New-York tribune., 1901-04-29
HOW BRIDGE BILL WAS AMENDED.
COMPENSATION TO CITY INCREASED AND
PARK PROVISION CHANGED-NO PO-
LITICAL PRESSURE APPARENT

Albany, April IS tSpeciaD.-The Tammany
Hall officials who have been stating that their
advices from Albany indicate that Governor
Odell will sign the bill granting the New-fork
and New-Jersey Bridge Company authority
to construct an elevated road along West-st.. in
the guise OF approach" and have been de-
clarlng that political influence pushing the
bill. have perhaps confused that bin with SEN
ator Ellsworths referee monopoly" bill.
Political influence certainly is supporting the
referee BILL and politicians it is evident.
hope to obtain the lucrative posts of referees
If Governor Odell signs the bill. But there was
no particular token of political pressure when
Senator Raincs pushed through the Legislature
his bill in relation to the New-York and New
Jersey Bridge Company The very fact that the
bill could not have been passed in the Assembly
except for the votes OF the Tammary Hall AS
semblymen from New-York and OF all the Demo-
cratic Assemblymen from Kings County shows
that they could not have believed it was a meas
of the Republican party majority.
The political nature of Senator Ellsworths
referee monopoly" act doubtless will be even
more clearly indicated at the hearing before
Governor Odell tomorrow. when an earnest
protest against it will be submitted by the
representatives of the Bar Association Of New
York
The fact was noted to-day that Senator Raines
modified his NewYork and New-Jersey Bridge
bill after it's introduction on March 90 AS
first introduced. the bill read that mo part OF
such bridge. appurtenances, approaches. extern
sions or connections located Is or shall be
upon. or under any public park OF such
city, in, under or upon the surface Of any
public street of such city (other than passage
ways for travel transportation forming parc
Of the system of docks. wharves piers of such
a city, whether known a marginal wharf or
otherwise) less than fourteen feet In the clear
above the surface Of any such public street"
This sentence was later amended so as to read
follows mo part Of such bridge appur-
tenances, approaches extensions or connections
any lands at the time of such location within n
public park of such city, in, under, or upon
the surface Of any public street of such a CITY
(other than the passageways for travel or trans
portation forming part of the system of docks
wharves piers of such a city whether known
a marginal wharf or otherwse) or less than
fourteen feet in the clear above the surface of
any such public street"
The words lands at the time of such location
within a" have been interpolated before the
words public park"
The compensation for the privilege of building
the bridge and its approaches was also changed
AS introduced the bill read:
Every such corporation shall pay annuaIIv
to the Controller or other chief fiscal officer of
such city per cent of the gross earnings from
the operation Of such connecting structures in
vided, and such payment shall be made in each
year within thirty days after the determination
and notice Of the amount thereof as hereina fter
provided