New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-10
ACTION, OR THE COURTS.
LAST CHANCE, ALDERIEN.
Port Chester Committee A1caiting
Result of To-days Meeting.

In a statement issued yesterday afternoon
supplenenting a charge made at the conference
OF the Merchants Association and various
Bronx and westchester organizations over the
holdup of the Port Chester franchise. Dick &
Robinson. the bankers for the New-York West
chester ard Boston Railway Company. declare
that the Port Chester road through IT'S bank
ers. triei at two separate times TO sell to them
It's rights and franchises. Failing that The
statement goes on. q proposition was made THAI
the two comTaniss combine and make n Joint
application 20 the aldermen for franchise
william F. Gottshall. president OF the New-
York and Port Chester Railway. said that
there was not word OF truth in this story
The Port Chester never offered 10 sell ou. 10
the Westchester concern in any way or shape"
ne sale. "On the other hand. I wan, To repeat
what I've said many times: The Westchester
road. although it has legal existence has
tried TO sell It's alleged rights To US many times
IN the last year. the last time such an attempt
was made being only a month ago. Not only
have they approached me. but they tried 10 sell
the road to John b. Mcdonald. one OF our
men"
]. Horace Harding. of Charles D. Barney &
Co. fiscal agents for the Port Chester railway
said tina. the statement was absolutely un-
true"
The statement issued at the offices of Dick
We We're content that our proposition should be
RbeEa so on s 4ss Of e Red
Association TO bring about speedy decision OF
tnS or whoe % msler aaES M 1aso ps %slSomed m tne
men 10 secure thorough ventilation OF the charges
Of intim datioS and olackmail voiced by The New
Thus. while We regret that the matter should
have been made public at this time. are per
6eetiy wiiling to say that g D esTnsy Co.
fiscal agents OF the New-York and Port Chester
Railroad Company. did approach US as bankers for
Company with a proposition TO sell nil the rights.
franchises, privileges and pe-quisites owned by
Two interviews on this subject took place In our
bers OF our hrm, Evans r. Dick and Robert r
Robinson arG William L. Buii PIesidei Pi ,r OF aTs
OF Messrs. Barney & Co. represented them We
bine the Interests Of the Westchestcr and Port
Chester GompSales a snd 70 M mahs dee 3ol' n wcro
also asked to entertain plan wherein 1eAs11, rs
financing the Port Chester corporation might have
OF the NewYOrk. Westchester and Boston ran
"as as our own plans were already fully matured.
we did not it - entertain either Of these pro2I
ostions Likewise. when Il was later proP9TbGa Pbt
we're agair constrained to reject the proposition.
Determined To force investigation OF the
reDorts Of blackmail and corruption the part
OF the aldermen. and anxious that The Bronx
shall have adequate transit facilities, the Mer-
chants Association. through its committee on
franchises Joined with the various Bronx tax
payers' associations and boards Of trade In de-
rnanding that the aldermen take immediate
action on the Port Chester roads application
Further as The Tribune told yesterday a large
committee was appointed to watch the course
taken by the aldermen to-day. If this In
the opinion of the committee, indicates desire
to avoid the issue or a tendency toward white
wash" the committee at once will demand an
inquiry from a Supreme Court justice.
There were represented at the conference
william F. King, Henry r.. Towne. John Z.
Eames and George L. Duval. of the Merchants
Association; the North Side Board of Trade. the
Taxpavers' Alliance of The Bronx. the Ches-
ter District Alliance. the Van Nest Property
Owners Association. the owners of one thousand
lots in New-York City. the Republican City
Committee of Mount Vernon. Westchester.
Mount Vernon, the w-Rochellc Board Of
Trade Mount Vernon property owners. the Tax
payers' Association of Mount Vernon and the
Board of Supervisors of Westchester
William T. King. of the Merchants Associa-
tion opened the meeting Said he;
There has been much talk of graft which may
or NAV not have been justified The question before
NV con1uittee To discussed to-day Is the atti-
tIde OF the Board OF Aldermen In constantly decln
Continued y second page.
Unusually attractive and exceedingly interesting