New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-09
PRICE THREE CENTS.
GAS GRAB PASSED EASILY
ACCORDING TO FORECAST.
Million offered for Niagara Fran
chise-RumOrs Fill Capitol.
InY TELEoRAP1r TO THE TRIBUNE. ]

Aludny, ApTll SIN 1ulnlment OF the agree
ment foretold in The Tribune this morning ths
Rersen East River gas grab bill was passed by
vote of 81 to 12-strikingly similar to that by
which it's companion piece. the LHommedieu
Niagara grab passed the Senate yesterday,
thirty-fve Senators voting for the Niagara bill
and twelve against il. The patent fact that a
deal mad been made was all the more apparent,
since to striking extent the same Senator's
voted together on both bills. There were afoat
around the Capitol rumors that $1,000 each had
been offered for individual votes. The Tam
many men were uninstructed, It was said. be-
cause the Tammany leader was assured that
Mayor Mcclellan would veto the bill
The real direction Of the passage of the meas
ure was undertaken by Senator Patrick II. Nc
Carren, whose interest in the bill has been fire.
quently hinted al but never explained It was
his motion that started the movement OF the
wheels by which the bill passed. Senators
EIsberg and Marshall. the Republican members
from New-York City, opposed the BILL though
not at length. The whole transaction lasted less
than five minutes, and Senator's Grady and
DowIing saved the Tammany face by voting
against the bill Aside from the plain express
sion Of disapproval from two Senator'S, the
silence of friends and foes was alike.
When the bill came I'D Senator DIcCarren
marshaIled his forces. As the name OF the oilI
was called Senator Elsberg moved 70 strike
out"
Il make this notion" he said, mot with any
intention OF debating the BILL have not the
physical strength to do It. I simply desire to
call the attention OF the Senate to the fact that
this bill grants a franchise for the laying OF
pipes and does not provide for the action OF the
city officials, pursuant TO the charter rights. IN
securing compensation. Having called that fact
to the attention Of the Senate, withdraw my
motion"
Senator Marshall declared: ''The whole propO-
sition Of gas plant across the river Is not one
to which opposed, but I cannot vote for
this bill. which does not provide for proper COM
pensation to the city,
Not a single friend OF the bill offered word
Of explanation. ard without another delay the
bill went to a vote Ten Republicans, Senators
Bracket. z. r. Brown. Carpenter. Elsberg.
Gates. Lewis. Marshall. Raines. Stevens and
Warnich. voted against the bill. with two DEM
Ocrats, Grady and Bowling. Seventeen Demo-
Gratis and four Republicans voted for the meas
ure. Large as the vote was. the friends Of the
measure declared after the ro1lcau that they
had enough pledges Of votes from other mem-
bers. had they needed them, to give two
thirds ma jOrity
BIG OFFER FOR NIAGARA CHARTER
How valuable the charter and rights yestsr-
day presented to the Niagara. LOckpOrt and
Niagara grab bill are. may best be gathered
I from the fact that the sponsor for the measure
himself declared to-day that on the strength OF
the exposures of the bill contained in the press.
the owners of the company had already
been offered $1.0OOOOO for the franchise. for
which the State received no compensation. Tho
offer of course was contingent on the passags
OF the bill. Nor was this the only offer Among
the many that have been received one Cams
from French capitalists. so wide is the atten-
ton the unusual powers granted 20 the COM
pany have attracted.
The two bills have not yet been enacted into
law. however. as the Niagara bill reeds the
| signature Of the Governor and the RemseI
bin that Of the Mayor.
OF the attitude OF the latter grave doubt has
| been expressed. Some time ago the report was
circulated that the bill would not reach Mayor
Mcclellan; that by some method Of reasoning
| r. was not To be regarded as city bill Senator
Victor j. DowIing said this afternoon that he
had seen the bill carefully deposited in city
Jacket" at the desk. and that as IT came 70
Mayor Low last year. to be vetoed by him. he
saw no reason for the suppcstion that II would
| not reach the Mayor this year.
Unless the railroad grab bills. the product OF
Paul l.. Cravath. counsel for the New-Yorlx
| Citv Railroad Company. are reported from com
r,ittee the list OF the big grabs for the season
IS now completed. both the Senate and the As
senbIy having passed all save those affecting
the street surface railroads and transfer rights
| of the people of New-YOrk City.
/ one significant and rather amusing Incident
of the day. bearing the Niagara grab. was
| the reappearance in the Assembly this morning
OF a concurrent resolution. introduced IN the
Senate by Senator f. r. Brown, and passed
there 4 fortnight ago providing for the nego-
tiatiou with Canada, through the national gov
ernrnert. OF an agreement TO protect the waters
Of Niagara Falls and prevent their being di-
verted for manufacturing purposes. On the
very hour when the Senate passed the bill al
lowing the Niagara company to draw un-
limited supply from the Niagara River. the
concurrent resolution made its appearance from
the Assembly Committee on Rules. As there
was no longer any chance that it could inter
fere with the Niagara grab the Assembly passed
the bill But then. apparently. suspicion that
II might injUre the newly acquired rights OF the
corporation struck the Democratic leader. AS
sembIyman Palmer. and he had the vote recon-
s.dered and tabled. that he might investigate
Just what national matters were involved.
FlREUEIL TO CORONERS.