New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-24
RAILROAD GRAB BILLS.
HUGH OPPOSITION SHOWN.
Fight Centres About TranSfers-
Little Chance to DefeGG Measures.
Tnr rr1EcRkPH TO THE TRIBUNE.

Pam ID C-ravath on behalf OF his clients, the
Nsw-Yorl CITY Railroad Company and other
street railway corporations. were to-day brought
out before the Senate Committee on RAILROADS.
and Mr. Cravsth repeated his appeal on oehaIi
OF the railroads for the passage of the meas
,,-ee szenresentati.-es OF forty-eight civic bodies
OF the city OF New-Yorl with the additional CO.
operation OF the Republican Club. urged the DE-
feat OF the bills repeating all the objections pre-
scented previously and brushing aside All the
slight amendments offered BY Mr.. Cravath' as
Intellectual The battle ragged about the va
rious measures aimed at vitiating the transfer
rights OF the passengers and here the civic
representatives reinforced by ex-senator
Guy. representing the Corporation Counsel ana
the city administration.
James s. Lehmeier, who led the fight against
she bills, made strong presentation Of the OBJ
sections TO the Wallace Transfer bin. Tesung
in the Attorney General. rather than the ag-
grieved party. the right to bring suit for dam
ages for a refusal 10 transfer, declaring that
this biIl would not merely emasculate but rem
der useless and fossil the penalty law. Julius
Henry Cohen 5oined in this attack upon the bill.
declaring that the situation the attorney for the
New-York City Railroad pronounced a scandal
namely. the bringing OF so many suits-was
merely the result OF their refusal 70 obey the
law ana their refusals to meet the propositions
made by the civic organizations 10 refer the
matter 20 the courts.
Charles Sprague Smith. who attempted to ex-
press the attitude OF the people IN his organiza-
ton. the Peoples Institute. had barely opened
on sn explanation Of the fierce unwillingness Of
the masses" to the surrender OF franchises when
Senator Martin buntly asked him why he had
not opposed the Pennsylvania tunnel franchise
which he declared was worth S1O0o00O0O Full
ierton Wells representing the Brooklyn Tran
eft Reform Association. declared that the effect
OF the bills IN Brooklyn would be bad He ex-
claimed IN Despair OF expressing their vicious
ness;
These bills are awfuI-siTnply awfulr'
Mr.. Cohen analysed the bills in detail. ex-
planning that, while the amendment TO the Elm
ST. grab bin exposed by The Tribune might ex-
olude that street. there were graver flaws. He
said;
The second part Of this BILL the relocating
part enables company entirely 70 escape the
charter provision against obtaining a perpetual
franchise IL allows the company 70 leave an
old line, where street has ceased TO be profit
able carry Its cars into another street and
there enjoy all the rights OF a perpetual fran
chise enjoyed IN the old line. Despite the fact
that the law provides against perpetual fran
chises, they get a new one in perpetuity.
Take the OF the Delsncey-st. bridge. They
can relocate their tracks 10 go there and you are
giving away something that belongs 20 the peo-
pie OF New-York City and giving it away prac-
ticaily for nothing Why DO the attorneys for
rights3 Because they would have TO pay for
them n New-York on the basis OF a new fran
chise7
Mr. Cravath made a long plea for the bills.
Among other interesting things. he said:
The transfer system is the lie Of the Metro
poiitan company; u we were to-morrow relieved
I'D per cent. We never refuse them except
IN instances like that at Twenty-third-st and
Broadway, where congestion makes il undesir-
able We want TO keep the traffic on Broad
way. and we refuse transfers II already is too
congested. but It seems 70 be human nature 10
60 where the crowd Is. and people who could
get home i've minutes quicker by another line
WIN go by Broadway II given a chance. Now.
this transfer penalty business has become a
scandal. Why, and his wife and ser
want have brought suits for $4,000 against US.
business has simply got TO stand in with the
conductor. Ninety-nine per cent Of the suits
brought under this law are brought by black
1nRilers.
on the relocation bill Mr.. Cravath. after ex-
planning that the bin was primarily intended
10 allow the company TO remove the extra set
OF tracks from Amsterdsm-ave which were the
property OF the Third-ave. line. and that. IN
less the tracks We're kept the franchise
which mortgages were drawn would lapse. said;
Frankly we want 20 preserve our perpetual
franchises and yet not operate useless lines: but
we can, for example. IN the OF the Will
tansburg Bridge better AFFORD 10 stick TO old, !
announcement lines than buy new franchises.
Considerable discussion was provoked by the
receipt by Mr. Iehmeier OF telegram author
izing him 90 represent the Republican Club in
opposition to the transfer bills. Mr.. Cravath
commended that the action by the club was not
significant that the disapproval had been passed
on thirty bills at one time and that the whole
Thing was silly. This provoked an argument,
which only terminated when Barney Martin
said
Il say. why didn't you tip me and I'd have
got message from the Democratic Club"
Despite the widespread opposition TO these
railroad grab bills IL is generally believed at the
Capitol that they VIII pass. Even the men,
beers OF the civic bodies who present at the
hearing to-day admitted that the prospects OF
the passage Of the bills seemed bright. and that
unless the public opposition was pro-
nounceo these bills. entailing, they do the
practical surrender OF the right and power OF
citizens 10 compel railway companies to give
transfers. wOald be enacted into law
The Assembly Committee on Railroads at an
executive session late this afternoon reported
out favOrsbly all Eve OF the New-York City
railroad bills Their report was decided upon
almost at the same time the representa- ives OF
the forty-eight civic bodies were opposing the
measure before the Senate Committee on Rail-
ROADS. The only one OF the grab bills not re-
ported the Wallace Transfer bin The
Bodeil transfer measure opposed b. Mayor Nc
Clellan and the city authorities allowing the
State Railroad Commission TO permit street
railroad companies TO refuse transfers at con-
10 give the New-York City Railroad the right to
move its tracks and obtain perpetual fran
chises az the new terminals and the bin sus-
pected OF being drawn IN the interests OF the
kip" New-Fork. Westchester and Boston were
al among those reported The committee also
reported the Bedell bin increasing the humber Of
Railroad Commissioners from three 20 1--WE and
the Wallace third rail
The action o. he Assembly committee IS ae-
celteQ as a final indication OF what has been
generally believed for some time, namely. tbat
the grab" bills were certain to pass The da-
fence Of the nills win be made that they have
been amended. but the Representatives Of ire
civic associations declared fatty to-day that tho