New-York tribune., 1902-07-27
AN AGREEMENT EXPECTED.
ARRANGEMENT REGARDING P. r. R. TUN-
MEL LIKELY NEXT THURSDAY-CON-
FERENCE ON MAYORS YACHT.

Largely in order to smooth down the rough
places in the path of the city officials who de-
sire that the Board of Aldermen on Thursday
next shall approve some kind of Pennsylvania
tunnel contract. Mayor Low yesterday had
conference on his yacht Surprise with Controller
Grout, Borough Presidents Cantor and Haffen
and President FOrnes of the Board of Aldermen.
Controller Grout is to sail for Europe for a five
weeks outing Tuesday, and II afforded all
the officials opportunity to discuss city mat
ters and wish Mr.. Grout a safe journey. After
returning to the City Hall Mayor Low said
The object of my conference this morning with
the Controller. the President of the Board of
aldermen and the presidents of the boroughs
OF Manhattan and The Bronx was to inform
them or the status of my negotiations with the
changes desired by the city and the public on
that railroad am proposing to give the public
Lne penent OF this information in my talk of
thursday OF this week, but IL seemed to me be-
coming, in the first instance to acquaint the
otncers OF the city at large and the presidents of
the two borouShs with the facts.
incidentally. we discussed many subjects in
Guiding the Pennsylvania Railroad tunnel ques-
ton, but our discussion this subject WIS en-
tlrely informal. In this connection It NAV be
well for me to say that have invited TO the
conference on Tuesday six members of the Board
OF Aldermen who in some special way re-
lated TO this matter: the presidents OF the two
boroughs affected, the chairman of the railroad
committee and Alderman Goodman who led
the signatures on the minority report and the
aldermen through whose districts the pronosed
tunnel runs. me conference Tuesday vUil
be in great measure Informal one but nv
earnest hope is that some mutually acceptabl
ground Tor common action may be discovered
and determined upon.
1t was learned from Mayor Low. incidentally
that his suggestions on Thursday with reference
to transportation matters, so far as the New
York Central is concerned, will be largely I'm the
abstract. as he is not ready as yet with specific
recommendations
There is better feeling all around concerning
the needs and deserts OF the Pennsylvania Rail-
road, whose application for a tunnel frsnch,sn
requires the approval of the Boa rd Of Aldermen
1t Is believed that Borough President Cantor
who led the opposition in defeating the motion
to approve the Rapid Transit COMMISSIONS re-
port, VIII meet the Rapid Transit Commission
half way II was suggested yesterday that the
pennsylvania road is ready 10 stipulate that IL
VIII pay the prevailing rate of wages That road
rarely II ever, has any trouble with its EN-
piUgeS 3 over wage schedules, and without com
pu4Sloh uouDtIesS would pay the top price for
al the labor employed on the proposed new
1t is doubtful If the Pennsylvania people IL
was SAID yesterday, will consent to go ahead
without perpetual franchise. President Cassatt
early in the proceedings said that the directors
OF the road considered that of the essential
features of the tunnel PLAN and that the com
pany would not feel like making an Iarea q - g.,
Vestnent unless IT could know that II was To
enjoy the fruits of its industry after paving
fair rental for all franchises The rental of
Sio,oOO a year is not regarded as particularly
important. The Pennsylvania taxes wouid
cut much larger and more considerable figure
elS tHe company VIII nnally have
than S50O,O00 year on real estate in addition
to franchise taxes.
After the return Of the Mayor and his guests
from their trip yesterday none of them with the
exception of the Mayor himself would consent
TO talk for publication.
WANTS CONTRACT FULLY CONSIDERED.
The following letter yesterday received at
this office from Jacob A. Cantor president of the
Borough Of Manhattan:
To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Permit me TO thank for your very fair
editorial in this mornings paper In relation to the
reasons urged by me against the Pennsylvania tun-
mel franchise in its present form, and say that
Shal take an early opportunity of further express
ing my views on the subject all | desire is to
nave this contract, of such far reaching impora nee
to this great city, thoroughly considered before final
action is taken.
May | venture TO suggest. also, that you have
been led into an unintentOnal error when you say
that MI Cantor has not explained his sudden
change of opinion concerning the Pennsylvania tun-
mel franchise, of which, in it's present form he is
now chief opponent? | was in favor of the
contract did ever declare myself I'm its favor
My action in the Board Of Aldermen in seeking to
have the franchise considered promptly as pos
sibe in order that my objections, as well as