New-York tribune., 1901-04-24
BRIDGE BILL UNDER FIRE.
TAA1IANY MEN, LED BY CONTROLLER
COLER, IN THE ATTACK.
CALL IT GIGANTIC STEAL" ETC.-THE COM
PANY'S POSITION STATED BY PREsI-
DENT CLARKSON.


River Bridge franchise has furnished the Tam
many leaders cry for the municipal
campaign, and some of them last night could
not find words harsh enough to characterize the
bill.
"A grab by the Pennsylvania Railroad" "A
fifty million dollar steal!" Well fight it TO the
United States Supreme Court" This will re-
elect Tammanyr' AN elevated belt line around
Manhattan Island!"
These were some of the extravagant things
heard last night where Tammany men congre-
gated There is every indication that the new
bridge bill will be painted by it's foes as a most
horrible legislative monster
On the other hand. provided the bridge ia
ou'it It's friends predict that it VIII vastly stmu
late the commerce of New-York Harbor and
'hat IL Is no more nor less than thousands of
! people have been asking for for years
controller Coler last night gave out an ex-
tended statement concerning certain features of
the bill. the most noteworthy allegation being
that under the Ranes bill the city would re-
ceiVe from the operation of the bridge only one
fifth of 1 per cent for the first ten years one
fourth of l per cent for the next ten years and
! sX-twentieths of per cent thereafter
THE CONTROLLERS ATTACK.
This is the way the Controller arrives AZ b,s
conclusion:
Senator Ranes's bill provides for the pavment 70
oner gE OF per cent OF the gross earnings from the
M trst ten ten years per cent for the next ten years
70 70 tS.aje & only to the elevated railway approach
W tue pri9ge and the act provides that the gross
sSrucrras ron ha me S operation Of the connecting
Of the gross earnings of the whole bridge structure
m as me me cost OF the connecting structures bears
The elevated railway approach along West-st
M%ud hs ousida hTiGdeooy s not It cost more than 10000
mated cost OF the bridge structure would be $40
Eh so 'bet be a s t &
dTo the operation Of this bridge would be about
9nefta rt n OF per cent for the first years one
tourth OF per cent FOR the years and six
Even the proposition which was informally mad.
20 tne COMMISSIONERS Of the Sinking Fund by repre-
more more ,advantageous than this. 1t was suggested
that hat, If the commissioners of the Sinking Fund
t~3glu approve the approaches requested, the
bridge company would agree that after the lapse
and its approaches should become the property of
the, the city OF New-York. This offer not deemed
period involved double that provided for in the
was, it was immea asursby more adyanfageous fhan
the provision made In Senator Raines's bill. which
NJ If the Governor should sign this bill the city of
would be reesated to the courts for the
Rainess bill seems to offend against so many pro-
pect Of the city being able TO successfully defend
notGq ms rights IS IN the courts or two things the pro-
pnnuo m De made TO- realize the force of righteous
tsreSt legal tights clear up TO the Supreme Court
this generation wat mas 'eeh Witnessed IN
THE COMPANY's POSITION.
James S. Clarkson is president of the New
! York and New-Jersey Bridge Company At his
office in the Park Row Building he said:
the rhG S smPy grants ogan the rights that
cppmpdny IA the statute In which it granted 1t
! charter II was in the Congressional act giving
that the stipulation inserted at the demand Of
the Tammany Congressman from New-York that
the state commss0n creotaS 3t5 En- as Wen as oy
approaches from Fifty-ninth-st. to Broadway with
to Fifty y-frst-st. on Broadway was approved by the
Si SosisS"n E5 threG Years age and also by the
,s me hao position OF our company in New York City
within the rights under our charter: nor has it
received any permits asked for any privileges
sion. The men that make up that commission stand
as high in record Of ability and public devotion as
new bill at Albany The commission which officially
freight approach on the river front is Composed Of
AndTeT and, H Green Isd9r straqs W R somers Hayes
no more capable or careful men to pass a matter
Ike this could be found among the citizens of New
PRECEDENT IN MASSACHUSETTS.
A precedent for this act of the New-York Legis
recentV Mner o ate act IN the State and ths cs
Of Boston have united in building freight railway
provided its great IRE system Of docks with the same
of an approach that propose here, and
London Is making ready TO do the same
The cry that going 10 take up West
any other street is thoroughly unfounded. BY
charter not allowed to occupy any street
the feet OF the posts OF the elevated structure
any street. We have the streets
elevated bridges. putting the foundation of them on
each side of the street. We can use none OF the
surface of the marginal wharf except where L
will be touched the feet OF the posts that will
carry elevated structure and tracks overhead.
tcally a free and clear IL Is now. We can
none OF the streets in any place and can take no
property without paying full value for IT, We have
always stood ready to make any proper concession
to the city. including 6 per cent from our gross
Income on all our property situated within the city
itself.
Controller CoIer yesterday sent the following
telegram to Assemblyman Fitzgerald:
The thanks of every New-Yorker and every
honest citizen of the State due to you and the
other members of the legislature regardless of
party. who have fought the passage of the North
River Bridge bill. When the public finally comes
to realize the enormity of this grab there will be
just such another storm of popular Indignation as
could the scope and extent Of that steal it is
this
The bill is indefensible vicious and entirely with
out excuse. 1t Is backed only by CLIQUE or IRE
sponsble Adventures in franchise grabbing, who
will grow rich beyond the limits of an ordinary
mans lima gination if these millions of New-Yorks
nconceivable that any legislature should pass such
a i'll.
The Merchants Association yesterday sent to
Governor Odell a letter asking him to withhold
his approval from the North River Bridge BILL
be heard in opposition to the measure
4 RIOT IN CAPE TOWN.