New-York tribune., 1902-03-25
THOUGHTLOW WOULD VETO
MAYORS ACTION A SURPRISE To
MESSRS. ORR AND SHEPARD-THE
PLAN on SATURDAY.

! Mayor Low yesterday forenoon signed the Kel-
sey bill granting a perpetual franchise TO the
| Pennsylvania Railroad Company for a tunnel
| under Manhattan to Queens Borough. He sent
! TO the Governor a letter and a memorandum
On the bill The letter requested an emergency
! message on amendments which the Mayor be-
| lieves would improve the Kelsey bill. The May
| or's message reached the Governor before he
| left Albany for this city yesterday afternoon to
| attend the Military Athletic Tournament.
Last night Mayor Low at the Fifth Ave
rue Hotel when the Governor arrived. The Gov
ernor and the Mayor talked for ten minutes.
after which the Mayor went home.
| The Governor was seen by a Tribune reporter
| later.
! Did you get the Mayors request for an emer-
| gency message on the tunnel amendments?" the
| Governor was asked.
| Il did. and I've answered it already" said the
! Governor.
| Which proposed amendment will your emer-
! genCy message accompany"
| The amendment to the Rapid Transit act
us there time at this late hour to get the
amendment through both houseso"
I'm inclined TO think there is"
BOARDS DOMINATING POSITION.
The Endorsement by the Governor of the Rapid
Transit Commissions proposed amendment will
give the commission a dominating position in
arranging the financial details for the tunnel
franchise At the same time the Mayors
ceptance of the Kelsey bill was pronounced
surprise to Alexander z. Orr and Edward VI.
Shepard, of the Rapid Transit Commission. and
August Belmont. president of the Rapid Transit
Subway Construction Company Following the
conference between the Mayor and the rapid
transit people Saturday, it was unoficiaIly
said by Mr. Shepard, who had submitted an
amendment to the Mayor that there entire
harmony. and that there was no further nee
for the Mayor to sign the Kelsey bill. The plan
on Saturday was for the Mayor TO veto the Kel-
sey bill, and send bill drafted by the
rapid transit people, to Governor OdelI with a
request for an urgency message to the Iegslat-
ure.
Corporation Counsel Rives made the following
statement to a Tribune reporter last night:
The Mayor signed the Kelsey bill because he
nd TO the unne bel T W%rk begun right away
city so TO speak. sit down between two stools AS
the situation is onight Mr.. Boardman has in Al
hany a bill favored by the rapid transit people
which which he has shown the Governor. The Mayor
sent 70 the Governor today an amended Kelsey
bill which believe, protects all the prerogatives
same time satisfactory to the Pennsyivana Rail
road COMPANY We don't know what will happen
TO those new bills The Governor can If he sees
fit. send either both TO the legislature with
an emergency message. but in order to have some
thing definite and certain the Mayor signed the
Kelsey bill which. in all substantial particulars
the provisions Of this hi the franShse for fSe the
~
the Board Of Aldermen. and the Board OF Esti-
mate would make all the arrangements with ref
erence TO compensation to the city. Under the
rapid transit amendment which Mr. BOardman has
taken TO Albany, the approval OF the BOARD Of
Aldermen would stn he necessary. but the initia-
tive In giving the franchise would be taken by the
Rapid Transit Commission. and the commission
would make all the necessary financial arrange
ments If We don't get either Of those amend
Of course, that the Governor will sign the bill.
AMENDMENT TO KELSEY BILL
The amendment to the Kelsey bill. which Mr..
Rives says will meet all the objections of the
Rapid Transit Commission. is as follows:
Except that no proposed grant Of a fran
chise under this section shall he considered by the
route and method of construction of a proposed
tunnel railroad has first been examined and ap-
proved by the Rapid Transit Railroad Commission
of the City of New-York
Before this amendment sent to Albany
Mr.. Rives had long and earnest conversation
at the Mayors Office with President Cassatt
Of the Pennsylvania Railroad First Vice Presl-
dent John P. Green. Fourth Vice President
Samuel Rea. James G. Johnson special counsel
and William II. Baldwin jr., president Of the
Long Island Railroad. President Cassatt and
his party made the trip from Philadelphia yes
terday afternoon in record breaking time They