The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-11
FRANCHISE DEADLOCK HOLDS.
ALDERNEN PROPOSE TO AMEND
CONNECTING 90. PERMIT

Win Conditions That the Company WIN
Not Accept Higher Hcntol. Horse
Road over steam Railroad UrldEe and
five Cent Fare From bronx 90 Queens
The Aldermens Committee on Bridges
md Tunnels gave hCuring yesterday on
the application Of the New York Connecting
Railroad Company for permission TO build
a road through Queens and over the Fast
River 10 join the Pennsylvania and New
Haven systems. but when il reports It viii
probably advise the board TO return the
form Of contract 10 the Rapid Transit Com
mission to have conditions inserted which
the company. as was made clear yesterday,
will refuse 10 agree TO. 50 the deadlock
will be continued in another form.
George L. Rives counsel to the Rapid
Transit Commission, urged the committee
to report favorably upon the application.
He pointed out that the Connecting railroad
would join the Long Island Railroad with
the rest OF the United States and would
mean the building up of the manufacturing
interests Of Brooklyn and Queens.
Little Tim Sullivan, the chairman OF the
committee, wanted TO know from Mr. kiNes
why the company was asked TO ray only
about a teflth Of the rental per mile that
had been demanded from the Pennsylvania
company for it's tunnel under the city.
Mr.. Rives said that the Connecting COM
pany intended to buy its own right Of way
and that its route would be over swampS
and land Of little value.
Then Alderman Sullivan said he thought
the company ought 10 provide on Its bIlGEe
footpath and a road for vehicles MI
Riyes replied that he did not think that thlS
would he feasible because the bridge would
he $50 feet high in some places and would
begin and end in railroad yards
Delegations from The Bronx, while not
opposing the franchise a. a general propo-
sition demanded that the company should
he compelled tn carry pass ngerS between
The Bronx and Queens for a five cent fare.
One Of the speakers in favor Of the bill
was T. S. Piper Of the Brooklyn Transpor-
tation Reform League. This il the organi-
cation to which belong j. Edward Swan
trom and William g. Redheld, who have
been working for the bill to take away
from the Aldermen all power over fran
Chises.
Alderman Sullivan asked him If he didn't
think il would be a good thing for the peo-
pie Of Brooklyn II they could travel TO The
Bronx for Eve cents. Mr.. Piper admitted
that the suggestion was good one.
Then don't YOU realize, exclaimed
Alderman Sullivan that delay sometimes
in these kinds OF matters is good because it
brings advantages for the public? The
trouble Is that there's a lot OF wind tanners
from fake refGTm organizations DING around
making lot Of irresponsible statements.
There are two men from your SOC lety who
have been saying things which they didn't
havG the courage to come here to-day to
repeat"
Al another point Mr. Piper was mem
tioning that at a recent meeting Of or
ganized labor resolutions had been passed
favoTing the building Of the road.
"The c. F. u. ropudiated that meeting
interrupted Chairman sullivan. That was
the Tngnfinu "a iph attended Inv
arduous and worthy Comptroller and ]
am sorry to say that he was IN posed upon
by a lot Of takers Anyway, there was no
harm done because the Comptroller always
likes TO hear himself speak, lie went on
20 explain that the committee had not held
2 public hearing before because the COM
psny had not asked for one.
But said Mr. Piper after an GppiCa-
ton Of this kind has been referred to a COM
mittee Is It supposed to lie there until
hearing IL asked for?"
"Always," replied Alderman Sullivan
'and want to say that while your league
have been the strongest shouters for a
hearing Swanstrom and EedGeld are not
here
Samuel Rea of the Pennsylvania Railroad
said that the Connecting company had not
asked for a hearing because ell it, negotia-
tons had been carried on with the Rapid
Transit Commission, which had forwarded
the application 20 the Aldermen. Mr.. Rea
raid he did not think it proper for the COM
pany TO intervene. He said further that
the company would not pay greater
compensation for the franchise, nor would
Il build foot and vehicular paths. They
would be out Of place, he said, on steam
railroad bridge.
Alderman Doull the TammaDy orator
Of the board, insisted that the motive power
70 be used should be electricity. Such a
condition In the franchise would be pro-
hibitoTy, Mr., Rea said. Other opponents
Of the project saw in it purpose to build
up Boston, New London and Montauk
Point at the expense Of New York harbor.