New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-27
FIGHT TO BE WHIBLWIND
ENTIRE CITY AROUSED.
Series Of Mass Meetings to Destroy
Notorious Grab Bills.

meetings In addition to those already announced
were arranged for to fight the measures tooth
and nail.
\ meeting Of representatives OF more than
ffty-hve civic bodies, representing every Dor
ough IN New-Torl1. and OF the Republican Club
was held at No. 149 Fulton-st yesterday after
noon 10 consider ways and means to annihilate
the bills. Among those who attended We're James
s Lehmaier. Of the transit reform Committee
Of One Hundred. Pratt a Brown chairman Of
the Republican Clubs committee on city anairs;
Julius Henry Cohen, Of the Citizens Union; Jo-
seph G. Deane. OF the City Club: John c. Cole
man. OF the West End Association; Charles
Sprague Smith, president Of the Peoples Insti-
tute as well as representatives Of the Board
Of Trade and Transportation. and OF the citi-
zens transit reform committee OF Brooklyn.
A powerful concerted movement is expected
this week to carry the war into the enemy's
camp and contest every foot Of progress toward
enactment that the bills may make.
For tomorrow night a mass meeting to de-
nounce. expose and protest against the meas
ures will be held at Cooper Union. The list Of
speakers includes Robert y. Kenyon Mr. Leh-
maier. Mr.. Cohen. Mr.. Coleman and J. AspinwalI
Hodge.
other meetings are being planned for later in
the week. and should the situation demand
Mondays gathering will be only the first Of
series organized to slay the tneasures-if need
be to carry the campaign to the steps Of the
Executive Mansion at Albany.
MANY SUPPORT THE FIGHT.
NJ Lehn7aier. who incidentally represents
more than fifty organizations which are united
In denunciation OF the bills declared to Tribune
reporter Yesterday that the assurances Of sup
port now being received in opposition TO the
Redell-w Wilson bills were the best evidence Of
how deeplv the people OF this city were incensed
at the prospect Of the passage Of the bills;
THE transfer victory he SAID WhlCh mas
resulted in forcing the New-York City Railway
Company to give transfers at most Of the in
tersecting points Of its lines in the city. is one
OF which the people will not permit themselves
lightly TO be robbed. The present law IS ef-
fective only because Il gives each individual
the power to bring suit for a penalty Of 500
. whenever 10 him is refused transfer. and II Is
only because the pockets Of the corporation were
assailed that they surrendered and gave these
transfers.
ITO take away this right OF action from the
Individual and 70 vest ii in the Attorney Cen
e-al. and to deprive citizen Of a penalty and
to give it to the State Treasury, would mean
that the New-Tork City Railway Company
might refuse to give transfers at ali points II It
chose 20 do so Nobody would have the time.
. the money or the inclination TO go to Albany 10
induce the Attorney General to bring a suit
which would be Of profit TO the complaining
individual This is doubtless what the railroad
desires. The transfer fight which the public
has made has cost too much in time and effort
for the people 10 submit tamely 70 the passage
OF a bin which would nullify the existing provi-
sions Of the law"
ATTACKS RELOCATION BILL
NJ. Lehmaier was quite as emphatic in his
. condemnation Of the relocation bill. which he
declared to be equally pernicious
Why he asked pointedly. should any rail-
road corporation abandoning franchise in
street. only because It regards Il as worthless
for Il would not otherwise abandon it-receiye
in return a franchise in perpetuity? The rights
in our streets are constantly enormously in
creasing In value and the wisdom OF the ch~rter
provision which limits the rights OF corpora
ton to any franchise IN the streets Of this city
10 twenty-five years, so that at the end Of that
period the city may reap the advantage of In
creased valve. is one Of the city's most valuable
assets, and should not be surrendered through
any act Of legislation.
Looking at the situation from the point OF
view not only Of citizen Of New-York. but Of
+ Republican DESTROYS OF party success in this
State this fall 1 cannot conceive Of anything
that would impern Republican chances in this
State so much as that surrender 20 the unjust
! demands OF the railroad corporations which the
. passage Of these bills would mean
Il feel that Il our protests against these bills
are sufficiently emphatic the legislature will not
pass the bills. and that II need be Governor
Odel will interpose his strong influence against
depriving the people OF this city OF what justly
. belongs to them"
Pratt A Brown was even more severe in ex-
pressing his d.sapproval Of the relocation bill.
/ This bill" said he, as the most dangerous Of
all It provides that with the consent of the
4 Railroad Commission the railroad company
could change It's tracks to any street other than
/ the one for which it now holds franchise In
/ other words. II the company desired it could
shift its tracks from Third-ave or Park Row or
from Centre-st to Elm-st. and apply TO that
new street the conditions OF perpetual franchise
which it enjoys IN regard to other streets These
/ perpetual franchises were obtained before the
law went into effect making fifty years the
limit Of franchises
.sTo PASS the present bill now would prac-
+,cal1v amount 10 steal Of Elm-st.. any other
street that the railroad company might set It's
eyes on" , ,s -.
I Paul d Cravath, who drew the bills, had told
him that the corporations were not going 10 pay
q cent for the franchises
"Tybat Mr. Cravath did say" said Mr. Cohen.
was that the corporations were not going TO
1 nav a cent for the legislation
/ Charles Sprague smith PRESIDENT OF Ile = co %
pies Institute. expressed himself as incensed AZ
] The methods employed 10 engineer the plI-s
/ through the legislature
! He declared that ne was present az the gen
/ I'll rearing on the Bedell- Wilcox bills, and
4 characterized the hearing before the Assembly,
. on these measures, well as on the Wallace
0i ,1s, a. OF the Republican Club Of the
] xYXrst Assembly District have issued r5h
] FOR mass meeting for next thursday HlRll
/ TO protest against the grab bills
/ Anv hope that Mr.. Cravath may have e7te.-