New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-14
FIRM FOR PORT CHESTER.
WILL STAND BY BRONX.
Resurrection of Rip Fan Winklc
Road Seen Through at albany.
[nr rEIrGrArH 40 rHE rRIpuNE.

|
Rip Van Wrinkle appearance in the New-York
Board of Aldermen yesterday, has recorded
against it the testimony of W. C. Gotshal of
| the New-York and Port Chester Railroad, that
| the rights and all the alleged valuable fran
! chises OF this company were offered to him Tor
! the price of an old suit of Clothes" furnishes
additional light the nature of the aldermen's
! changeling. This testimony was given before
the Railroad Commissioners and is on record.
It is equally significant that it succeeded in 1896.
| while William L. Strong Mayor, in having
| passed identically the measure that it now
! seeks TO have re-enacted. II the company had
| not, those who have looked UP its history af-
| firm. persisted in 1885, should 1t be necessary
| now to re-enact measures already passed in its
| favor?
Did you know that the ordinance was to be
introduced?" Mr. Gotshan was asked to-day.
Certainly" he answered. with smile. II
knew that month ago"
We'll viii you say any more about it?'
whats the use. when I tell you I knew
about It a month ago2 Doesn't that show
enough IN itself?"
Before the Railroad Commission Mr.. Gotshall
not only testified that the company had been
offered TO him for the price of old suit OF
clothes. but he also affirmed that 1t had issued
a fraudulent stock book. To face the reported
offer of $4,000 for It's franchise the state
ment was made to-day authoritatively that the
company went through wash" sale for $1,000
only few weeks ago.
Moreover the companyS alleged rights have
been continually offered to the Port Chester
road, and. before the Port Chester existed. to
Mr.. Gotshan. Curiousy enough. the people
controlling the New-York. Westchester and
Boston are similarly interested in the old West
chester Railroad, which defeated IN the
Court of Appeals November TO- at which
J. time fictitious advance telegram purporting to
come from Albany was sent out reversing the
decision later coming from the court.
Yesterdays action is regarded as serving notice
on the Port Chester men that they must see
this Tammany board. Defeated hitherto in
their graft" policy toward this company the
Inference now naturally is that they have taken
line"
That the Tammany men appreciate the situa-
ton Is apparent from overtures that have al
ready been made by them here 10 let the Port
Chester permit slip through the Board of Alder
men II the Wainwrtght-C Carpenter bill is with
drawn. They have quietly intimated that this
method of compromise would be satisfactory TO
their interests
This attitude is taken, It is easily conJectured.
because they are beginning to appreciate how
OF their treatment of The Bronx There is good
reason to believe that the Governor and the Re-
publican majority are determined that the rights
OF the people of the district through which the
Port Chester wants to pass shall be protected.
and that the principle OF home rule. TO protect
which the Carpenter Wainwright measure Is
drawn. shall obtain in theory and practice
The application OF the Port Chester road and
the whole merits OF the issue have been care
fully examined by the Republican leaders here
who have formed their opinion OF the policy OF
the aldermen living south OF Fourteenth-st
and in Brooklyn IN holding up what the united
Bronx aldermen, backed by the unanimous sup
port OF three hundred thousand residents OF that
district. are deUHDding.
The ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS BIZ viii simply
give 10 the people Of Greater New-York tho
right to determine questions OF this kind affect
Ing their own districts, There Is good reason to
believe that the Governor is not less deeply in
terested In this act OF Justice than are Speaker
Nixon. Senator John Ranes Lieutenant Cow
ernor Higgins and other prominent Republicans
The present effort Is the third TO limit the
power OF the Board OF Aldermen the result of
its methods. The first instance was I'm the
Atlantic-ave. improvements Of the Long Island
Railroad: the second was when the Pennsylvania
Railroad. as a result OF the 'hold-up' OF its
plans, had the Jurisdiction over streets placed
In the hands OF the Board OF Estimate and APP
portionment through legislative amendments
Now. with this third example OF Tammany gov
eminent. there Is good basis for the assertion
that influences of no !nconsiderabe Importance
are at work TO have the last vestge OF authority
in improvements o. this sort taken from the al
dermen.
That the stamp Of Tamnany Is branded on
the New York, westchester and Boston Railroad
is the sentiment OF Bronx residents asked yester-
day for an expression OF opinion In regard to
the company suddenly sprung into activity
after peaceful sleep OF years TITS as plain as
A. 3. c." said one man. 'Tamnany unable TO
scare the Port Chester road officials by its stand
and deliver policy, now resorts to the use of n
dummy concern. IN the hope OF making them
give up before the aldermen are permitted to
vote the necessary consent for the use OF Bronx
streets. The schem" is palpabls that II
hardly requires consideration and Il will not
divert the people of The Bronx from asking the
help Of the legislature in the construction OF
the Port Chester road.
1T is certain that no assistance is to be ex-
pected from the present Board OF Aldermen
controlled as It is by Tammany, and we must
look to Albany for relief. The road will be built
by the concern which stands ready to do the
work. and which has already spent considerable
money preliminary to its construction"
Albert z. Davis. president Of the North side
Board of Trade. had the following to say of ths
New-York, Westchester and Boston concern:
II the New-York. Westchester and Boston Rail-
way Companys franchise still holds good and II IL
has purchased all the private right OF way neces-
sary. cannot begin construction any too soon
but the retuvenating OF ancient scheme cannot
take the place OF one In which the people OF The
Bronx and We5tchester County have perfect con-
hdence. and for which they have been lighting
hard during the last year.
The New-York and Port Chester Railroad Co,,-
pany must be granted it's permit, and the measure
which has been introduced by Assemblyman VAIN
wright giving to the local board OF the Borough ot
with the hearty approval OF the citizens of The
Bronx and Westchester County. The demand. ~
the people OF this section not be frustrated
by the revival OF project long since regarded as
abandoned any more than they are by tina tac.ics
of the Board OF Aldermen.