New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-24
ONLY ONE OF MANY GRABS
LONG LIFE TO CONSENTS.
Further Discoveries in Young Mr.
WalLdcc'S Bills.

Concealed in one of the numerous railway
grab bills introduced at Albany recently is a
provision which would extend the duration OF
the validity OF consents gt7en Oy property own
ers for the building OF street railways In this
those familiar with the street railways methods
see A means Of making available the few con-
sents the Metropolitan. now the New-Yorl Street
Railway Company, has obtained for the Eighty
sixth-st. line and the hoped for Elm-st.-Lafay-
cite Place branch.
IT, bill is that introduced in the Senate by
Mr. Wilcox and in the Assembly by Mr.. Wallace.
who seems 20 be acting understudy TO Sen
ator Wilcox long known as able handler or
railway legislation. Its general provisions ar
range for the extension of time in which street
railway which hasn't begun active operations
may get into working order. Instead Of MAX
ing mandatory the forfeiture of It's charter when
the allotted time has elapsed. the bill provides
that the charter may be forfeited if action Is
taken against the company by the Attorney
General Unless he takes action the company
continues to exist, with all us pTlsllne youth
and gayety.
According to julius Henry Cohen, chairman OF
the legislative committee OF the Citizens Union,
This measure would allow the revival OF many
long dead corporations. and would carry re-
newed vitality 20 the consents Of property own
ere along the routes Of the unbuilt lines This
particular feature VIII hardly do the New-York
city Railway Company much good IN relation 10
It's Elm-st. project. however. It viii find IL
hard TO get consents enough there. dCCOinliiS
the opinions OF the property owners expressed
10 The Tribune to make n showing. The Elm
81. holders of realty do not intend to be bun
coed or sandbagged out OF the Improvement to
obtain which they have suffered much tncon-
yenience for the last ten years. and paid 10
the city thousands Of dollars in assessments
There are many other bills at Albany bear
ing on different phases of the local street rail-
way situation. There Is Assemblyman Nalaces
measure. providing that all actions for failure
OF a company to give transfers shall be brought
through the Attorney General, the penalty 10 80
TO the State.
This IS merely a revival OF the 8iulaney BILL.
said Mr.. Cohen yesterday. which was killed
last year b. showing how nONiOus Il was. MT.
Mullaney. when the storm OF protest arose, got
from under His bill didn't get through. but
the railway company, knowing it needs such
measure to bear out the other remarkable one
providing that the State Railroad Commission
relieve the company from the necessity of Civ
ing transfers at any corner where 1t thinks
there IS danger to the public has II reiutro-
duced this year Il is a marvellous measure.
Not only would Il deprive the citizen Of any
incentive for bringing actiOn-the recovery OF
a penalty which would reimburse him for his
trouble-but Il would put such difficulties IN
his way that hardly an action would be brought
against the company, and II could go on serenely
refusing transfers Besides that this bill. If II
follow out the MuIlauey measure. would pro
vide that the penalty Of 500 apply not only To
the one case, but TO all refusals TO transfer up
TO the date of that particular action. Great
money saver FOR the company,