New-York tribune., 1903-04-12
ATTACK B0STWICK BILL.
GILL 1T BIGGEST STEAL.
Ex-senator Ford and Henra
George, Jr., Refuse to Speak.


they would not be allowed to speak regarding
che Bostwick bill which they characterized as
The most dangerous OF the steals" ex-senator
Jobu Ford, representing the West Side Transit
Reform Committee. and Henry George. jr.. who
had been advertised 70 speak, did not attend
Instead. they sent TO Wheeler H Peckharn
chairman OF the meeting. caustic letters in which
they denounced the Bostwick bill. and Incl
dentally organizations which they said were
neglecting this measure for little ones already
rnoribund-"
These letters were not read by the chairman
When Nj Pac'<harn was asked about them he
refused TO answer. Thomas A Fulton. secre-
tary OF the Citizens Union. and one of the COM
n1ittee, said after the meeting that they didn't
purpose 10 pay any attention TO letters"
--Nr- Ford told on Friday he continued
that he intended TO talk about the Bostwck
bill Now. these meetings weren't arranged to
discuss that measure. and L as representing
only q part Of the committee, didn't feel en-
powered TO let him take that subject. We didn't
read the letters here tonight for that same rea-
son-there was no use Of introducing the con-
troversy. believe in the Elsberg bill and think
the Bostwick bill is wrong. I've told Mayor
Low 50, but weren't here TO discuss It Be
sides. these letters had been given out TO the
papers. what was the use in reading them?
We wouldn't have held this meeting. only that
wanted TO keep faith"
The meeting was lacking in enthusiasm, about
one hundred persons forming q rather stolid
audience. Besides ex-senator Ford and Mr
George. Borough President Cantor also sent
regrets" but said he agreed heartily with the
purpose OF the meeting. A telegram from
Oliver 4. P. Belmont was read. in which after
expressing his sympathy with the objects of the
meeting. he said:
wish 70 add my voice to the protest against the
despoliation Of New-York OF her valuable fran
TIE iamentabie and disa be CONDITIONS which
s7e causing public anxiety and Indignation have
zring Rapid Transit Commission. ana the public
es1ed IN the Interborough company or any subsd-
iary company. or any contracts let by these COM
panies-
Ii this connection Edward B. Whitney said:
4 speaker at last nights meeting made vio-
ton Counsel. because many Of us disagreed with
them about The best way Of letting a short term
class the bill which they drew and which they
bl plain on its face and whether mistaken or not
grabs was IN opinion both unfair and fantastic
Mrs Harriott Stanton Blatch and Alderman
Herbert Parsons emphasized the personal re-
sponsibiity of each voter regarding these grab
bills Charles Sprague Smith introduced reso-
lutions terming these bills grand larceny Of
public rights and franchises"
Ex-senator Ford's letter in part was as fol-
loVs-
assumed that the primary object @ Of ,,o The ss5 FFs6-
ses for The benefit OF The people o6s a6 20 on terms
ser,e s55ezr ac9Cisl[-Ge -15e ~ ~ Re rjtE O0
A number Of bills are pending; commonly callea a9a
grab bills which aim at granting or & rey,Vi-g 0.o
franchises private corporations on such te[Ll.s
i; = Sh nh hi ir4Toduced BIZ Asser6Iyman Bostwick.
fo- which Mayor Low stenGs sponsor. instead q.
dealing with soTe teath sate Lite e5TF1si fran m
chises of the city. whose value can hardly be
ground road Illustrates the precIicaI oPerat!on %
the present rapid transit act The city not only
donated - one suf 41 f6rsed 5s % the o1ey 70 construct
the road and relieved the PIoPeTty o. tne gT1t9
road and franchise over 20 private corP4ra e
additional transit facilities is so great that II must
building new oeT gFo-tC 10 c;-v win
idlv The borrowing capacity OF 'He 0-iS VIII
T-rIees lie 42arid Transit act is properly amend
e s-Lc 2-!Sio1 StS %cI[en ali these new roads as
built Will fal into the hands OF the synolcate CoLI- @
--oilirr the first underground road on It's own
-e-r5s azd for similarly extended period That
--- 80 he -rv Viii 20 On spending its money
and giving franchises 70 the extent q har[ - s
Of nilioEs Of dollars n vaoe % : ffe Civ al the
mercy q the greatest transit monopoly created lor
inward Of two generations.
The Pos+vT1c btlI provides this. To be sure since
4! msEoT 55@f h he IS oorrect as 70
means-there IS no ,l cosT TFe Tsbc-g bin That is
2 measure which would effectively sepaIale eIis IL
construction from the Operating contracI -
r satisfactory contracts could not oe
would extend the authority oL lnv l sl eTnenoi-
mate ana Aopcrtiouu1ent over the vast -
CONES law the highest fare upon any future IN
ss~grotInd road will be three cents u -,
This Belmont scheme IS the most @ ~ .se--7j
cause o. ne gIiT ITepresened by the Mayor and
re Rapid Transit Commissioners s-,7st}re which
Taraulany minority n N '-e S in committee
sssirst The Isberg bin and opposing the sobaIfg Z w
rrer- of that measure when reported A-'"-00-' -
~ cities Committee TO the oei4ate3 --.-o,7s in
The third force Is the POEM ps5+e anu -'
re 7esser grab bills as good as oeao- .caj
o2suiou has scared their proIno'e'S -
abandonment OF IheTf1-
TIE following is part Of the letter from fieiiS
George. jr-:
Tie municipal railroad franchise o,fd rlgrs ~ are
SgE-York surface. elevated aIlc i 20 hands
--i-eI,- o- soon VIII be entirely IN hle =
r. tas Belmont-W htrey cS LI-ior1T the sneak"
co--rEe that u1oDopolS 1 --s--1ose 70 con-
ts z-e "a that direction ney RIl RyIs ov1Ad or
o extend certain rallrosI PoIx IL The Bronx
controlled by the Belmont rohoPo1g tf1T must be
sn6 elsew here The LoE-bost"icA 0
Iys -r., Commission gave 10 the Nc
Feuront people. free OF taxatlon taxa e. 81 Tas-
1s t1-Ll----5 <-srcrise which Edward N Shepaao'
rhe Commissions counsel. al - owners at $780,
a. g7f and which might possibIg ii9e ~
5000 III. ,,5fgnation and rnodi-
- - --5ss-al hiI but ne now proposes - -
+5-.-s re Psnid Transit Commission 70 use s5Sad
I.l9ns Of ne ne R1i-6nf R9i people for he says that
+-e-e cannot really be any unctIe-oo ~ their
first grants. have eseefll,s q renedv this state
situation He makes no eIoII 70 ,,Tyoses 10 make
,1e -1o70roIE more complete by eXtehoi'ls ~
ife2cLlse . s5d that Alexander z. orr aEo
5oe Esnfs transit Commission are aotoI 20 %
re- Eat private honor ana pu'ii~
always seem 70 keep ioser os,e5re of public fran
= We are 10 Lt.J-- =, - he lust and ceCOunce
~rfrf fHr