New-York tribune., 1903-01-05
Il CITY RAILROAD BOARD.
.Shoald Be Board Of Estimate, Says
Hr. KiRg.
STATE COMMISSION HEARING TO-DAY.

STATE COMMISSION HEARING TO-DAY.
Alfred Skitt e-president Of the Manhattan
Railway Company. was seen yesterday after
noon at his home. in Tonkers. by Tribune re-
porter He could not be described conlmuni-
cstive. On being asked what he thought Of the
state Railroad Commissions directions, he said:
Really. I haven't thought about them. l
don't know q thing about them They didn L
reach us I'll. yesterday. after had left the Office
so they haven't been officially received at all
vet, and won't be till tomorrow morning. We
SHAH consider them Tomorrow. AS to a rehear-
snr OF what viii be done can't say. The man
who has in hand changes like those suggested
IS Mr. Smith. the general superintendent smith
he's the man What DO I think about it all?
don't know anything about IT,
Considerable discussion has been created by
Ashley W Gales interview given in The Tribune
Of Yesterday in which he said that he thought
the present Rapid Transit Commission would
not have franchise power for the third track.
and that a special commission would have TO
be appointed by the Supreme Court
Edward " Shepard said 10 a Tribune re-
-,o--er last evening at his home. No. II Pierre
pont-st-. Brooklyn;
Mr. Cole is mistaken. The present Rapid
Transit Commission has the power 70 grant q
franchise for the third track, since it has the
power 10 permit extension Of the tracks Of ali
railways under the head Of extending the route
such a widening as the third track would be
would certainly come under the term extending
the route But the Rapid Transit Commission
by such a franchise could not in any way pre-
vent injunctions against the Manhattan Rail-
way Company and damage suits brought by
-,rore-+v owners That is entirely matter be-
tween the company and the abutting property
owners"
Mr. sbepard was asked if the Rapid Transit
Commission had power in the matter Of the
other directions Of the State Railroad CoInrnis-
sion as 70 extension and enlargement OF the
service
The Rapid Transit Commission he answered.
in granting a franchise for the third track
could demand certain conditions
M. Shepard's statement that If the cornrnls-
sim grants z third track franchise il Will not
interfere with damage suits is exceedingly I'M
rortant. as Il is the fear Of such complications
that has deferred the road from extending the
third before, il is said. In previous applica-
lions 10 the Rapid Transit Commission the com
rany, il is said. asked that the city assume the
liability for damage suits Of property owners
and this was refused.
The State Railroad Commissioners will have
= lively hearing when they receive the legal and
executive committees Of the Merchants Asso-
ctstion to-day st p n. in Parlor D Of the
Fifth Avenue Hotel. The cause Of the expected
excitement goes back 20 q remark Of MI. Cole
chairman OF the commission. made in the hear
ing Of a Tribune reporter On Saturday afternoon
1Ir. Cole said:
What we ought 10 have is municipal rail-
road commission, which would deal with the
transit problems Of the city alone They would
have their Job cut out for them, even so. They
could attend TO gradings ana crossings ana al
those matters.
This statement has suggested q plan Of cam
paign TO the Merchants Association The open
ing gun VIII be ired to-day
william f king chairman Of the executive
committee SAID TO Tribune reporter yesterday
evening
1T is to be noticed that to-norrows hearing
S. an open one That point should be en-
phasized- Nov. Mr. Coles idea Of municipal
railroad commission is just the tnlrg- Our Alls
of action for Mondays hearing and the IuIcre
IS rlaiu We shall ask the sanction of the
Mayor and Controller and the Board OF rs
innate sr6 ACCOMPLISHMENTS in general for bill
70 be introduced into the legislature that sna!l
empower the Board Of Estimate 10 deal with
the transit problem, thus taking 1t out or the
hands OF the State Railroad Commission IN
q way, II is asking the commission 70 legislate
1tse1 OUT q existence ne goaIo = tLIe nc ,;
body 70 handle the matter The men MAKING II
up are al elective officers. The people thus have
hand in its personnel It makes the transit
situation a local affair, IN the power OF the
people. where il belongs.
with the sanction Of the board obtained. We
should place bill in the legislature giving the
This. then, is our plan for to-u2orrow-to cut
the knot Of legal disputation caused by the di-
rections Of the commission. and the question as
70 their power. We shall bear heavy on this
general broad topic rather than on definite de-
tailed remedies Tor the surface crush
Our position is this: We say amen 10 Nj
Coles suggestion Of q municipal railroad COM
mission. and we say the proper name for that
commission Is the Board Of Estimate and Ap-
portioa1nent-
Colonel George W Dunn, of the State Rail-
road Commission, said regarding Mr.. Coles
suggestion
- haven't heard anything about e sugges-
fion for & municipal railroad commission You
say Ar. Cole spoke Of it But IL is not the
ooumissicn's suggestion I don't know any,
thing about il"
Another member Of the commission said:
While grant rehearing We do not stand
1o- delay There is the case Of the Brooklyn
{ number Of suggestions. They questioned the
practica bility of rz-o Of them According 10
their right we had 10 grant them Z rehearing.
We looked up our schedule and found that We
we're not going 10 be In the city for the two
weeks following the receipt OF their suggestion
We decided il would never Go TO let that length
Of tine go by with nothing done, We forced
them 10 come Up Utica, where were. and
take their hearing. They did SO, and we found
that their two objections were not valid"
INFECTED PRISONERS BREAK JAIL.
Louisville. KY Jan. 4-Three negro prisoners