New-York tribune., 1901-03-16
BROOKLYN TUNNEL DENOUNCED.
MIR. ORR REPLIES TO ATTACKS ON THE
RAPID TRANSIT COMMISSION.

Alexander E. Orr. president of the Rapid Transit
Commission. had lively debate yesterday after
noon in the Council Chamber before the Councils
Railroad Committee, and heard the proposed ex-
tension 10 Brooklyn denounced as steal and a
job for the exclusive benefit of the Pennsy Ivania-
Long Island Railroad. Mr.. Orr valiantly defended
the commission, howeve-, and came out with fly
ing colors Chairman Oakley of the committee is
SO fearful that all of the obectors the route of
the proposed extension have not been heard that
he ordered another hearing for Friday. there
by causing another weeks delay in. the beginning
of the work
Charles O'Conor Hennessey and Frederick Co
cheu spoke for the people of South Brooklyn.
W. D. P Bliss for the City Council of the Trades
Union. and ex-senator John Ford and Stephen NJ.
Hoye for themselves. in opposition the
from the Battery Flatbush-ave
Mr. Hennessey made arrsignment of
the Long Island Railroad. and charged the Rapid
Transit Commissioners with being in league with
the railroad to put the tunnel where it would bene
Mt the railroad alone He said that the route was
clearly in the interests of the Long Island Rail-
road. or the Pennsylvania Railroad. and palpaby
not in the interests of the citizens of Brooklyn
Mr.. COcheu of Bay Ridge, continued in the
same strain. He said that Patrick Fl. Flynn stood
ready to build South Brooklyn tunnel Mr.. Ford
denounced the Long Island Railroad.
Mr.. Bliss denounced the whole plan steal.
and said that If the tunnel built South
Brooklyn the Long Island Railroad would build
tension, giving the city two. instead of one He
afterward explained that he didn't think Mr.. Orr
would steal, and then every smiled.
When Mr.. Orr's turn came he said in part:
1t is rema rkable. but il must be the fact that
the Long Island Railroad has taken all these
people into it's confidence IL must have told them
we are In league with il, and that merely
are virtually making the charge that your Mayor
and Controller the servants of the Long Island
Railroad The thing is preposterous. I say to
You, on my reputation, that the Rapid Transit
Commission had other object in view than to
benefit the citizens Of Brooklyn.
Mr.. Hennessey spoke again. saying:
The Chamber of Commerce dominates the situa-
ton to-day. These men, elected a public
ofhce-and can say trlthfully that most Of them
could not be elected a public Offfce-do things
10 suit themselves. and say what shall be done in
the way or rapid trarSit They drew up the
rapid transit laws and all the amendments, and
nave the entire say I'm this matter
Mr. Orr was Immediately his and replied
to Mr.. Hennessey, and said that his statements
had no foundation in fact He said that the
Chamber of Commerce had nothing to do with the
matter, and that the laws and amendments were
made in Albany. not at meetings of the Chamber
Of Commerce. He also said that ne did not know
who the contractor would be; and in spite of a
statement by Mr.. Hennessey that Patrick II
Flynn would take the contract for South Brook
lyn. Mr.. Orr did not say MIR. Orr closed by
saying:
| am firmly convinced that the time is coming
when the whole system of rapid transit will be so
interviewer that man who wants to come from
flatbush or Bay Ridge go Hghbridge for
networks between the bOrOughs. ! stake my repu-
tatton as business man that this is of the
greatest ooomS 10 the city or Newly Ork toward
be.