New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-25
BOUND TO KILL GRABS
EYES on LEGISLATURE
Opposition to EIm-Sf. and Transfer
Bills GrO7cS Stronger.

Not until the legislature has decisively and
finally killed the various railroad grab bills
introduced recently by Senator Wilcox and As
ser0blyrnen wallace and Bedeli. or their spon-
sors have Withdrawn the offending bills. viii the
protests raised against them cease. The or
ganizatIous in this city which caused many
hopeful measures-for the railway companies
10 die untimeIy deaths are after this batch or
prospective legislation.
The Citizens Union has determined 10 protest
against the bills. and win probably send dele
cations TO Albany 10 attend the hearings. IL
viii certainly. through its legislative committee
oppose the passage Of the Elm-st. grab and the
transfer bills The Citizens Transit Reform
Committee OF one Hundred win also take Wig
orous action against these measures, and other
organizations which aided en- the fight last year
viii come 10 the front again.
What seems most remarkable 10 me about
these bills" said James s. Lehmaier, chairman
OF the executive and law committees Of the
Citizens Transit Reform Committee OF one Hun
dred yesterday lis the sublime confidence with
which the New-York city Railway Company
puts them forth. Last year there were many rail-
road grab bills but they were introduced quiet
IL. not Haunted IN the faces Of the public by the
railroad company. Now, I'm spite OF the strong
sentiment against these railway grabs. the com
bad they were turned down last year
They VIII probably meet the same fate this
time / do not believe that our legislature Is
so corporation ridden that 81 viii touch these
bills against the protests which have been made
by the papers and the various organizations.
Take the wallace transfer biIl-simpiy a re-
hash Of the Mullauey-Foley measure OF last
wear Its provisions are excellent Tor the rail-
road company. but SO bad FOR the public III
large that the measure was killed last year.
Yet the company confidently brings IL forward
again. i simply means that the railroad COM
panv is endeayorinC 10 circumvent the action
~ tba courts in regard TO the transfer cases by
forcing through the legislature noXious bill
which would relieve them from depicting their
treasury.
Another measure which. AS The Tribune has
r,oiuted out would open the way FOR the com
panv 10 seize Eln-st, or, IN fact, almost any
other street IL happened TO want Is thoroughly
bad IL gives 10 the company almost unllIn-
fled powers TO franchise rights 10 streets. IL
should be opposed vigorously
III seems rather remarkable that ir this day
Of enlightenrneut we should have 20 watch the
legislature as carefully as the CITIZENS transit
Reform Committee Of one Hundred ara me Va
rious other organizations have been DONG, lest
tho railroads force To passage inquitous fran
,hise rneasures-'Erab bills There VIII be no
cessation Of our Watc hfulness, however, ana we
snail 1rpose these bills just IS vigorously as
we did the grab bills Introduced last year. killed
through exposure OF their malodorous provisions
IAN these proposed measures point more clear
lv than ever TO the necessity for a local ran
road commission commission which VIII su-
Dervise the railroads u this city I'm the interests
OF its citizens