The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-07
REPORT TO FAVOR TUNNEL.
ALDERNEN'S RAILROAD COMMIT.
TEE rs SHIFTING.
but the Chances Are That the Grant Won't
Get to a Vote In the Board on Tues
day-Tammany Men Openly Fight
EranclIise-Itcrublican Leaders for u.


II looked yesterday as if under political
pressure "a majority report In favor Of tie
PENNSYLVANIA tunnel franchise might lie
brought out of the Alderlnen's Committee
on Railroads. Alderman Frederick Lundy.
who has been classed among the opponents
of the bill. said he was no" inclined TO vote
for the grant lecause Of the great benefit
which would accrue to the city from the
tunnel Aldermen Diemer and Downing OF
BROOKLYN had been asked by the Republican
organi2a,io ion Of hings to support the bill
because Of TIE helpful nature Of II toward
Brooklyn. This would give the grant a
ma jority Of the committee Of nine. Senator
Platt's declaration for the tunnel brought
out some earnest support from district
leaders
But while the prospect Of such report
from the COMMITTEES frightened up there
was no change III conditions to indicate
that the grant would prevail when it came
up for a vote before tho Board OF Aldermen
on Tuesday President Fornos of the
Board of Aldermen said: 1T is satisfactory
to learn that maJorIty of the committee
shows a DISPOSE ion tC report fayorab!y Oh
the franchise, but do not think the board
will adopt il ON Tuesday. There Is strong
sentiment in the board against the FRAN
chise. and it may take some time Tor pubic
opinion to on erCome that.
Although 1 am very anxious to have
the grant passed do not believe it would
be good policy to try TO rush it through on
Tuesday"
The committee will frame its report
on Monday afternoon. Under the rules
of the b ard committee reports go over
for one week A two-thirds assent will
be necessary o permit the report to be taken
up on Tuesday. Opponents Of the grant
like Alderman Mccall, said yesterday that
they would be willing TO bring the question
TO a decision on Tuesday If the supporters
Of the franchise wanted il done. In orier
that every Alderman might be warned to
appear Tuesday President Fornes caused
the City Clerk yesterday TO send out the
following notice:
DEAN SIR. President Fornes directs me
20 urge ur,n tie members oil tie Loard tne
inportHnUe OF their h, ing present at the
meeting on Tuesday next. tie tth Inst. II,
Committee on Railroads. will, In all proba-
ti.ity. report is tndiug in tie matter Of the
Pcunsylyaniy tunnel irahch!'c az tat meet
Ing and a full attendance OF tho members
OF tie hoard is urgently requested H. order
thet ills very imsor,ant subject may re-
truly. y. j. oCuLLY. City Clerk.
If the franchise goes through tho boa I'd
il will not he hy the grace Of Tamna ny
Hall. Those elements in Tammany which
have openly shown hand Oh this ques, on
are fighting the grant. In spite Of all III
denials Of senator Timothy ID sullivan it
Is common telief that he is directing tie
man,ruvros against the tunnel The Tam
many Aldermen that lac can line W are agGilS,
he franchise while on the other hand the
influence Of the leaders In Rerul lican poll
tics in New York II teing exerted In favor
of the bill Tammany contractors who
would like some Of the tunnel york have
not leen appeased yet, Alderman James
T. Gafney, who represents the district in
which Charles F Murphy lives and who is
never far from the elbow Of theleader said
last night:
The PENNSYLVANIA should lie made to
agree to the eight hour clause aud the pre-
vail! g-rate-ot-Wagcs clause. | am con-
tractor myself and know what am talkiI z
about ! lclieve that II the IelnsylvaI ia
gets this frat chise 1t will give its Contracts
to its own mel and they will employ thcir
own !orernell a. q h,okkceIers and use the
same methods e ernrloyiI labor that they
use In PERI sylvaria. Tie contractors can
pay their rre' ~ they please and work them
as To- z a. thev please
.Evcn II was personally in favor Of this
Franchise a. IL stands, could hardly afford
to vot, for this because | have to look out
for the laboring vote in my district. The
Pennsylvania will have a hard time getting
the Franchise through IN its present form,
and il will have Just as hard a time II IL
goes up TO Albany g. II through
II is thought Likely that the citizens
Union. at its regular me-, ting Monday night,
may give some expression on the tunnel
franchise