New-York tribune., 1902-07-12
SEVEN ALDERMEN OPPOSED
THE P. R. R. TUNNEL RESOLUTION
LIKELY TO BE HELD UP TILL FALL.
ATTACKS ON ITS PERPETUITY AND LABOR
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. BY ORR
CIRCUIT AND SHEPARD.

csren members of the Board OF Aldermen yes
terday. at the hearing on the granting OF the
franchise for the Pennsylvania Railroad tuh-
mel showed unrnistakable hostility to the tunnel
proposition. and II is expected that when the
resolution approving the action Of the Rapid
Transit Commission comes before the ooaro on
tuesday the following aldermen will oppose 1t:
Alderman Whitaker (Rep.) and Alderman
Douu Dem), Of Manhattan, and Aldermen
wentz (Rep.). Downing Rep). Malone (Dem.)'
Kenney (Dem.) and Bridges CDem.), Of Brook
lvn All Of these members spoke on the subject
and their words indicated that they are opposed
10 the granting Of the tunnel on the terms
favored by the Rapid Transit Commission.
Alderman Diemer. chairman Of the Railroad
Committee. when seen last night py 1rlOuHe
reporter. said:
81 think the tunnel resolution will go over till
fan. No action will be taken on It this month
or next"
The hearing yesterday before the Com
ru.ttee on Railroads. OF which Mr. Diener Is
chairman Alexander z. Orr, president Of the
Rapid Transit Commission; Edward NJ. Shepard,
its counsel, and Bion l. Burrows, the secretary
were present TO advocate the tunnel
It was announced that Albert B. Boardman,
who has been connected with the Rapid Transit
Commission as Joint counsel with Mr. Shepard.
had withdrawn during the Pennsylvania dis
cussions, and had been engaged by the Penn
sylvania Railroad as its counsel Edward M
erout came in just before the hearing began.
Alderman Whitaker read a protest, which
follows, In part. using the perpetual franchise
clause as the ground OF his main opposition:
ALDERMAN WHITTAKER's PROTEST.
Gentlemen OF the Railroad Committee: ,
There Is at least one thing upon "hlen fsnc6tse is
perpetual one. and In behalf OF every ~GIhiHs fest
man and taxpayer In the city soieInhy Pi0'eS'
against its being granted.
For the present government to grant perpe1usi perpia
franchise would be q betrayal OF the peoRTTT
rights and in opposition TO good government e Inc
perpetual franchises and this reform @ ro
don must follow in its steps and thus Pno- Pgi
honest corrupt Influences that were all powerful
- When / consider what Mr.. Low and Mr., Riyes
said and wrote before they became public omclals'
and contrast that with what they are now stand
ing for on the question of perpetual franchises u
blush for them but especially teel oeep ih atsiI IN
are seriously threatened.
eInepasl my 'FFanchses The Streets Of the city
long to the people. The city government Is eeGteo
ton the question OF perpetual franchises was not
made aetive issue before the PGSbs bSrT and ,f6 6s
the people 10 tie the city.s hands perPetuaiy-
proved by the Mayor. is in ITS nature usurPaton
Of power and also il is absolutely impoSSioed P 10
against in behalf OF the city Hundreds Of con-
tingencies exist: thousands of possibilities lie dor
mant most OF which cannot be solved at this
time: and the attempt TO- TO- solve them, them oy con
tempt the impossible --,
There .s @ eHp Pro ID m shf the en sad
Of the period of tw enty-hve years. cannot agree.
eompany eogn ans viii think one sum is reasonable and
the city that another sum is reasonable. and the
etsTingy fraudulent on its face,
fS6c2e Of G tha % s
the streets and warn the Honorable a able Mayor and
70 aeiG come IFaS'' commission 10 nee from '' "'A'n
MR.. ORR DEFENDS THE RESOLUTION.
The following members Of the committee were
present: Aldermen Diemer (chairman). Wafer.
Goodman. Lundy. Downing and Owens. and
President Fornes. ex-oficio.
Alexander E Orr. president of the Rapid
Transit Commission reviewed the situation as
1t had been studied by the commission He
spoke OF many conferences between the SUBJ
committee and the railroad officials which end
ed in the approval of the present plan The
rental OF 81 linear foot for each track after
the first ten years was spoken Of The first
ten years the charge is to be 90 cents linear
foot
In response 10 a question. Mr.. Orr said the
Pennsylvania Railroad tunnel would be too
far underground TO interfere with any municipal
subway. He also explained that the contract
prohibits its for local traffic
why cannot the city build the tunnel?"
asked Mr.. Wafer
81 suppose the municipal legislature could do
It." replied Mr.. Orr, but the commission is
stricted by the law under which ii operates.
We might build the tunnel TO the middle of the
river"
Alderman Downing asked some questions and
objected 10 the perpetuity Of the franchise. This
provoked the following retort from Mr.. Orr:
las railroad director and / am a director
in several companies. I would not enter into
any contract with the city except under per-
petuaI franchise
Mr. DouI asked what the intention of the
railroad was. Mr.. Boardman said he could not
say definitely, as he was only connected with
the railroad in a legal capacity, but he knew
that the executive officers desired merely to
extend their service and give better passenger
service. He said that he knew positively that
there desire to get monopoly.
The railroad seeks to hide It's intentions in
This franchise" asserted Mr. Doull. He de-
clered that the city would receive no compen-
sation until the road was in operation. He
noted that there was eight hour labor clause
in the contract. Mr. Orr explained this by say
Ing the contract was with private corpora
uon and not with the municipality The alder
man then said:
This matter has been thought of by the rail-
road for six or eight years; by your commits
sion for three or four months. and by this board
FOR only three or four days. We don't know
much about this matter you do but we want
TO find out and we will find out before this
route is approved by the board"
Mt. Doull closed with the charge that scab
labor would be brought from Pennsylvania TO
build the tunnel under charge OF padrones. He
asked for the fullest publicity and investigation.
Alderman Malone spoke briefly against the
franchise.
Dennis Quinlan. representing the Federated
Union, objected on behalf OF the workingmen.
Controller Grout said he wished to impress
On the committee that this was not a in
which municipal ownership could be cons 'dered.
as the railroad was not for citizens within city
limits. but for travellers from distant parts.
Referring to the eight hour labor law the Con-
roler said he sympathized with the Central
Federated Union, but at time did II
TO the members Of the commission that II could
In fran uaS with