New-York tribune., 1901-12-29
MAY KILL BRIDGE GRAB
EFFECT OF THE FAILURE OF
ALDERMEN TO ACT FRIDAY,
EVEN IF THE FRANCHISE SHOULD BE
GRANTED TOMORROW. OFFICIALS
BELIEVE 1T WOULD BECOME
A DEAD LETTER

Ofncials at the City Hall and IN the Corpo.
ration Counsers office yesterday expressed be-
lief that the franchise for the Union Railway
Company to enable il to run its trolley cars over
the Central Bridge had been effectively killed
by the failure Of the Board of Aldermen TO pass
II on Friday. The measure will be before the
Board of Aldermen again at its special meeting
Tomorrow. but even if there should be a sufficient
number of votes to pass the resolution for the
Irahchlse the resolution would become a dead
letter. it is believed
Section 30 of the present charter. under which
the fast expiring Municipal Assembly is finish
Ing its work. declares that no resolution for "tha
granting of franchise shall 'be approved by
the Mayor until three DAYS after an abstract
Oh the action of the Board of Aldermen upon it
has been published in The City Record" II ts
agreed by all the officials that the section would
cut on approval of the franchise by Mayor Van
Wyck If the franchise were passed Tomorrow
because the resolution of the Board OF Alder
men could not be published as directed until
Tuesday, and Mayor Van Wyck goes out Of Of
flee on Wednesday. II is agreed that Mayor
Van Wyck could veto the measure on Tuesday.
but there would be no reason for passing reso-
luton merely to give an opportunity for one
more veto.
rev Tammany members of the Board Of Al
dermen who have been interested In efforts To
pass the franchise said yesterday that they be-
heVed the resolution, If passed tomorrow would
nave 10 be left over for Mayor Low to deal with
Iney did not appear TO derive great consolation
from their belief at that, probably feeling sure
that Mayor Low would veto the franchise If IL
came TO him. Assistants to the CORPORATION
Counsel however. We're of the opinion that
Mayor Low could not act upon any resolution
passed by either house OF the present Municipal
Assembly. They said Mayor Low would begin
MS duties under the provisions of the new char
ter, which abolished the Municipal Assembly
and substituted a single legislative body IN he
known as the Board of Aldermen. For that res-
son ne could not approve or veto a resoIutior,
passed oy both the present Council and Board of
Aldermen -
nave nope that if the resolution could be
passed Tomorrow IL would become a law
through the failure of any Mayor TO approve or
veto IT, Section 40 of the present charter de-
eIareS that the Mayor shall have ten davs after
the passage of resolution for a franchise in
Whlch 10 approve veto il. If he fails m an
prove or veto the resolution within the time al
lowed. the resolution shall take effect as II ne
mad approved it Assistants TO the Corporation
Counsel said that the clear meaning OF the sec
tlon was that no resolution could take effect
wlthout the Mayors approval until the Mavor
had considered il for ten days The facf thai
Mayor Van Wyck would not have ten davs IN
which TO consider the resolution was suf1cient
10 snow that resolution passed Tomorrow
would die with the Municipal Assem- blyN'
In view Of the opinions expressed at the C,rv
Hall NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. of the Central Fsry1re
grab said they felt sure that the resolution for
the franchise would not pass tomorrow. The
ract Is, one of the opposing aldermen said. that
the lobbyists could not be expected to pay for
worthless votes for a franchise. and a majority
vote for the bridge steal could not be secured
without money considerations"