New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-21
PUTS IT UP TO TAMMANY
Port CHESTER HOLDUP.
BroHalifs LiL'en III 10 attempted
blockade of y. II. X. Tunnel.

Since the meeting Of the North Side Board
al Trade % the Borough Of The Bronx on last
wednesday evening. when resolution was
adopted iGstructing the executive COMMITTEES
to communicate with all the other civic bodies
IN The Bronx. for arranging mass meeting
to protest against the ho.dup IN the Board OF
Aldermen Of the application of the New-York
and Port Chester Railroad for the right to
cross such public highways in The Bronx as
would he crossed by the line Of its road. there
has come to the surface and burst forth what
appears 10 be universal discomfort and con-
demnation OF what IL called a holdup.
President Haffen Of The Bronx and Alder
men Gass and Peck have been communicated
with relative to the delay. A letter received
from President Haffen stated that he would
do all he could 10 have the Port Chester ordi-
nance passed letter received from Alder
man Gass stated that he had been trying to
nave the ordinance passed. but that the only
satisfaction he got was that the railroad COM
mlttee played horse with him; or. IN other
"oIus' passed him as an easy thing" AL
German Peck. who is a member OF the railroad
committee Of the Board OF Aldermen main
tdIhs that inasmuch the resolution was in
uOuuced Dy Alderman Cas- II would be an act
Vi oiscourtesy for him (Peclx) to atten1pt 70
move ii. ~
:" commenting on these replies the unanimous
opinion Of the public appears 10 be that :, =
somewhat remarkable that President Hafran and
Aluerrnan Gass. who were elected en- the Tam
many ucAet and who are Tammanv men. should
De unable to accomplish the will Of the public
60 the extent OF having this ordinance nasssd
Inc public is asking OF what use are such
men as Haffen and Cas- II they are rsar,,
poWerless in a case of such vital in,nor+ 70 .bat-
constituents. 1t is the firmly established o,ir,o~
'nat the opposition is due entirely to a Tamnanv
CoinOlhation 1t is realized that Tammanv e In
eohtroI OF the Board of Aldermen. and that a
word from Charles F. Murphy wouId mass ~.
ordinance without further delay. The n,b1i,
does not believe that Messrs. Haren and c.
nave absolutely no influence with Charles F
Murphy
As regards the courtesy" given by Alderman
Feck as mis- reason for not moving the applica-
ton out Of the Railroad COMMITTEES the nubu,
thinks that this courtesy or any other IegisIa
tive courtesy. should be subordinate to public
necessity.
Letters which have been written bv renra-
sentative civic bodies to Alderman Diemer. the
chairman Of the Railroad Committee have not
been answered. Some days ago Alderman Die
mer assured the Bronx representatives that a
public hearing the application would be
given by the Railroad Committee before the
next meeting of the Board of Aldermen. on the
18th inst At the time he did not set a date
and has not yet replied 10 the various letters
which have been addressed 70 him asking when
the meeting would be held 1t Is openly asserted
that 1t is through Alderman Diemer who was
elected on the fusion ticket, and who has shown
marked proclivities to train with the Tammany
organization. that the Port Chester ordinance Is
held in the Railroad Committee. 1t is pointed
out that the same line Of procedure was followed
in the case Of the Pennsylvania tunnel
The Bronx public has been looking I'D the rec
ord Of the Board Of Aldermen, and was some
what surprised TO find that the majority of the
Tammanyites. especially the Tim" Sullivan and
John I. Mccall factions voted against the
granting Of the Pennsylvania ordinance when If
passed.
The public asserts that the construction OF the
Port Chester Railroad is an economic necessity
1t has also come to light that several uanufact-
urtng concerns employing hundreds Of men are
on the point Of making arrangement for the cree
ton Of factories at points in The Bronx which
viii be on the line OF the Port Chester Railroad
The men behind these projects state that thew
will not close the contract for the ground and
buildings until the Port Chester application is
disposed Of in the Board OF Aldermen
All in all, the delay is looked on as a most
remarkable illustration Of the absolute disregard
OF the Board Of Aldermen have for the public
welfare, inasmuch q section Of the city OF
New-York wherein are living from 10000 TO
100000 people is delayed by Tammany Hall and
the Board Of Aldermen in obtaining what is to
il economic necessity OF vital Importance and
the construction OF which will not In any man
uer injure any other part Of the city, but, on
the contrary, will benefit such a whole.
The public does not purpose to be fooled by
the tactics Of various members OF the Board OF