New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-04-28
GRAB" BILLS HELD BACK.
DANGER NOT OYER YET.
GoodseU Measures Laid Aside TN
TWesday-Mag Sneak Through.
IRY TELEGRAPH TO THE TR1BUNs.I J

tBY TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUNE.i
Albany. April 27.-Confronted with a fun ex-
posuTe Of the extent and purpose Of the Inter
borough scheme to seize a tunnel through sneak
legislation. without paying to the city anything
for a franchise worth millions the forces bo-
hind the two Goodsell bills. one OF the impOr-
tant links IN the chain. to-day consented that
the bills be laid aside in the Assembly unt next
Tuesday This will carry them TO that perfod IA
the session when. owing to the ueaFnsss of sd-
journment. measures pass the Assembly with
little regard to their character. In the sama
category Is the Elsberg bill. also belonging in
this series. which is now in the Assembly Rulss
Committee OF the fact that these bills did cor
stitute coherent and unmistalabIe set Oe
grabs all relating to the steinway tunnel.
there was not the slightest doubt expressed.
OF the Elsbers sneak bill. as Il has bean
characterized by the Citizens Union, which Is
unquestiOnably the keynote IN the arch, many
significant facts developed The bin itself Is
sort Of blanket affair. curing as many defects
in shaly charter as the average patent medi-
cine does in the description contained IN It's
advertisements This bill would cure any de-
feet in the charter OF the Steinway tunnel tech
nically the New-YOrk and Long Island Railroad
which was incorporated in 1881 and has lain
dormant ever since. with the exception Of one
attempt TO amend.
DUt WHAT Jne eSpeCldA QeIeCC Is UotOu5S 20 the
inner secrets OF those who are pressing this leg
slation. That it applies to the SteInway tun-
mel is unanimously believed now first because
the three briefs sent TO Albany yesterday in
favor Of three separate railroad bills were for
this bill and the two Goodsen bills which are
conceded even in these briefs TO be for the Stein
way tunnel; second. because. when Senator Els
berg secured the passage Of his bill in the Sen
ate. is was only by having the doors Of the
md yuhfI 4T7o
called. and prior to that Senator GOodseH open
ly asked for votes for this bill, and. finally
because. when he was charged with the report
that his bill applied to Westchester Senator Els
berg promptly amended it to exclude all COM
panies Incorporated in any year before 1857
the identical year which the Incorporation
Of the Steinway road. These are matters OF
common knowledge. Only expert legal advice
could determine precisely the defect existing
in the Steinway tunnel charter that the Elsberg
measure would remedy.
TEXT OF ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
The next step. after associatiug the EIsberg
bill with the GOOdseIl bills which concern the
Steinway tunnel is indicated by a reference to
the articles OF incorporation Of the New-York
and Long Island Railroad. which prove concIu-
sively that this line would furnish the connect
ing link between the Manhattan and Queens
County Belmont systems provided 1t had living
and effective charter, such as the EIsberg bill
would give it. The articles of association fled
by this corporation in the Secretary OF States
office on July so 1887, are follows:
First-The corporate name Of said company
shall be the New-fork and Long Island Rail-
road Company.
Second-The company Is to continue in ex-
istenCe for ninety-nine years.
Third-The places from and to which said
railroad company is to be constructed. main
tanned and operated are as follows: Commenc-
ing in Long Island City. Queens County at a
point on or near the line OF Borden-ave. and
distant about mile from the East River and
hence partly underground and partly in cutting
to the East River thence under East River
nv r,aaDs ~ n fr11,reI oD7 ,,r-5o- 49, .t--.t-
and lands in the city OF NeW-York. County OF
New-York to a connection with the NeV--Vorl-
Central and Hudson River Railroad at the cor
or at point near 9th-ave. and 3Oth-st
with branch on the north to a connection
with the New-YOrk Central and Hudson River
Railroad. at or near the Grand Central Station in
said city OF New-YOrk and branch southerly
70 connect with what is known as the Hudson
Square. IN said city of New-YOrk
Now the two GoodseI bills modify this route
by permitting the looping OF of ends that a-e
not needed. such all west of 4th-ave in
New-York City. and change OF grade TO per-
nit connection with the existing subway. as the
plans for the old Stelnway tunnel required a
depth Of sixty feet below the street The fact
that the Interborough owns the charter Of s1rh
a line the Steinway seems all that Is neces-
sary to establish the truth OF the assertion that
a direct attempt is being made through the
legislative efforts OF friends OF the corporation
to attain perpetual franchise for a tunnel
under the East River. binding together the two
bOrOughs and connecting a trolley network be-
longing to the InterbOrough In Queens with
a subway system in Manhattan all entirely
without reference TO the local authorities and
in direct violation OF the whole spirit OF tho
New-York charter