New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-24
PIPE LAYING.

In the course Of the controversy in the Senate
yesterday over the disposition Of the East
River Gas Company's bill Senator Goodseli'
who wns anxious 10 have IL referred 10 his
Committee on Miscellaneous Corporations. re-
marked that Il related 10 the laying OF pipes IN
New-Tork 1T is because we fear the pipes are
already laid" replied Senator Elsberg, that we
want Il referred 10 the Cities Committee.
Whether or not the final reference Of the bill
10 the Committee on Miscellaneous Cor 'orntions
iustifes Senator Elsberg's apprehension viii
appear later. hut there are undoubtedly other
good reasons for fearing that the legislative
pipes already have been laid. The bill passed
the Assembly On Tuesday with conspicuous ease
by q vote Of 81 TO 80. Republicans and Demo
Gratis combining 70 furnish that large majority.
Yet the arguments against il are sound and
have been forcibly presented. while II has been
feebly defended I'm speech and print. 1t is the
sort Of bill that goes through, when the ar
rangements have been nicely made, without any
serious effort on the part OF its supporters TO
show its merits Its all right is the sum and
substance OF the verbal argument in such cases.
The bill has been modified since last year by
the excelsior Of the electrical franchise which it
formerly carried. ami 10 that extent IT is less
objectionable than il was. But n is not "all
right" as Mr.. Remsen would have us suppose
il 10 be. On the contrary. ii is all wrong. IL
vadates a franchise which was improperly,
If not corruptly. granted. 1t confers large prvi-
leges, and it confers them in perpetuity with
out compensation. A year ago the bill con-
tanned a tricky provision which purported TO
guarantee some pecuniary return 20 the city.
But on examination IL was found that the osten-
sible remuneration was purely illusory, as the
Counsel 10 the Corporation described it. OF
course. that was not an inadvertence. 1t signi-
fed a deliberate purpose 20 deceive honorable
members Of the legislature who were not IN the
secret and to swindle the city. IL a lawyer
stopped to draft that fraudulent provision he
ought 20 be disbarred. We have not seen It
expressly stated whether or not the measure
stil contains that false and peculiarly shabby
pretence, but. IN any case. II secures no recon-
pense 70 the city for the lucrative rights which
II bestOws. Members OF the legislature are
usually happy 20 decaim against perman ent
franchises when the general principle is up for
discussion, but IN specific cases they are won't
to be considerably less voluble and confident
In the Assembly on Tuesday Mr.. Newcomb. n
stanch opponent of the Remsen bill. proposed
70 limit the franchise TO twenty-five years. but
the majority voted him down. and equally
striking disregard for the New-York public was
manifested throughout the proceedings.
II is promised. and probably intended. BY
means Of this bill 10 remove the gas manufact-
uring plants from Manhattan TO a part Of the
city where they win cause much less annoy
ance. That would he a good thing TO do. as
we have often said, but the company has chosen
to take an offensive way Of accomplishing de-
sirable object, and consequently deserves 10
fail. Il might have procured the necessary au-
thority year ago, as Mayor Low pointed out
In vetoing the biil, by fair dealing with the city
government and doubtless could do so now.
Possibly II may succeed by the methods IL ha 9
again employed. but we earnestly hone the on.
position OF Tammany members Of the Assembly
signifies that Mayor Mcclellan will withhold
mas approval II the bin passes the legislature.
We wonder II Republicans at Albany think II
Is good policy to give a Tammany Mayor such
an opportunity to protect the people Of this CITY
from an utterly selfish scheme Of spoliation.