The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-06
NONAC0MB'SDAM BRIDGECARS
KILL norm FRfN-
IUISES AND norm GRATIS
pm one by Accident Dead Set Against the
IInrkIebcrr, Leads to Talk Of "Some'
ming QUEER InterbOrOuEh Fran
rh,.c Appears to Die with the other.

ohiss applied for by the Union Railway
~ HnckIeberry company to lay Its tracks
across Macomb's Dam bridge.
When this decision was reached, after
,hre, hours discussion, many residents OF
The Bronx, who have eenurging the passage
n tbe franchise and some OF the Aldermen
who voted for the project did not hesitate
N saw that there was something queer"
going on
Members of the board who voted for
this franchise two years ago when 1t nrst
came before the Aldermen and other mem
bsrs who enthusiastically pushed through
few weeks ago the franchise allowing
the New York City marlborough Company
10 cross this same bridge turned around
Yesterday and made dead set against
the Union company.
An odd result, apparently, is that the
marlborough franchise is killed, too, be-
cause of condition in it that made it de-
pendent on the laying Of the Huokleberry's
tracks over the bridge. II, as lawyers
say, this franchise is killed, with the other.
it was certainly killed gratis, for the Alder
men did not know they had killed it. The
other died gratis, too.
The Union company has never BEN
particularly anxious to extend its tracks
over the bridge on the terms exacted by
the officials of the company have refused
10 see" anybody. For week past it has
been gossip about the City Hall that the
franchise would not 60 through agsan,s con
mttee on Railroads favoring the franchise
came up at yesterdays meeting, Alderman
Wafer dem, Brooklyn) opposed the grant
He did so first on the contention that the
company ought to extend its system to the
outlying districts OF The Bronx. After
ward when it was shown that the company
was meeting the needs Of the inhabitants
Of that borough, he switched, after talk
with man who was charged openly with
being lobbyist against the bill, and sub
mitted an amendment to the enect that
the franchise should be granted only on
condition that the Union company arranged
for a transfer system with the Metropolitan
system.
While Mr. Wafer was speaking, President
haffen Of The Bronx rose and exclaimed:
This franchise is demanded by all the
people of The Bronx and there is not one
Alderman from that borough who will
dare TO vote against it."
is this intimidation?' shouted Wafer
Perhaps i persist in voting against This rhis
is not the first time that men in authority
in our party have tried to drive us to the
slaughter and to vote against our convic.
tions. 1t is obedience to the whims OF
the leaders that has brought this board
into so much disrepute and want to say
that If there was more independence on
the part of the Aldermen We would not
sac such things carried through this body
as We have seen.
he was approached by lawyer Louis A
Cuvillier, who fought the Union company
in the public hearings held by the Rail
roads Committee.
Springing, to the front OF the chairman
President Haffen shouted:
"Mr. Chairman, there is man lobbying
on the floor Of this house against this
franchise and l demand that he be re-
moved"
Vice Chairman McInnes, who was pre-
siding, ordered the sergeant at arms TO
iier afterwards admitted that he had drawn
the amendment. providing for transfers
between the Union and Metropolitan sys-
tens.
Alderman Marks Tam) was another
man who vigorously opposed the laying
Of tracks on the bridge when permission
was first applied for two years ago.
Mr.. Parsons by reference to the min
utes OF that meeting showed that Mr..
Marks had voted In the affirmative.
Thereupon Mr.. Marks said that he could
not recollect how he had voted. but that
there was an impression in his mind that
he had been opposed to the Union COM
pany's application.
Il don't want to cast any reflections on
this board and hope that what am about
to say will not be construed by any member
as a personal reference to him, Mr.. Parsons
went on. But it is singular that when
this matter first came up two years ago the
charge was made that there was lobbying
in favor of the grant. Now from what we
have heard to-day it would seem that lobby
The distinguishing feature OF the two
situations is peculiar, 1t seems to me-"
The opponents of the franchise after Ave
roll calls got the necessary 40 votes to beat
it. Up to the last call they had only 80
votes and then Alderman Coggey. who
Welded to the persuasion Of some OF his
colleagues on his side Of the house.
Immediately the franchise had been
defeated a motion was made to reconsider
considered next Tuesday and that in the
meantime the company might be asked to
consent to the transfer proposals.
Now, Mr.. Chairman said Alderman
Wafer, after the clerk had announced that
the franchise had been thrown out by vote
of 40 to 80, Il move that this matter be taken
up again a week from now and that in the
meantime the franchise should be SO
amended as to allow for an interchange
Of transfers"
Chairman McInnes Corporation
Counsel has held that this board has no
power to amend franchises The Board
Of Estimate is the only body that can fix
terms and the franchise must be passed or
rejected.
At that Alderman Sullivan and several
other members jumped to their feet and
moved to reconsider the vote. The motion
was carried without dissent and then It was
moved that the reconsideration should
take place next Tuesday.
Again Mr.. McInnes plunged into con-
fusion those who didn't want to pass the
franchise too suddenly. He pointed out
that the time allowed TO the Aldermen to
pass upon the measure expired at mid
night and that the franchise would lapse
unless voted for at the meeting.
From many parts OF the house there we're
Protests at this ruling. -.
II don't want to deprive the people OF
The Bronx OF getting the privilege OF having
road built across the bridge, exclaimed
Mr., Wafer in dismay. Il only want to see
hat the poor people are carried for one
lare on both systems.
For nearly half an hour there were read.
ings and discussion Of the two sections OF
he Charter relating to the letting OF fran
chlses and then the franchise died. 1t
was evident from the attitude taken by
many Of the forty Aldermen and from the
talk heard among them after the meeting
nat 1t was not their intention really to beat
the franchise II they could do better,
The forty members who voted against the
franchise We're: Alt rep, BROOKLYN Bald
WIN namJ, Bennett REP, Bro3klyn), Bren-