New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-23
MAYOR SIGNS GAS BILL.
DEPENDS THE MEASURE.
Belieces 1t Merely Confirms Vested
RightS-N0zc Goes to GoUernor.

Mayor Mcclellan yesterday afternoon. after
the close Of the Stock Exchange for the day.
signed the Remsen East River Gas bill. The
measure viii now go 70 Governor OdeU for his
action. The gas company has been fighting for
this franchise for two years. Mayor Mcclellan
gave out the following memorandum explaining
his acceptance OF the bill:
Before this measure came into my hands 1 shared
the opinion of many persons that IL in some
contrary 20 public interests. but after hearing
argument for and against IT, and carefully exam
!liug ITS provisions. / am convinced that this
opinion lnwarranted. II was suggested on the
angr % to % Ih ems lights 6f b6t ne on m ponte 3 6
out such a danger and have been unable TO find
ground for tho suspicion. More specific and sub
startSl objection. therefore. must be advanced 20
ID has been urged that the measure is improper
because IL makes 10 provision for compensation TO
the city as consideration ior my approval Of IL,
but this suggestion presupposed that it confers
% 5T s EMS or & &pllSseges & & WLich en- II Goes Goes nCt S
bIi has no other purpose effect than to confirm
iaTures OF 1871 and lSs2 Since the city Yields moth
ms no pay Inent may be justly eNacted for my ap-
Nor does It offend against the theory OF homo
iho-ities has acted in the matter The rights we're
STea1eq olgnS1y & @ 6y the lesiSatuTe ana the legs-
However opinions may differ 70 the wisdom Of
ere vested. and I find no reason to disagree
with the opinions Of the Corporation Counsel aEd
G. Carter and Wheeler II. Peckhan that this IS
a fut Sola loP ot the RIGHTS nor can 9iSceIn
'lan its language dscloses
terest by this biII but it is promised that in the
1[eFi 3i GI Us becoming law the manuLsctpre OF
and the several plants now operated here trans
menace TO public health in several conEested centres
- population, such action would leave many eNten-
needed public Improvements or devoted 10 whole
some dwellings. now so much in demand -
bur failed OF approval by predecessor. primarily
electrical franchises not part Of the original
rights out the present measure EXPRESSLY removes
Such an oolecIon I4 oeclaElns tnat no flecirlcaI
franchises are 10y this section conferred upon the
The bill retains the provision which requires an
nually the payment to The city Of per cent of its
n Long Island city.
7 cannot see how I can do otherwise than ap-
- me. IS based upon misapprehension as 10 tho
and desirable thing, eyidencing- as II does a
where an infringement ~ the rights Of the local
community are threatened.
At the public hearing on the bill \ week ago.
?. r. Whitney, Of the West Side Taxpayers As
sccs ton, said that the bill practically changed
2 lease under which the company had been op-
Grating for years into a perpetual franchise
End he alleged that the company had NOT COM
piled with the law which provides that il must
pay 3 per cent OF It's gross earnings 10 the city
As a rental.
When John J. Murphy. president of the New
York Contracting and Trucking Company. and
brother of Charles T. Murphy. asked yes
ter5ay II his company had the contract for build
tng the company's new gas plant. he said that
there was nothing in the story. When Alderman
James T. Ganney. whose wife is treasurer Of
The Murphy company. was asked about the al
legged contract with the company. he said:
We haven't got it, l wish We had"
The workrnen on the job say that the New
York Contracting and Trucking Company IS do
sng part Of the grading work.
IN a formal statement issued by the East
River company a week ago the plans for the
new plant were set forth IN detail They call
for the greatest gas featuring works in the
world. The industry is expected TO increase
largely the population Of the Ravenswood part
of Queens Borough The work has been under
way for nearly a year. Permission to close Ger
tain unimproved streets and avenues was grant
81 last year hy the Board Of Estimate and Ap-