s Ra1
to make assurance doubIy sure We want to give
to investors in the bonds every guarantee OF
We also want to make sure that there shall not oe be
fOrb UOr aS
Corporation Counsel whalen said Il am in
favor of every proper step that will hasten rapid
transit
THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT
Here is the proposed amendment in its final
shape as altered to secure absolute lucidity and
to avoid any danger of misinterpretation:
An act to amend Chapter 37S of the Laws of 1897.
entitled An act to unite into one municip24iitEy NY
under the corporate name of the city of New ork
the various communities lying in and about New
York Harbor, including the city ana county OK & NV
York the city Of Brooklyn and the county OF hlhss;
the county of Richmond and part Of the county OF
Queens. and provide for the government there
fhe People Of the state Of New-York, represented
Of 1877 entitled An act to unite into municipal
ity. under Thea corporate name of the city OF New
York, the various communities lying in and about
Of NewYork the city Of Brooklyn and the county MY
OF Kings. the county 81 Rlchmona ahl part OF In on+
ernment thereof" is hereby amended 50 as to read
Sec IS The Municipal Assembly is authorized to
unto duly authorized the franchise or right to con
struct and operate railways in, upon. over. under
Of the city. hut no such grant shall be made ex-
cept upon the limitations and conditions OF this ms
tho Municipal Assembly % franchises and rights
The II 'f ey 20 6S end ha cheap easy
ana convenient intercourse may be had between an
parts the city. the city of New-York. as hereby
constituted, shall have full and exclusive power 10
same or otherwise and to maintain and regulate
ferries over al streams ana waterways WiIh4 or
Assemby MAJ pas apprGP5Gie ordinanTeS 6 n6' ha l
vested rights of existing companies or corporations.
to enforce the provisions of this section and to
shall repeal or anec, in any manner the provisions
tion heretofore known as the Mayor Aldermen and
Comm0nalty OF the city OF NeW[ orh or any Inn- m
braced therein or TO repeal or affect the existing
Municipal Assembly 10 or for the issue Of corporate
ton lss Of mis- act shan not be Necessary 10 au-
thorize the controller TO issue snch stock toT the
of { is9l as amended. The Roaid Of Estimate and
New-York as hereby constituted shall anything
herein contained TO the contrary Notwithstanding.
be subject 10 all the duties and obligations pre-
scribed in said Chapter Of the Laws of 1891 as
ment and Controller therein mentioned: Pon the
execution OF any o@9iTagt made pursuant 70 chap
Rapid Transit Railroad Commissioners may in its
mate and Apportionmcnt for the authorization OF
such corporate stock either for sucn amounts from
time to time as they shall deem the progress of the
to pay the entire estimated & expense OF eHefGtnS
for the entire amount. the Controller shall ndorse
b iGr @ tne uf6orzed =" 6n ssusI Nv 5
Board of Estimate and Apportionment; and in such
such stock may be issued from time to tine
thereafter IN such amounts as may be necessary
meet The requirements of such contract. The
certificate by the Controller. mentioned in Section
14q this act. shall not be necessary make such
contract binding on The city of New-York
MAY FILE BONDS TO-DAY OR TOMORROW.
John b. Mcdonald. the successful bidder for
the Rapid Transit contract. said yesterday that
he hoped to file his bonds with the Rapid Tran
sit Board to-day or tomorrow. He refused to
discuss the report that he holds contract with
the Carnegie Steel Company, by which this COM
pany agrees TO furnish him with structural steel
for in building the tunnel at prices far below
those ruling at present, but this report was cred
tied in some places in this city yesterday. The
report is that two three years ago. when steel
selling about 30 per cent lower than it sells
now. Mr.. Mcdonald entered into negotiations
with the Carnegie Steel Company to obtain a
price upon structural steel. He secured a price
but no time limit was placed upon the expira-
ton OF his right to ask for the steel. 1t is said
this fact enabled him to bid much lower for the
work than would have been the had he
been compelled to pay ruling prices for steel.
The report says further that Andrew Carnegie
is much perturbed owing to this alleged agree
ment with Mr.. Mcdonald, and is incensed
against those in the company who entered into
1t. 1t is said that the retirement OF F. T. +.
Lovejoy the direct result of this unlimited
option, and that A. r. Peacock. first vice presi-
dent and general sales agent is also to feel the
weight Of Mr.. Carnege's displeasure. 1t is said
further that Mr.. Carnegie is doing everything
in his power to bring about the cancellation OF
the contract.
Mt. CARNEGIE WILL NOT DISCUSS 1T.
When a Tribune reporter called to see Mr..
Carnegie about the matter he declined to dis