The evening world., 1904-05-03
GAS CRAB BILL
HEARING IS ON
Executive Chamber at Albany
Crowded During Argument
for and Against the Remsen
Measure Before Gov. 0deII.

ALBANY y Y. May S--Intense in
terest in the rate OF the Remsen bill, ex-
tending the rights o; the East River
Gas Company 20 the territory u the
former CITY of Long Island. appeared
In the crowd which 2acked the Execu-
tive Chamber today to attend the hear
ing before Gov Odell.
The DILL came back to the Governor
with the approval Of Mayor Mcclellan
lie took 'he ground that the mea sure
does not violate the principle " home
rule and doe" not injure the oity. Op-
ponents of the bill attacked the views
Of the Mayor Most Of the counsel on
each side came up from New York on
the Empire State Express. and did not
reach the Capitol uutn utter Il 10
o'clock. the hour set for the hearing
Opposition Out in Force.
The opposition 10 the bill was IN the
greater force and Included Edward
Whitney former Assistant Distrlct-At
tOrney, representing the Peoples Iusti-
tutc and the West End Association:
Henry W. GJodrich. representing tho
cry club, julius Henry Cohen, for the
Citizens Union: Robert Van Iierstlne
former Deputy COmmiasioner OF the De
ptrtJlent Ut Water, Gas and Electricity
representing Brooklyn taxpayers aud
also the Citizens Union, Ii. d. Dumonl
aud Edward = BrownROn, Jr., for tho
Merchants Association. Charles Spragur
Smith. for the Peoples Institute; James
l.. Conway and August WigRers, for th"
United Real Estate Owners Associa-
tion.
MIR. Whitney was the first speaker IN
opposition 20 the bill lie reviewed the
history OF the East River Gas Com
pauy. declaring chat Its original chhr
Ter had contained unconstitutional pro-
visions smuggleJ into 1t IN a manner
constituting practically "A fraud upon
the Legislature"
drawn up by himself, which re-
uuirpd the removal OF gas works from
Manhattan Island. and in which the
rights OF the company were settled and
pending b.l he objected 20 as giving
territorial extension, franchise Ia
pcrpctuity, and ali without provision
Tor Compensation. II. II" said, the com
pany already has the rights given by
the hill il Is unnccessary: II II gives
new rights In perp-trsty then II should
not become i law.
julius II. Cohen attacked the bill AZ
vioiutinC the fundamental principles OF
hOm, rule and nf the Greater New York
charter He contrasted this measure
with tie Bedell railroad bills. which
the Legislature had failed TO pass. and
declared that this bin was far worse
than the railroad bill
Nj. Van ld"rs.tnc said that the OF
tcnslble purposes Of the bill We're not
the real purposes. Every one OF the
ostensibls objects Of the bill could he
obtained by proper methods, to which
the people would not object. and which
the cdty had present rowor 10 provide
for.
H. D. Dumont. for the Merchants
Association, claimed that under the pill
and the laws witch II corroborated, the
corporations could evPde any ps yment
whatever TO the city.
f., =. BrownSOr emphasized the con-
tention that the Retnsen bill would
give sweeping municipal franchise IA
the Consolidated Gas Company.
MeS5rs. Conway and Wiggers indorsed
what had been said Ia opposition to N.
bill and presented resolutions OF the
Real Estate Owners Organization