New-York tribune., 1902-03-21
BOTH CENTRAL BILLS PASS.
PROVIDE FOR ELECTRICITY IN TUNNEL
AND GREATER TERMINAL
FACILITIES.
10y TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUNE

BY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUNE
Albany, March 20.-The Assembly passed to-
day. after prolonged debate. the bill OF AS
semblyman Apgar to abolish the use of steam
by locomotives in the Park-ave. tunnel by May
!, 1905 unless a longer time be granted by the
State Railroad Commission and the Bedell BILL
afording the New-York Central the opportunity
with the consent of the State Railroad Commits
sion and the city authorities. to enlarge the
terminal facilities of the Grand Central Station
in New-YOrk City. The Apgar bill passed by
vote Of 1913 to !. and the Bedell bill by a vote or
IS to 30
Mr.. Wainwright, of Westchester County, led
the attack on the Apgar bill, and sought to
amend it that the State Board Of Railroad
Commissioners would be able only to extend the
time for the completion of the improvement of
the tunnel one year. The amendment also pro
vided a punishment and fine for the company in
case the Improvement shall not be finished with
in the ultimate limit fixed by the commission.
In support of his amendment Mr.. Wainwright
said that under the Apgar bill the public had
no definite assurance that there would he any
improvement whatsoever Mr.. Beder, chairman
of the Assembly Railroads Committee, opposed
the amendment. and caused something of
furry when he said:
II the truth be known. there are several men
down in WestChester County who are interested
in real estate deals and they want fixed time
for the abolition Of steam in the tunnel so that
they can stand up and get purchasers for their
land
Assemblyman Finch of New-Yorls said that
he favored the Wainwright amendment, and
said
without this amendment have no hold on
the railroad for the establishment Of an i'm
proved motive system in the tunnel. 1t is
simply a question whether shall put 1t up
to the railroad company or have the company
put 1t up to US
Assemblyman Grady and G. H. Smith. Of
Rochester. also spoke against the bill.
Mr. Apgar replied to the opposition to his bill
when he showed that IT had the sanction Of
Mayor Low, and that the difficulties attending
the installation of an electrical system in the
tunnel We're so great that contractor would
attempt the work with even a ten-year limit.
The amendment was then killed by vote of 80
ayes to 81 noes, and the bill passed. Mr..
DAILY. Of New-York, was the only member vOt-
ing in the negative.
The Bedell Terminal bill. which applies to
both Buffalo and NeW-York hrst-Cass cities.
was attacked by the Buffalo delegation, on the
ground that 1t would enable railroads having
terminals in that city to acquire property 10 the
disadvantage and injustice of property owners
Particular apprehension was felt in regard 10
the Main and Hamburg canals. which the Buff
falo men claimed might be appropriated under
the Bedell bill. Mr.. O'Malley accordingly offered
an amendment eXempting these waterways
from the Application OF the blll which was de-
feated after considerable debate
MI Bedell, its lntroduCer, said that il had the
sanction of the city administration of New
York. and that any change in a terminal in
NeW-fork or Buffalo would have TO meet the
approval Of the city authorities OF either city.
Mr.. Blackwell. Republican, Of Brooklyn vio-
lently attacked the bill. and created something
Of a stir when ne said that il would hermit the
brooklyn Rapid Transit Railroad and the Man
haitian Elevated Railroad to take City Hall
Park When he was asked If he knew Mayor
Low favored the bill he said:
II don't care for the Mayor Of NeU-YorI5 He
can't swing this legislature nor my vote. The
Mayor can make a mistake the same as other
people think he has been deceived In regard
10 this bill"
Mr.. Davis, of New-Yori. said that he opposed
the bill first because II permitted grants under
waterways. the necessity for which he did not
see would tend to the improvement of the
Grand central station. and second that there
was no definite compensation fixed 10 the city
for the franchise
The bill was passed with the following Re
pubhcans voting against it-
bennet, Blackwell, g. Davis Finch and New,
COMP or NeW-fo-' Brooks Cook O'NIaIIey
Patton and Ruehl OF Buffalo and Williams Of
Onondaga. ''''' Va