New-York tribune., 1903-05-08
FIGHTING ''GRAB" BILL.
Big Delegation Opposes the LHom-
medieM Measure.

Albany May (SpeciaD-Senator LHommedieus
alleged grab street railway bill, the only one "i
half a dozen such measures that was passe" 'S -
legislature. had its merits and dement's depaleu p
fore Governor Ode at hearing to-day. Inc pni
extends the consents which have been heretofore
given by local authorities Tor the cons'ruo'io on -
trolley railroads that would expire on Decei
Of this wear to December 81 1906. and makes sec
ton 90 of the Railroad law apply TO CUES wv"
or villages of a county adjacent to the cluss
New-York and Buffalo. Those who opposed 'he
bill were all from New-York CITY ana aIs"eu u'@
its rights in franchises would be seriously i'a
IL the bill should become law. Upon the o'"'
hand it was supported by the Mayors Oh 'oun' '
Vernon and Yonkers as a means. in their opliioh'
of increasing the number of trolley roaoS !" -,
chester County The head OF the street -
system OF Buffalo w. Cary Ely, supported II II o"i
a belief that it would enable him to increase tI'e
trolley lines of that city in neighborhoods heeus
these lines. Toward the close of the hearing & &PoE
ernor OdeIi made a remark that was cohsloeieH 9is
ni6cant bv the opponents of the bill The Governor
said in answer to Alderman Clark. OF fonKers,
that the trolley roads could not get the consents Oh
local authorities for extensions without oeginhns
all over again." and for that reason had appeaieU
to the Legislature -, W
Opposition to the bill made by James "
pryor serretarv of the City Club; James D Len
maier chairman of the legislative committees Oh 'lo
West Side Citizens Committee OF ono -
Charles Sprague Smith. of the Peopie ms s
w II Gibson representing the Boafo Vi iio
and TRANSFORMATION and fcrty-fve other organizd-
tions; James r. Hoile, secretary OF the
facturers' Association; Thomas A FUTON oA ti
Citizens Union; Philip Bloch, E. NJ oicot' a
TT u Dumout of the Merchants Associatioh anu
Alderman Clark of Yonkers. The supporters OF the
bill were w Cary1 Ely, president OF the iI'e
national Railway Company of BuHalo' NldSoI
F'iske and Joseph S. Ward president or the bodlu
of Education Mount Vernon; Mayor "dis" u
Y0nkers and W. X Milnor of Brooklyn.
Mr.. Lehmaier the first speaker who opposed the
act said that in his judgment it should have oeeh
sent TO the Mayors of New-York ana fuiidio' On. 90
therefore was not properly before the eAecu'iEe
of the State. and IT Wouid DC an
measure if signed.
Charles Sprague Smith said that the extension OF
the life of the consents would be transferring tne
property of the people to corporations without aoe
n,,ote coronensation This should be permitted
''Your exceliency" said Mr.. Smith, addressing
Governor Oden, has shown during TINS year ah
immediate sense of the peoples interests In your
attention TO tenement house legislation and iesls
lation regarding child labor, and, reviewing your
conduct as their chief protector. look 70 you TO
safeguard this possession of theirs
James W Pryor said that the consents whose
extension was sought would cover ninety fran
chises He submitted to the Governor oriet OF
Frederick H Allen, Of the City Club. pointing out
that if the bill should be signed great value "ouid
be given 10 the rights of the Peoples Iracuoh
Company. a road whose franchise was acquired IN
1885 to operate on twenty-one ana one-ndii iIlles
of streets in The Bronx
These rights of the Peoples Traction Company
had never been made use of, yet the Peoples Irac-
ton Company had been leased to the Interurban
company. Mr.. Pryor declared that among the
franchises whose life would be extended was the
one of the Peoples Traction Company Originally
the franchise had been knocked down for 81 per
cent of its gross receipts, but this had been re-
duced so that the road would pay only per cent
of gross receipts for it's privileges. The road
might be run through Bronx and Pelham Bay parks.
But you have TO obtain the consent Of the local
authorities to go through park said Governor
OdeIl
1--WE think said Mr. Pryor that the local au-
thorites of Pelham have already given that au-
thority."
Joseph s Wood OF Mount Vernon. declared that
he did not see why If the consents had been
THE bill is favored by .he Mayors Of Mount
Vernon and YOnkers." said Mr. Wood; because
to the Battery In New-York for eight cents:
whereas in Mount Vernon would have to pay
sand people go to New-York from Westchester
County by the railroads, but there are fourteen
companies wish to build twenty-one miles more of
roads in Westchester County"
measure by the coming to city OF an electric
railway 1 think this bill is in the interest Of the
Mayor walsh. of Yonkers said the main difficulty
in that city was TO induce trolley companies 70
come the city and not to prevent their coming:
Alderman Clark. IN opposition to the bill. said
that the trolley roads could get the consent or
But they cannot" answered the Governor. they
would have to begin all over again D..
That precisely what want them 10 DO
II submit said Mr. Ely. that there is nothing
appears to be a hobgobl1n that has disappeared IN
w Minor of Wood Harmon & Co. of Brook
lyn. spoke of the benefit it would be to that city
MIR Iehmaier declared it was clear some people
had been Smoked out" by the hearing.
The Governor made no decision on the bill to-day