New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-12
WONDERING WHAT TO DO.
ALDERMEN IN 4 MAIZE.
". +. King Calls for $4,000 to Be
Gin Port Chester War.

Having obtained their committee to Investigate
the stories OF blackmail and bribery regarding
the application Of the Port Chester road for
franchise the aldermen are wondering what
they will do with Il. The committee will meet
tomorrow afternoon to sea where it stands. one
important member at least. is not at all san
gulne to its power TO compel the attendance
OF witnesses. and he has even less faith in its
ability to make them answer questions.
This phase Of its difficulty will he submitted
70 the Corporation Counsel for an oplEion, or
may go 10 him a request by the Mayor to
the committees power9 Theodore Connoly. IN
charge OF the Law Department in the absence
Of Corporation Counsel Delany. declined 10 ven
ture any opinion on this subject yesterday, be
caused he believed II would be submitted 10 his
Office officially.
Alderman Doull said that his committee would
meet tomorrow afternoon 10 organize. II viii
find out just what It's powers are and who are
wanted as witnesses. Mr.. Doul feels II
will call President Gotshall Of the Port chester.
for he has announced that n Mr.. Gottshall is
asked TO appear and doesn't he will vote against
the Port Chester franchise. Mr. DouIi attended
the meeting Of tae Merchants Association corr
rnIttee on franchises and transportation and
the Bronx and Westchester organizations yes
terday morning to see what they would do. MI
King. who was presiding told him the organiza-
ton would be glad TO cooperate with the COM
mittee Of aldermen in any investigation. So far,
though the Merchants Association had no direct
information Mr. King went on. and it couidTt
bring charges Of it's own.
Mr. King asked the conferrees II they were pre-
pared to contribute a fair share Of the cost Of
the projected war on the Aldermen. They re-
piled that they were unable to pledge their or
ga nization. but thought they were ready to pear
fair proportion OF the expense.
This is no childs play" Mr. King replied
you are starting "A fight against big combina-
ton. and you will be fortunate II the cost Is less
than SlO00G. The counsel who will represent
YOU in the Supreme Court proceedings tand We
are sure to reach the Supreme Courp viii ask
at least So 600 for the service. l wish to inn
press these points upon you because II the hsht
is started I shall insist that it be carried through
to the end. The Merchants Association does
not feel called upon 10 make the fight alone. but
we viii pay one-tenth Of all The expenses an"
will also give the services of our Office force and
the facilities of the association. 1t is up to the
rest Of you to say what you will do
The aldermen's inquiry is not perpeXing Ny
Gotshall He has not thought at all what he
will do about It. he says.
Il will certainly obey any legal summons or
subpoena from any legal body" he declared.
When IT was recalled to him that there was
great doubt TO the legal powers or the IN
vestigatng committee, he said
We'll I'll go even further than that. I'll e%-
tend every courtesy to the Board Of Aldermen
Does that mean that you will attend thelr IT.
quiry?" or. &,
II haven't said that" the answer. 1t Is
not clear to me why il should be necessary Tor
me to attend. III my own personality couid
have nothing to say; / could only be expected TO
testify to anything as the president OF the for1
Chester Railroad"
The conference of the Merchants Association
and The Bronx organizations has sent Il letter
TO the Mayor asking him to request the Cor
Doration Counsel TO furnish opinion on the
validity Of the charter of the New-York' West
chester and Boston Railway Company before
any definite action is taken by the Board or
Estimate and Apportionment fixing the com
nensation to be paid to the city by that road. IT
had been supposed that the Mayor had referred
that question to the Corporation Counsel some
time ago. as April Mr.. Delany sent 10 the
Mayor an opinion in which he dodged passing
on the validity of the charter ana sald IL ulo
not concern the Board of Estimate; but Mr.
Connolly said yesterday that. TO the best OF ms
knowledge request for an opinion on that
subject had never reached the Law department
from any official source. -,
An executive committee. consisting OF three
delegates from The Bronx, one from Mount
Vernon, one from New wRochelle one from Fort
Chester and from Rye. to be CHOSEN before
Tuesday will work with the committee on
franchises OF the Merchants Association.
These representatives and the Merchants AS
sociation committee win meet on Tuesday The
entire committee will attend the meeting or the
BOARD of Estimate and Apportionment to-mor-
row to nrotest against that body taking any ac-
tton on tho Westchester application until the
CORPORATION Counsel shall have given an opinion
he ~ Of that road.