New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-09
BELMONT READY TO BID.
Mr. ROadman Would Like to Haze
People TOfc on Elsberg Plan.

August Belmont. president Of the Interbcrough
Rapid Transit Company, declared yesterday that
his company would he bidder contracts
that the Rapid Transit Commission advertises un-
der the hl passed al Albany Yesterday In response
90 the Governors urgency message. lie said:
Now that the Rapid Transit Commissions bill re-
moving the SO 0D.to0 limit has passed both houses
borough Rapd Transit company Is prepared to bid
on any ~ The routes that We have proposed. ana
sdered and which will later be applied for. Every
lar not 10 express approval or otherwise Of these
bills while they were being considered and on their
Tered with their proper advancement
Under the provisions Of the Rapid Transit law
the city was allowed to spend SS0eooC10 on such
|T has iaen spent On the present subway The
i, ny Vesfe-dav after Governor odeil had
sent an emergency message 20 the legislature re-
The Board of Estimate the right to make contracts
FOR subway routes until the debt limit Of the city
The other Rapid Transit bin gives the commission
the power TO lay Rapid Transit routes over
bridges and approaches.
As exrlainod I'm The Tribune Yesterday. the Met
ropolitan interests are prepared TO bid a subway
along any comprehensive routs suggested by the
commission one Of the strongest and most at
tractve features Of their recent proposition the
commission was that free transfer to all the Met
ropoIitan crosstown lines should be given II the
comnany got tho contract for a subway.
Counsel Sor the RAPID Transit Commission yes
terday sent a telegram to Governor Odell in Albany
denying statements made that the so-Called ElSberg
Rapid Transit bill was a COMPROMISE The telegram
in fun
We feel IL our duty formally to contradict the
statements appearing in the press this morning
that the so-callcd Elsbcrg Rapid Transit bill is
compromise measure ia that the amendments pro-
posed by the Rapid Transit Commission have been
Senate does not contain the amendments which the
Rapid Transit Commission considers not only i'm
portaut but essential. and is disaDprOved b. it,
In explanation Of the telegram Albert 3. Board
man .pade the following statement.
The present Rapid Transit act prevents municipal
expenditures unless part OF the contract author
ing a rental sufficient protect the city from the
possibility of loss The theory Is that rairoad
ought be built az the expense of the city unless
there be such demand for II that capitalists can
be found who willing 10 risk their money upon
the chance Of fits paying
The amendment abolohes all the requirements for
the union OF construction and operation. and en-
ahies the Rapid Transit Board with the approval
of the Board of Estimate and ADportionment Sub
jcCt. Of 10 the constitutional cousentsl tO
gard concern before or during construction as 70
It's future operation or use.
If the ElsbcrE bill becomes law in the form in
which il passed the Senate u will be impossible
build subWUyS, unless the CITY authorities
are willing take the risk Of spending the none
before a responsible contractor to operate the road
has been obtained. such operating contractor could
be obtained at the time when the contract for
construction is let, because the limit of the lease
is twenty years. with possible renewal for twenty
years This Is altogether too short a lease TO
attract a responsible contractor for operation.
II there is to be radical change in the policy Of
the city the Rapid Transit Commission feels tina I
It should first he approved by vote Of the people