New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-15
FATE OF GRAB" BILLS.
MOST OF THEM DEAD.
Rand Transit RAILROAD Com
mission Bill Mag Pass.
IBY rELEGRAPH 10 THE TRIBUNE. J

[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l
Albany, April 1.-THE fate Of pending grab"
bills was fairly well outlined by Governor Oden
to-day. who made passing reference TO the
Elnl-st "grab" and the other street railroad bills.
y hich are dead in committee You couldn't
get those bills out OF committee with derrick
laughed the Governor. On bills like the Niagara
Power Company measure the Governor declined
70 comment. pointing out that he to give
hearings on all these bills and he could not
properly comment on them before their hear
inss bur their fate IS generally regarded as
sealed The railroad bills have never even
reached a vote in the Assembly. They got
far as second reading. and then the opposition Of
New York Republican members forced their
withdrawal. Since then they have slumbered in
committee in both houses.
Another bill which win pass at the present
session is the Judges Pension bin. After pass
ing the Senate. this bill was sent 20 the Assem-
bly, Rules Committee where il has been held
ever since. Last Saturday a vote in this COM
nittee revealed the fact that a majority OF the
committee opposed its being reported, and little
effort has since been made TO get it out. The
bill was opposed by 4 majority Of the Repub-
ucan Senators. In another form It was unfavor-
ably passed at a party caucus and passed
the Senate by a combination OF eight Republican
ard twenty Democratic votes. after a midnight
DEBATE. Conferences Of party leaders on the
Republican side resulted in a decision that the
bin was not approved of in the upstate dis
tricts and TO this opposition the death of the
biz in committee is primarily due
The Elsberg Rapid Transit bin was not
ported by the Assembly Rules Committee today.
and this failure practically seals the fate OF
that measure. r. Fulton Cutting, Cyrus L.
sulzberger and other Citizens Union represent
sing
the measure reported. The opposition OF the
Rapid Transit Commission as well as the often
sive championship Of the measure by certain
interests contributed much TO the final failure
of this bill General regret was. however, ex-
pressed that the provision Of the measure per
uniting the construction Of pipe galleries in
connection with new subways could not he con
sidered apart from the main bin.
OF all the important measures awaiting dis
position on the hour Of adjournment, the Rail-
road Commission bills are the only bills that
have been seriously regarded as having even a
fair chance Of enactment William f. King, of
the Merchants Association. saw Governor Odell
several times during the day and received his
assurance that the Governor would use all his
efforts to assist in the passage Of the Wilcox
bin. introduced at the request Of that organiza-
ticu. and increasing the number Of State Rail-
raad Commissioners and materially charging
-heir powers. This bin has been steadily Op-
po=e1 by the railroads which are represented
81 ,se .apital 10y John b. Stanchheld and other
&c. - el
z.,~ b. T. Wilcox gave notice in the SEN
3a .st aelore adjourning tonight that he
1o... ..,ye To SUSPEND the rules 10 attempt to
sae bu to-morrow. The consensus Of
t.t r ..-.i-ht however. is that the bill viii
3d.. ..-s similar prediction is made
,.....r.- the other Wilcox bill. which in
DE number q commissioners without
1...,.l Ily adding to their powers.
lf..n T. King, Of the Merchants Assocla-
a.. Knight gave out a long statement pre-
g., ing his views upon the Railroad Commission
L.. 20 ssid in part:
D. LOW propose with the aid Of the Governor
-p . Hg,nly believe has been loyal from the
s.----,Y have il pass the Senate. II viii then
-fL.,ely up u the Committee OF Rules in
il- Assembly They have either got 10 allow
ia .lil TO out into the open for final pas
er Or stultify themselves. The two Demo-
,lajs one from Kings County, where the most
S.s-r8,sfUl conditions exist in the transporta-
lion OF passengers on street ana surface roads,
where more mass meetings have been held by
Indignant public. protesting against the service
OF these roads, objecting to insults to the
mothers. wives and daughters Of the people who
reside in this great Borough OF Brooklyn. are
against as. The corporations which control the
street ana surface roads of greater New York
were born in iniQuity and nursed on water, and
pay interest on mortgages ana watereu caplIaI
al the expense Of a great Christian community.
This issue against corporations We have sue
CessfUlly fought out by the move made by Sen
ator Wilcox in the Senate asking 10 have the
bill put on the third reading. When the bill
passes the Senate and goes up 10 the Assem-
hlv I shall ask the Governor TO request this COM
nittee 10 report this bill out. thus making this
committee absolutely responsible for the pre-
venting Of the Assembly 10 vote on this bill. II
fhev refuse to vote this bill we Will then ap
peal the Governor for an extra session Of
The legislature. ! ha0 a consultation to-day with
r Fulton Cutting in regard to the question of
the Elsberg bin. which bin is drawn with the
intent OF saving the tearing up OF the streets OF
Ney-Tor after the completion Of the new sub
way, and 10 bring into the treasury Of the
city millions Of dollars. il will affordlan OPP
portunity for giving charters TO competing COM
ranies Tor furnishing through pipe line galleries
gas. electric and telephone accommodations to
the people.