New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-30
GRAB BILL WITHDRAWN.
FLM-ST. STILL IN DANGER.
Albaug Respects Pablo Opinion
4ufi-Transfer Measure Killed.
- rr.rerArn Il - - ]

tu,-r~. March 29.-Yie'ding az last 20 the
,,f5re-rral public condemnation Of its attitude
,,rerG the street railroad grab hills the As
..--,,f,. t1-dav corcurred IN Mr.. Bedells early
-.s-f5-aral 81 the measure limiting transfers
introduced by hIm and reported favorahly from
fis rrlir5ol committee. Great as is this victory
Cor the ouroucuts ~ the legislation, II IS, how
,,.o- orly partial for t is perfectly apparent
,cot The effort viii low be made with Increased
,7e-g- to jam through the other four bills, one
If -Airh contains the Elm-st. grab and another
.l,e resurrection of the nip" road. The predic-
son was freely made to-day that. having with
5-ev-r -he anti-transfer bin. and thereby simu-
dated ext-aordinary virtue, the friends OF the
fHIs vculI now demand in return for their
,aoderatlon the passage Of the Elnl-st. grab bn.
ccnfssse5Iy the worst of the lot
The bin Withdrawn allowed the State Railroad
conimies.5n 20 specify points al which street
raEroats r-isht be excused from giving trans
fers on account of congestion Of traffic and
transferred from the aggrieyed passenger 10 the
Attorney General the right 10 sue FOR the statu-
tory penalty for refusal 10 give transfers or for
charging excessive fare. The bin increased the
penalty from $50 TO S1o0
The triumph to-day was not unattended vita
interest. since II provoked the mention OF the
sa5oocI word grab" IN legislative halls. The
circumstances surrounding this occurrence are
Indicative Of the extreme sensitveness existing
n certain quarters at even the suggestion OF
questionable legislation. When the grab" bills
were reached their sponsor in the Assembly.
Chairman BedeD OF the Railroad Committee,
rose in his place and delivered a funeral ora
fion over what the citizens mass meeting in
e1eu-y0rk last night left OF his transfer meas
ure Prefaciug his remarks by the frank ac-
knowledgencnt that he regarded this measure
rs q proper one. Mr. Bedeu explained that the
,Fs sra r,I
ruthropic nature of this measure could not be
ignored by the legislature. He suggested Ii
was somewhat OF a question whether or not the
bin should not be framed on different lines,
(which ne did not Indicate and be reintroduced.
and then moved 10 strike out the enacting
clause. that is. killing the biz.
Asseubly-nan Newcomb. until recently con-
rected with "a New-York newspaper, then at
Hacked the bills after deplorng the Incorporate
expressions of The public press on this subject.
air Newcomb explained that he was not in
s,-lrafhv with the uuch-istian spirit which
applied the word grab 70 these measures.
when ar Newcomb had completed his ar
,arumeut or she bills and Of the public press.
Assemuyman Beden rrecipitated crisis by
calmly moving that tae bills be advanced 10
ihsd reading.
.I object" protested AR Wainwright, OF West
,,csic~. vehemently They should be consid-
Nro0 separate readings 4llS9 fNAN A-N- ~---''
Mr Bedeu. not catching the adjective correct
d. instantly shouted: I protest against any
such designation as grab
WIFI a peculiarly sarcastic smile on his face
eIr Wainwright quietly rejoined: II the gentle
lnan viii listen intently he won't misunderstood
me by creditirg me with the word grab how
ever ne may voice my opinion about these bills"
when the laughter had died away Mr.. Bedel
explained: Il understood the gentleman 70 say
grab Grab and had carry quite different mean
Sings 20 my miEd."
when the Assembly had recovered from the
SHOCK oCcdsloned by the unhappy suggestion
contained iu what 3Ir Bedeu thought Mr.
Wainwright said. It was agreed that the bills
fnoull go over until Thursday. when they would
lie considered on second reading. At that time
ihe Grst opportunity VIII be afforded for leGis-
lat0rs 10 oppose the bills on the floor OF the AS
fembly. But as has been said, ;he firm conNic-
zion remains that. that the transfer bill
las been Withdrawn, II the public is IN any
way blinded by this action and desists in its
protest he other bills viii be presented 10 the
NeU-york city Railroad Company as a tesu-
luonial OF appreciation Of the public services OF
that corporation
It became known to-day that the defeat Of the
JieleH Auti-Transfer ban had been promised 10
the rep~eseutatiyes CT the Merchants AssOcia-
ti0l by the Governor yesterday but at that time
lley were pledged 10 secrecy. Representatives
az public bodies appearing before various com
1uittees to-day expressed the hope thai the Gov
crnOr would make equally accurate
prophecy Of the death Of the Elm-st. grab. The
Triouue's exposure Of this biu this morning was
enthusiastically commended by b. j. DUmont
representing the Merchants Association.
Considerable uufavOrable comment was pro-
NOked in the Senate to-day by the appearance Of
set another BeJeu railroad bill. This time Il
affects railroad corporations generally. This
liu amends the railroad law providing that
every corporation in the State shall make an
annual report 10 the Railroad Commissioners Of
its operations. and this report shall be verified
ly the Oaths OF The president or treasure. gen
eral manager OF acting superintendent by sub
fjitutng fOr the last three any other officer in
charge Of operations. and the treasurer or other
Cf!lHer in charge OF accounts
When this measure came UP IN the Senate to-
cay Senator Malby arose and protested against
g. declaring that the intention OF this bin 10
make the report Of the railroad company en-
trely useless. and that n would finally exempt
railroad companies from the necessity. through
responsible officials. Il reporting their condition.
said he: why don't you pass n bin 30 let the
an who cleans the cars or the brakeman or the
hoy who sweeps the Office make the report .
This simply means that some subordinate who
win write a report this year viii have vanished
by next year" The bin was laid aside