New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-07-23

OPPOSITION TO THE FRANCHISE LED
BY PRESIDENT CANTOR AND AL
DERMAN MCALL

The Pennsylvania Railroad COmpany's appli-
cation for a franchise was rejected yesterday
by the Board of Aldermen, by vote of SO to 10.
As the consent of the aldermen is necessary
before the franchise becomes operative, the
tire project is sidetracked for the time being
Borough President Cantor and Alderman Nc
Call led the attack against the project yester-
DAY, on the ground that the city's interests We're
not properly safeguarded. that a perpetual fran
chise grant was objectionable. that there should
be stipulation in favor of organized labor
and that the integrity of the aldermen had been
questioned in insinuationS that had appeared
in the newspapers
The action of the board sustained the Com
mittee on Railroads which had the acceptance
or rejection of the contract as approved by the
| Rapid Transit Commission under consideration.
Both Controller Grout and Edward NJ Shep-
ard, counsel to the Rapid Transit Commission
were greatly surprised when informed that the
pennsylvania franchise had been referred back
to the commission. Mr. Grout asked what oh
lection had been made to il. He was told that
Borough President Cantor had said that the
compensation was entirely inadequate. amount
ing almost to a gift of a valuable franchise. Mr.
Grout replied that the compensation was the
most liberal that the city had ever received for
any franchise and that it was a great mistake
on the part of the aldermen not TO indorse the
action of the Rapid Transit Commission Mr.
Grout would not discuss the absence OF a labor
clause in the franchise other than 10 say that
the labor law applied only 10 public works
Mr. Shepard said:
am very sorry to hear this news. 1t is a.
great mistake 1 presume that the objection
was on the score of perpetuity and the omission
| OF labor clause. All say is that 1 am
uouDIIul II a labor clause could be drawn that
would be binding. However. 1 feel sure that the
pennsylvania Railroad officials will be willing
to agree to the insertion of such a clause TbaTr
yxirh
! sucn clause. feel certain that the franchise
J will eventually pass the Board OF Aldermen
but regret that the action to-day will men a
! serious delay. The Rapid Transit Commission
cannot possibly act on the subject on Thursday
Inc time IS too short 1t will probably be Sep
! temoer before the franchise is finally awarded
! RAILROADS COMMITTEE DIVIDED
! The aldermen's Committee on Railroads is
/ composed of Diemer. chairman brooklyn Rep):
/ GOODMAN CManhattan. Rep), Lundy (cusion
/ Democrat, Coney Island). Downing (Brooklyn
/ Rep9. Klett CNIanhattan. Rep1 Wafer Brook
iyn. DemJ. Mccall CTammany Dem.). and
: Owens CTammany Deml
I Aldermen Goodman. Peck and Owens were the
: only ones in favor of the contract. and Alder
man Peck in the discussion that followed the
submission of the report said he thought the
! Rapid Transit Commission should have i'm
posed some conditions regarding labor on the
applicant company.
The report of the railroad committee recon-
mended that the contract approved by the Rapid
! Transit Commission be rejected because it made
no provision for building in the tunnel pipe gal
leries for the use of the city. and said nothing
of the observance of the eight hour and prevail
ing rate of wages laws and the employment of
union wOrkmen.
Alderman Goodman moved that the word "re-
jected" be changed TO approved"
Alderman Mccall moved for Immediate con-
sideration. but Alderman Sullivan suggested
that it lay over for week Alderman Mccall
! spoke bitterly of the many newspaper articles
referring to the hold up by the committee and
| suggesting that the committeeman were waiting
Ito be seem" He laid great upon the lack
of supervision left to the city. and declared thar
a generation from now people would laugh at
the Board of Aldermen that gave away so great
and valuable a franchise without conditions
Mr.. Goodman. in reply. said he wished an
. amendment could be made compelling the con-
tractors to employ only union labor and to con-
form to the prevailing rate of wages law He
believed. however that such an amendment
would be unconstitutional
Alderman DOulI held that the contract should
he sent back to the railroad company. He de-
clared the Rapid Transit Commission had too
much power.
TOO LITTLE TIME FOR DISCUSSION
Alderman Wafer OF the railroad COMMITTEES,
declared that sufficient time had not been al
lowed for the discussion so great project calls
for. Alderman Sullivan spoke in like VEIN He
would not vote for the amendment nor would
he vote for any contract with the railroad com
pany unless there a provision for municipal
supervision of the work
Alderman Downing. of the committee. also
protested against the insinuations that the COM
mitteemen were waiting Ito be seem
President Cantor said that while the Board
of Aldermen had power to amend or modify
tl,a if ha1 fIa
proval rejection by recommendations TO the
Rapid Transit Commission. He said il was a
mystery him that clause was inserted in
the contract maintaining the rights of the city
and of union labor.
Now, don't be deceived he went on. this
is not franchise to the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company. This franchise, if YOU grant il. viii
create Il monopoly a separate and distinct
corpora ton. backed. IL is true. by Pennsylvania
Ra alroad capital but still separate corpora
ton. 1t gives to this corporation the sole right
TO bring together three great railroads, the
PENNSYLVANIA, the Long Island and the New
York Central II also gives this tunnel control
of the outgoing travel of the subway. IL gives
no reserve power TO the city. and leaves all
power with the self-perpetuating. undemOcratlc
body, the Rapid Transit Commission.
Il am opposed to this contract for several rea-
sons. / hold the compensation TO be absolutely
INADEQUATE; the franchise gives the right ex-
clusively forever TO this tunnel corporation. and
the power of control, what control there is is IN
the hands of the self-perPetuatins Rapid Tran
sit Commission. and not in the hands of the
President OF the Borough. who is responsible Ior
the highways / am opposed 10 this contract
and franchise. and shall vote against IL
MR.. FORNES TAKES THE FLOOR
Loud applause greeted Mr.. CautOr's speech
President Fornes called Mr. McInnes the
chair and addressed the board.
Mr.. Fornes began by saving that the railroad
company was entitled fair treatment and