New-York tribune., 1903-03-31

interests oS The city OF NeW-York- Sc represented
ey tie Corporation counsel's Office, is one Of the
Aereest Of the peeacns session. Some idea of the
extent snd character CT the proposed legislation
mag be gathered when 1t is realized that under
the provisions Of pending bills the rights OF the
citizens OF the greater New-York TO transfers
viii be tnvalidRted, The Bronx and Pelham
PARIS and pArkssRys viii be opened to trolley
lineA and the existing application Of the rail-
road laws to street railways would be nearly
GbRoG3ted, The Low administration has become
conrtnced that measures which have been os-
tersihIy introduced 70 apply to some upstate
communities unmistekAhy spply, and apply
with undesirable force. to the city Of New-York
Moreover, its Representatives have reason to
suspect that the fact that the same skill and
legal mastery shown n the framing OF each Of
the proposed measures. and ecncealinE In ap-
parently meaningless vsrhiage the most sweep
ing and drastic changes IN existing Law, particu-
lArly a. applied 90 Ee~-York C3ty, is the result
OF something more than chance. It is with this
IN mind that q proper understanding can be
reached TO the meaning Of the positive asser-
ticu made by Assistant Corporation Counsel
Whitman, who is Sbnductirg t1e fight in Albany.
that the passaSe % four bills. the LHommedieu,
Cxdin, Foley ard Goodseu biIIs. would be in
every instance or he advantage and interest
Of thu NstropoIita street Railway.
The friends o. TIE measures always assert that
no reference to .Eew-York City Is intended in
their measures. To this answer the proposition
has beer consis zntly made, Exclude New-Tork
County from the working Of your measure
specifically and ~e will believe YOU"
NY bill applies TO Orange County was the
response Of oos Senator to this request But
I don't have TO cut out New-Tork and I don't
intend TO-"
WHY. cant YOU see" exclaimed another legis-
SStnr In mock surprise. can't you understand.
that this applies 70 Rocklard County,"
Possibly is the reply. But can also see
that 1t applies 20 Eew-York and WestchesteF
counties" Again New-Tork is not excluded. and
the fight continues.
r1MIcAL. TO NETWORKS INTERESTS.
With reference TO the four measures named
above sS fsvcrtng the Metropolitan Street Rail
way Company. the Corporation CounseFs once
is not attempting TO prove that the same hand
drew all nor even that they were introduced al
the request OF for the benefit Of one company.
but Il is satisfied vith showing just how one
company. and that q New-Tork corporation
would prosper under them OF COURSE II has
been pointed out az significant that the pUeriIe
and insufficient smendments to the GoodseH DILL
attached by reason OF the protest against this
measure, were drawn after Henry A. Robinson
counsel for the Metropolitan Street Railway
had come to Albany in fact. almost Himulta-
neousYy with his arrival they were announced
Fut the determining factor with the Mayor and
the city government and 1t is Tor them tnat Mr
Rtres and Mr.. Whitman are making their nght
IS not the authorship OF the bills Is not tracing
the sar,e aue hand n each but IN fighting them
eeoayateiy and collectively as iatmical TO the
best interests OF New-York City. Viewing them
in this light and regarding theFa as an unprsce-
o~sted assault upon the city and an une1ampled
grab" the Low administration Is aTrayed
against them one and all. An that is attempted
by the opponeatS OF these measures Is SIMPLY
70 indicate roughly what the Metropolitan etfeet
Railway might get out of these measures; the
question as 10 whether II will be luck or reward
Of effort is left TO some one else to decide.
Perhaps the first measure OF this dangerous
sort which desarves attention is the LHon-
-,eaieu bill Ne 499 ia the Senate. 1t has been
suggested that this measure was intended TO
apply 10 Niagara County, and no enc has dues-
toned this The interesting fact however Il tha1
If also applies to New-Yorh and Westchester
and would, If passed. send electric cars through
Bronx and Pelham parks. Perusa OF th1a
amendment discloses the typical Joker, snugly
wrapped I'D IN his necessary clothing OF IAN
Ruaxe The amendment and portion OF the
original matter are quoted. the blackfaee type
showing new matter. the brackets old matter
now dropped The amendment deals with con-
sent Of local authorities for the construction OF
street railways.
SAu consents hereafter given By the local aus
tborities of any city OF the first class or or any
city, town or village embraced within the
corporate limits of any city Of the first class or
In sux clay. town village wholly or
partly eentS4n~d tE any county adjacent
70 any city the first Glass; whethGR
containing the expressed provision tA@&
this article eOnPIIed with or AOts
heretofore given to or acquired or owned by any
street surface railroad corporation. since Janu-
gry first eighteen hundred and ninety, LIS hereby
ratified and confirmed and shall be deemed to be
in full force and effect, and shall continue until
and Including December thiEty-nrst1 nineteen
hundred and SIX lthFesl"
WOULD RUIN BRONX PARKS
THE nlsia uavaFEaishsd English of this elusive
little rroviSian is contatned Ia the following
statement made By Mr.. Whitman the Assistant
Corporation Counsel Who n fighting this meas
ure in Albany. Mr.. Whitman said:
aBy the amendment which Is now made by
taia measure all old consents granted by towns
and villages aow included in the present city
Of Nev-york are again extended from 1903 to
1865 This. re believe. viii rStif% the old grant
tc the Pelham Railway Company given by the
town Of Pelham prior TO the incorporation OF
one-half the town: that is, Pelham Park, In
greater New-York; and aIfo the Westchester
Electric Company. which got q grant from the
cid town of WeGtchester. Thus the Metropoh-
,sz Street Railway would be able to build from
g~-AhsSn through ths Bronx Park. the Bronx
and Pelham parfway9. and through Pelham Park
ss the city line Moreover. the law now to be
arnendeA e1tended Lot Of perpetual franchises
.n towns consolidated With the greater city.
fhEs exa6tnR the clause IN the charter which
limited ina life Of q charter 10 twenty-five