The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-31
HOLD UP BRONX R.R. CHARTER
TAMMANi tLDERMEN SIZE RI 1T
THERE'S No % orr w.
sullivan Pickc,s AZ tity iiail Doors 10
keep Meubers Out Mhiir Folks From
The IBronN Who Want the Toiley R"sd
Rage IN Vain NObud, ''scen" Yet.

pLaNs OF tne New lOfh ara fbll NHtsltI
Railroad Companyto build an electric rail
road from The Bronx to Port Chester. The
matter has been in the hands of he Alder
mon . railroad committee since last MAY
without action. II has been common
gossip around the City Hall that the COM
pany would OF be allowed to construct
its line until some one had been seen"
A few days tefore the regular mcetin g
OF the Aldermen last Tuesday Alderman
Parsons announced that he would move to
discharge the committee from further
consideration of the quest ion President
Eornes on that day, as If acting IL obedience
to orders from Tammany, with which he
Il now allied, declared the meeting Of the
board adjourned for want Of quoi UNI.
tho roll having been called thirty minutes
or more before the time when the Aldermen
usually get down to business
The snap vote Was met by tho fusion
Aldermen signing n petition for special
meeting 10 pass upon the Port Chester
company's application. President Fornes
called that special meeting for yesterday.
Presldsnt Haffen and the Aldermen Of The
Bronx want the railroad, and the people OF
that borough and Of the Westchester towns
want it. Mr.. hafen has pleaded with
Leader Murphy OF 1ammany to direct the
Tsmmany Aldermen TO pass iayorably Oh
the application. Yet the Tamlnany Alder
men again defeated the project yesterday
BY staying away from the meeting. and for
the second time within week leaving the
board short Of a quorum.
Last Tuesday Little Tim Sullivan pre-
vailed on the railroad committee not to
make a report on the application. pleading
that some property owners in The Bronx
wanted another public hearing Yesterday
Sullivan, Alderman Jim Gaifney and Alder
man Charlie Culkin picketed the entrances
to the City Hall, That their work was
effective was apparent from the fact that
when the first roll was called there were
Just six Tammany Aldermen in their seats.
After each Of many calls of the roll Mr..
Fornes instructed the sergeants-at-arn to
60 through the building in search OF absent
members Each time the sergeants came
back with the report that they could find
nobody. At the very time they made this
communication Sullivan and his friends
were downstairs IN the corridors.
Forty Aldermen make q quorum. One
roll call showed that there were thirty
there were at least hall a dozen Tamnany
Aldermen in the corridors Just alter this
roll call two or three fusion members
came in. Three Of the six Tammany lien
promptly lett the chamber.
@We ant wait here all day for quorum
was the excuse they loudly proclaimed
as they went out, although they were ap-
pealed to by Alderman Parsons and others
across the room TO stay lew moments
longer
The gallery and the space behind the
rail were packed with folks from The Bronx,
structed, Many of them loudly expressed
disgust when the meeting was finally ad-
iourned. and evidently President Haffens
fears that he will have hard fight In carry
ing his borough are we'll founded.
Between roll calls Mr.. Fornes made
ports of his action OF Tuesday. In one.
he said it was untrue that the board never
began its business until about 1880 clock.
I'm justice to the PRESS" Mr. Parsons
retorted, Il would like to point out that
the roll was called faster than any MEM
bers Of this board haveever heard, and then,
because there was not quorum present,
the President, instead OF waiting a while,
Is is usual, promptly ad journed the meeting.
Had the board really wished to do business
last Tuesday there would have been no
difficulty In obtaining q quorum
Mr.. Fornes replied that the rules did not
require him to wait for moment after the
prescribed hour for the opening of the
meeting. Then he went on to make q
speech, though the board was not legally
In session, questioning the validity of
anything that might be done in granting
. franchise to the Port Chester company
at yesterdays meeting.
"lobjeot to this discussion on the part
Of the President until the meeting has been
called to order, said Alderman Matthew'S.
'This house Is certainly not In order"
Mr.. Fornes retorted, bringing down his
gavel.
That's because you are not good pre-
siding officer Alderman Matthews an
swered back.
Have you consulted the Corporation
Counsel to find out if this application come
under the provisions of the Char ter with
regard to street railroad franchises Mr.,
Parsons asked OF President tornes
John T. Mccall, the Tammany leader,
insisted that such question could not De
asked until the board was legally In session.
Il will answer the question: Mr.. Fornes
cried. Il am corporation in myself.
yes, and you have almost become
trust" shouted Alderman Matthew'S.
After four roll calls. in which the largest
number OF answers was thirty-two. Mccall
asked Fornes TO call the meeting off. Mr..
FOTnes suggested that It might he az well
to wait a few minutes longer.
Come on, Tom; come on. Frank, said
Mr.. Mccall, turning to Aldermen Foley
and Kenny. whats the use Of waiting
around here all the afternoon"
This was just after the number OF those
present had been added to by the entrance
OF two Republican Aldermen. At the same
time Mr.. Fornes announced that he had to
attend a meeting Of the Armory Board
and would have to go.
ave would like yor to stay, Mr. President,
"A n