New-York tribune., 1903-04-11
CALLS IT "SNEAK THIEF BILL .
DR. PETERS ACCUSES TROLLEY DIRECTORS OF PAY
ING "GRAFT" FOR WILCOX MEASURE.
Fight gn STANDARD OI hitneyemon Syndicate John
De Witt Uarner a Mass Meeting.
DEAL POLITICAL DE1TH.
To "Grab' Bill Supporters, Says
Cooper Union Mass Meeting.

cooper Cn1OB " ass 1u6etlng.
Finally also know that. generally speak
ing. these schemes are pressed on behalf of
single group of associated interests This meet
ing is, in fact, held to fight the Standard OIL
Whitney Belmont crowd. in its first attempt to
loot the city through Albany? Why it not
SO announced?"
With these words John De Witt Warner ad-
dressed the meeting at Cooper Union last night
at which hundreds signiied by their presence
their protest against the passage of the so-caled
grab bills now before the Legislature. He also
declared that the present Corporation Counsel
was engaged in pushing the interests of the
Whitney syndicate. In opening the meeting Mr.
Warner said:
Contemplating the rich bed Of grab, blooms be
notice certain considerations occur to me. First:
1t is the old story We startled by threats Of
grab legislation, pushed by rural legislators, to
steal our local franchises It is State interference
what we need is home rule.
M @ wh & the 47a1 the ner a9 % Of sgGa
corporations 70 m%onoPolize NOR our local franchises
we find stencil it generally comes from
buried franchise grab.
Third-our Governor is well known TO US. No one
Sce m hage KilG1 houa 2ae sy 81 Of Isa i
stroke Of his pen viii bury them. Then why are
csing Governor Oden. But what do we think Of
Again. is any one SO innocent as TO think the
so-called GoodseH grab IS made for the sisters
GoodseII? or that any other Of the list is for
the s9ccor q the TouRE ravens ] OF the Bede @ f9In
the bills to which tag the names Of these gen
ciers. who are perfectly Wen known principals in
the piracy we resent
James s Lehmaier chairman Of the West Side
Transit Committee Of One Hundred. said that
the meeting had been called to denounce meas
ures which were intended TO rob the people Of
Fao+
that the people were the masters and not the
legislators.
Never before has there been such powerful
lobby as ct this session OF the State Legslat-
ure. and have seen with amazement that
these sneak bills have been distributed with
impartiaIity among Republicans and Democrats
alike" he said.
T. c. Fulton told Of a conversation he had
with the president Of the Metropolitan Street
Railway five years ago, in which the latter in
formed him that the Third-ave. line was
Illegally operating its in front of the Grand
Central Station, in Forty-second-st-, and in
Broadway between Sfxty-sfxth and Seventy
second SITS.
A resolution was then adopted denouncing the
Foley, GoodseH. Grady, LHommedieu, Wilcox
BedelI Cadin and Mullaney bills. and demand
ing not only their defeat, but also the annul-
rrent of earlier legislation Of similar import at
hands
sernbIy The resolution pledged its passers TO do
their utmost to punish with political death every
legislator who should prove false to the trust re-
posed in him by the people.
The resolution also declared that the State
Railroad Commission had shown incompetency
to deal with local problems and was more mind
ful Of the interests to the railroad than Of the
people and demanded the passage Of the bill
creating local Railroad Commission whose
members should be appointed by the Mayor
A letter was read from Mayor Low TO Robert
Fulton Cutting wing that if any Of the grab
bills should pass the legislature it would be
necessary 20 carry the protest TO the Governor,
and declaring that he would be glad if the
meeting would authorize him to appoint such
a committee.
on q motion by President Fornes of the
Board Of Aldermen Mr.. Warner authorized
TO appoint a committee of to present pro
test against the grab" bills to Governor Odel.
Frank Moss. who spoke next said. in part:
tell YOU frankly 1t is impossible for any ad-
minisration To purify ponce Lorce from 'e lam t
are involved in schemes for plundering the pubic
81 5 us seek 70 Accomplish their purposes by nprop
erly influencing legislation
J. Brooks Leavitt said in part:
Now when Mr vreeland the president Of the the
Counsel for that company. each of whom may be
eEisTer1d In legal circles that they are keeping a
perjury bribery mill at work in connection with
tbair defence Of accident cases., tries to grab z
francbise we should be Mortified 10 hear hm called
q thief Or II he put a sentimental ar anu
ask FOR the love OF God TO give him Httle ot OF
,,11T,1ic that he might keep ms lam
IL a,Ir Of the wet enable his corporation to pay
'<ew more dividends. should think II very as
.-oITrra0JIs to him beggar.
Trere Is but remedy, the coercIFe. corrective.
,,ro-ectfye power OF public opinion. We cannot
p,Oet our seavy responsibilities not give way
- ,ha rernptation Of stealing. We cannot trust
70 u IartsIafors to protect property Whenever
o. c6mmunity will put the brand Of thief and
tUo- IIron our Heavy Rtspectables, who are try
,9 "a get something for nothing they will stamp
~ The uublc franchise swindle.
A,orber resolution advocated the appointment
of g committee by the delegates of the various
t,-;c bodies represented to devise means for
- ,,armanent defence of the right OF SELF gov
ernnent of municipalities.
SEE WASHINGTON
t,.rrsv,vania Railroad tour april g. Round