New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-28
MURPHY FEARS "BIG TIM"
THINKS THE LATTER Is GETTING HIM
INTO \ HOLE OVER PENNSYLVA-
MA RAILROAD FRANCHISE.

Charles T. Murphy. his friends said last night,
had discovered n scheme on the part OF Big
Tim sullivan n put him lin n hole on the
Pennsylvania Railroad tunnel franchise qucs-
ton, now before the Board Of Aldermen. He
has consulted Attorney Geucrai-eect Cunneen.
Of Buffalo, and one two Tammany Judges
about the advisability OF ordering the Tammany
men 10 support the franchise measure. II Mr..
Cunnccn and the judges say that the legislature
cannot take the awarding OF tho contract out
Of the hands OF the aldermen and vest IT in the
Board OF Estimate. Murphy will say nothing, and
let the aldermen thrash out the matter as they
sec nj.
IT, on the other hand, the legislature has the
power to shift the franchise letting 10 the Board
OF Estimate, Murphy will order the Tammany
men to vote for the tunnel contract, as he wants
10 Ice in a position 10 get next" or, as near
next to the company as possible The friends
Of Murphy assert that all the friends OF SulIi-
in the board will vote against the fran
chse. Murphy wants the Pennsylvania 70 get
It's franchise but he is afraid have 1t said that
the Murphy men favored the granting of the
franchise, while the Sullivan men In the alleged
interest of organized labor, opposed it. Muir
ply is greatly afraid Of doing anything now
that will hurt the prospect of nominating and
oectinE Congressman Mcclellan Mayor next
fall,
days there is doubt whatever that Murphy
and Sullivan are playing a stin game of poll
ties under cover. and that the tunnel franchise
has been dragged into it, When Murphy went
away his immediate friends said that he was in
favor of the tunnel, and that the Tammany men
would support the franchise resolution when it
came to Il vote. As soon sullivan heard of
Murphys move all of his men i'm the board took
"a stand against the franchise. and then the
were going to do. The interests of the city do
not figure to any extent \ fake standing by
the-labor- organizations skirmish is being kept
up by DouIl, Sullivan and Mccall. while all the
time the question of how the granting of the
franchise will affect the mayoralty convention
is steadily kept in view
Unfortunately for the interests of the citi-
zens of this city the FIVE fusion members with
Tammany tendencies who went over to Tam
many two weeks ago are disposed TO stay in line
with their new allies:
The railroad committee Of the board will hold
a meeting to-day to discuss the franchise. The
Republican and fusion members of the commit
tee are pemer, Goodman. Peck, Luudy Down.
ing and Iilett. The Tammany are Wafer
Mccall and Owens. Lundy. fusion, and Nc
Cali and Wafer are said to be against the fran
chise. owens, Tammany, is in favor of it. The
committee is likely 10 report favorably on the
franchise The real fight will be when the fran
chise comes before the full board, whether on
a favorable unfavOrable report OF the COM
mittee. Present indications. in view of the
actions of Murphy, are that the vote will be
close.
The intention of the Pennsylvania company 10
abandon the tunnel project unless it is acted on
favorably at an early day Is aroustng wide COM
ment. The Low administration is in sense
committed TO the tunnel scheme. Mayor Low
having favored il from the beginning. Tam
many may be forced to take the other side of
the question, and there is a strong probability.
from the present outlook that before the end
of the next six months Sullivan and Murphy
will be accusing each other of trying to hold
up the Pennsylvania Railroad to the detri-
ment of the laboring interests of the city.