New-York tribune., 1902-12-11
THEY SAY THEY DO NOT NEED Il PROTECTING
CL4ISE IN THE p r. FRANCHISE
Many Urge Republican aldermen TawaanyCounty
Committee May Lfc.
Il. GRTBER EXPLAINS.
He Says He Stands BY the Citizens
Union Platforms.

Abraham Gruber. Republican leader Of the
XXIst Assembly District, supports Aldermen
Mathews and Jones in their attitude of oDposi-
tion to the granting Of the Pennsylvania tunnel
franchise. and it is understood that Captain f
Norton Goddard Is with Mr. Gruber on the
| proposition and that Alderman Whitaker, OF
| Captain Goddardg district, Will likewise vote
! with the Tamnany men to block the building OF
| the tunnel
| So far as known Mathews Jones and Whit
taker are the only Republican members who
will stand with Tammany in trying to defeat the
tunnel project From the temper OF the Repubi-
cans in the XXIst District there is little doubt
that Colonel Gruber will soon HE himself to
a marble yard and order headstones for his rep
resentatives in the board Mathews and Jones
have received letters by the score urging them
10 get in. line with enlightened public sentiment
and vote for the franchise. 1t was reported last
night that they weakening The only
apology that offered for the three aldermen
yesterday that they had been consistent
from the start in opposing the franchise, and
that they did this because the contract gave the
company perpetual franchise. The fact that
the Appellate Division. at the end of twenty
five years, can raise to a proper figure the
annual charge for the use of the franchise does
not appeal TO Mr.. Gruber nd his friends
Il don't care how long they make the lease"
said Mr.. Gruber yesterday to Tribune reporter
They can make It fifty one hundred years. If
they like, so long ii is not perpetual. Mr.
Low ran on the Citizens Union platform in 1891
and again in 1901, and both of these platforms
called for eight hour day for labor, the pre-
vailing rate of wages and municipal ownership
of franchises The Citizens Union platform last
year demanded that if the prevailing rate of
wages clause was unconstitutional, the constitu-
ton should be amended that it would be
legal The charter, which Mr. Low and Mr.
Rives helped to construct, says that franchises
shall be let for a period of not to exceed fifty
years, with changes in the terms every twenty
five years. They wise gaZaboS in making
the charter and the platform that way and now
they ought to live up to them. If | am bad
citizen for standing by the Citizens Union plat
form and the amended city charter then / Shall
continue to be a bad citizen. | want it distinctly
understood that never interfere with the Judg-
ment of alderman or an Assemhlyrnan. III
Mr. Mathews, whose Scotch-Irish blood seems
to have been worked up. or Mr.. Jones wants
to vote for the franchise, he is at liberty so 10
do They are intelligent men, and they know
what their constituents want. There will be no
interference by me, no matter what they do"
Mr.. Gruber's law partner. w M K. Olcott, IS
strongly in favor of the tunnel project.
Il take the practical view of the tunnel prof.
ect," said Mr.. Olcott. Il think it would be
fine thing for the city and that it would en-
hance real estate values here and in Queens
1t may be that there are grave objections
against a perpetual franchlSe Tor the tunnel
Perhaps some of the aldermen Will think thdt
they ought not to vote for it because of that
fact Personally | should very much like to
see the tunnel built
Robert c. Morris. president of the Republican
County Committee. says that there ought not
to be any delay in granting the franchise
and building the tunnel.
THE Mayors letter states the case clearly,
said Mr.. Morris. THE railroad company offers
to pay a good round price for what it wants.
1t does not propose to carry local traffic. and
for that reason it is not on the same basis as
the Interborough railroad, for instance which
will operate road built by the citys aid
think that Senator Platt voiced the sentiments
of Republicans generally when he intimated
that the legislature would be justified. II the al
dermen refused to work for the city'S best in
terests to give the Board of Estimate and APP
portionment power to grant the franchise. Prom
inent railroad men tell that soon as the
Pennsylvania gets its tunnel built other rail-
roads will follow its example and build tunnels.
number of suggestions have been made that
the Republican County Committee ought to take
cognizance of the attitude of the Republican
aldermen who vote with Tammany against the
franchise. If the tunnel project should be de-
feated il will be time enough for the county
Committee to consider the suggestion.
II have some very definite views on the need
of building the tunnel said R. Fulton Cutting,
president of the Citizens Union, but L do not
care to express them to-day. Possibly before
next Tuesday I shall have something to say