New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-07-30

appointment of conference committees from the
Rapid Transit Commission and the Board OF
Aldermen. and ! think the conflicting interests
Will soon get together
Edward NJ Shepard said:
think the MAYOR has done a generous public
service in his manner Of treating this prooiem
He brought together the various interests dIi1
they talked very frankly TO one anothel' anu
The result was a much better understanding.
The company's representatives cohtehoeo thdt
they could not take a franchise unless II was
rerpetuaI Unless such franchise was granted
they maintained that they could not issue pohos;
The question Of labor clause was clscussea. :,
believe that the laboring people VIII ger an
.bst the law allows them They will undoubt-
@dlv get the prevailing rate OF wages, pul, as
To The eight hours feature. IL has been demon
strated that men cannot work eight hours uh-
Ter ground To smooth out any difficulty. am
sure that the Pennsylvania Railroad people VIII
agree to the insertion of an eight nour clause
as formality. | don't think we ought to break
I'D on this question. because | don't think any
thing is involved.
DISCUSSION ON LABOR CLAUSE.
Alderman Doull said that the principal discus
sion was over the labor clause. Mr.. Shepard, he
said did not think that such a clause could be
legally drawn All the city's representatives
he declared were in favor of compelling the
company to observe the labor laws. and to en-
rloy local men on the work. Vice-President
Green opposed the labor clause mildly. but SAID
he did not think there would be any trouble in
adjusting the matter satisfactorily. the per-
petuity clause of the franchise was strongly oh
5ected to by President Cantor and the aldermen
Aldermen Doull in favor of inserting
clause giving the city power to acquire the tun-
mel If II became evident that commerce was be-
ing carried away from New-York- Vice-Presi-
dent Green declared that such provision would
make it impossible for the company to float its
bonds to finance the undertaking Mr. Shepard
promised to investigate this phase.
As TO the question Of compensation, Alderman
DouIl suggested that the tunnel be leased to the
railroad company on the same basis as vault
privileges The railroad people replied that they
could not take the tunnel under such conditions.
because the tax would be too heavy. Mr.. Doull
also suggested that the Mayor, the Controller
and the presidents of the Boroughs of Manhat-
tan and Queens be named in the contract TO
supervise the work and readjust the compensa-
tion at the end of twenty-five years.
President Cassidy of Queens gave the opinion
that il would be some time before the questions
at issue were settled. Mr.. Cassidy ridiculed the
idea that the commerce of New-York would be
carried 10 Montauk Point by the tunnel. Neither
did he oppose the perpetuity of the franchise
The tunnel will bring the outlying districts
of Long Island he said. which have hereto
fore had poor connections with New-York City.
into closer relations with the metropolis, and
for that reason is greatly desired"
Mr.. GREEN EXPECTS AGREEMENT.
vice-Presdent Green of the Pennsylvania
Railroad said that there was an amicable feel
ang among the conferrees. and that the questions
were gone over in a friendly way.
.'wiu the Pennsylvania company ask for On
amended franchise" ne asked.
NO we will agree in general way TO many
of the suggestions made was his reply. Il be-
leve that all the objections 10 the franchise as
st now stands will probably be settled at the
hat- he al and the RaDid
Transit Commission We have not abandoned
hope of obtaining franchise, by any means"
Alderman w r. walkley, who was at the
City Hall yesterday, said:
am in favor of tunnel for the Pennsylvania
Railroad. but not in favor Of the present
franchise. According TO the present franchise
the railroad will not have to pay the city one
cent until the tunnel is in operation do not
think that is right II l was TO ouna iarge
20 pay right away for the use of the land. Sup
posing IL took me ten years TO build H. no one
thinks for a moment that I would not have to
pay until the building was completed 1t should
be the same way with the tunnel They can
take ten years but will not have to pay one
cent until the tunnel is in full operation
Another thing I object TO is the clause which
allows the building of terminals at two places
and then says and elsewhere" That is very
indefinite. They could put up terminals in a
dozen places If they wished, according to that.
AGAINST EIGHT HOUR CLAUSE.
do not think any eight hour clause should
be inserted This railroad is private corpo-
ration. and have right TO dictate to II
regarding the hours IT shall employ men, III
i feel disposed to pay man $40 day for ms
work that is my lookout, but IL he wants so
day that IL his lookout. and ii is no ones
business but his and mine.
/ believe that the franchise will be fixed in
some way favorable to all. and that it will be
passed / cannot see for a minute how il will
but help the city, and l hope they get 1t In
the end but as il is now, If I had been present
last Tuesday, / would have voted against IL.
] think the action Of the board in rejecting the
franchise has opened the eyes of the public to
the Importance of the matter, and they will see
that are in the right
/ do not believe that any sober minded man
will think for a moment that the board held
up the franchise for a monetary motive,
they can readily see that that is impossible
/ agree with President Cantor in some of the
things he has said. but emphaticaly disagree
with him in others. | think he has taken
decidedly wrong course in the matter, after
hedging on the issue.