New-York tribune., 1901-12-31
BRIDGE GRAB FAILS AGAIN
TAAIAIANY ALDERMEN TO MAKE LAST
STAND FOR IT TO-DAY.
COMPANY MIGHT SEIZE THE BRIDGE AND
USE 1T WHILE LEGAL PROCEhD
INGs WERE PENrING.

The resolution for the Central Bridge grab
failed again in the Board of Aldermen yester-
day when only twenty four votes for 1t were re-
corded forty-five votes being required TO pass
franchise In spite of the apparent hopeless-
ness of the situation, the Tammany Aldermen
who are anxious to have the franchise passed
before the Municipal Assembly goes out of eX-
istence managed to have the resolution made
special order for the last meeting or the bodru
of Aldermen to-day.
If by any possibility the lobbyists who have
been working to get the measure through should
manage to drum up forty-fve votes to-day IN
the Board of Aldermen for the franchise 10
enable the Union Railway Company to lay It's
tracks over the Central Bridge, it is not be
lieved that the company would gain any legal
rights on the bridge. An assistant corporation
counsel said at the City Hall yesterday that
every resolution of the Board OF Aldermen
passed yesterday to-day and calling Tor an
appropriation Of money or granting franchise
would be worthless and would die with the Mu-
nicpaI Assembly. He based his opinion on the
thirtieth and fortieth sections of the charter,
to which The Tribune referred on Sunday. They
provide that the Mayor cannot approve resoiu-
ton for the appropriation of money or for the
granting of franchise until three days nave
elapsed after the action of the Board or Alder
men has been published in THE city Record
and that resolutions can take effect without the
Mayors approval only when the Mayor has had
ten days in which to disapprove them ana mas
failed TO interpose his veto.
Opponents of the Central Bridge grab heard
Yesterday. however that there reason for
the activity of the lobbyists, even at the elev-
enth hour 1t was said that If the resolution for
the franchise could be passed through the BOARD
of Aldermen the trolley company might contend
that the franchise passed and proceed to
grab the Central Bridge and lay its tracks ana
it might be able TO use the bridge for year
while the legality OF the alleged IRAN
chise was being passed upon by the courts:
On the theory that possession is nine points or
the law IL was said the company might even
be able to keep control of the bridge indehnltely.
The running of the NewYork and Brooklyn
Ferry Companys Forty-second-st. Terry without
a franchise spoken of yesterday as sample
of what A corporation may do in defiance or
the city authorities The company applied 10
the Dock Board for franchise for that ferry
nearly two years ago. The Corporation Counsel
gave an opinion that the franchise would have
to be granted by the Municipal Assembly ana
the Board of Estimate and Apportionment.
Later ne reversed himself and said the DOCK
Board could grant the franchise on the ground
that the company had a general ferry franchise
granted by the legislature. The Dock Commits
sioners sent the Sinking Fund Commission an
agreement by which the ferry company was TO
pay $4,000 year for dock facilities for the
Forty-second-st ferry. Mr.. Mclean. the Con
troller's engineer, called attention to q pro-
vision of the charter that seemed 10 require
right to operate the ferry could be given 10 the
company.
At the beginning Of this month tho company
began 10 operate the ferry without any apparent
right. The Dock Board asked the Corporation
Counsel to begin proceedings for an injunction
TO stop the running of the ferryhoats. but moth
ing has heen done and the ferryboats continue
to run. A few days ago tho Sinking Fund Com
mission directed the Corporation Counsel to
make an investigation and report the ferry
scandal.
IF ferry company can grab dock facilities
supposed 70 he controlled by the city and oper
ate a ferry without a franchise one OF the
Aldermen said yesterday. why can't trolley
company grab the Central Bridge and cover II
with tracks without franchise? II would cost
less 10 grab the bridge and keep NJ a night IN
the courts a few years than II would 20 build
bridge expressly for the trolley cars