New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-04-05
F" TIM " AND co. SEE LIGHT
TO ACT ON FRANCHISE.
Hearing on Connecting Railroad
Company's duplication Monday.

AiOue Tim Sullivan. Reginald s. Doull and
the members of the bridges and tunnel commit
zee OF the Board OF Aldermen have seen q light
Alderman Sullivan announced yesterday after
noon that the committee on bridges and tunnels
would hold a public hearing on the franchise
eppneation Of the New-York Connecting Rail-
road Company on Monday afternoon of nex+
week at the City Hall.
Ihe request for the hearing was made by re-
sponsible people, and not by a lot of irresponsi-
Die professional reformers with counsel fee of
corporations in their pockets" said Mr. Sullivan
Alderman Sullivan has been declaring all
3iOhs that there was no call for a hearing as
no one wanted the franchise passed.
The thing that smoked OUT Mr. Sullivan and
ms friends was the Supreme Court order by
Justice Dlekey, granted two weeks ago at the
instance of the Transportation Reform League
OF Brooklyn and backed up by the commercial
interests Of Brooklyn. The Tribune from time to
time has told the truth about the scandalous
hold-up of the connecting companv.s franchise
II was the first paper to take up the cudgels in
the interests Of Brooklyn business men Mr.
Sullivan and his friends retained special counsel
10 Keep them free from the jaws of the law but
ever since Justice Dckey granted the perempt-
ory writ ordering the aldermen to take imme-
date action on the application of the railroad
company. the aldermen have been getting ner-
Nous The climax came yesterday when Alder
man John Wirth. Republican Of Brooklyn
touched off the bombshell under the tunnels and
bridges committee. II came in the shape of u
resolution to discharge the committee from the
further control of the franchise application.
Il take this position said Mr.. Wirth "be-
cause 1 want 10 stand in harmony with the
order Of Justice Dickey of the Supreme Court.
There are eighteen Republicans in this board
who believs that this board has right to OBJ
struct public business as the Committee on Tun-
nels and Bridges has been doing for the last
year. The majority has right to act for us
when an order Of the court commands the alder
men 10 act
Alderman Sullivan was on his feet in an in
slant Turning TO MIR. Wirth. he said with a
sneer:
The alderman should have included in his mo-
tion an appropriation for SO for fireworks. so
that he could stand out i'm the proper light in
the eyes of the public | move 10 lay the mo-
ton on the table and ask for the previous
On question of personal privilege, Alderman
Wirth said:
! resent the words of Alderman Sullivan. It
is the nDpancy of the aldermen in handling
serious matters that has made them the laugh
ing stock of the town. My seventeen colleagues
and myself desire to set ourselves right on this
order by Justice Dckey. We do not regard it
trifing matter.
There were 40 votes in the affirmative to lay
on The table and is in the negative.
While Mr.. Sullivan had won on the vote there
was something about the suggestions made by
Alderman Wirfh that prompted hasty confer
ence By Mr.. Sullivan and his friends. The fact
that the Republican aldermen, in accordance
with an agreement made a few days ago, had
acted in harmony in placing themselves on the
side of law and morality caused the Tammany
men worry
1t was noticed on the rocalI that Aldermen
Diemer. Downing and Wentz. Republicans,
faded away" to the anterooms and did not
return until the result had been announced.
The frequency with which these gentlemen have
voted with their Tammany friends has given
them the characterization of ''Tammany Hall
Republicans" When charged with failure
live up to Republican principles they indignant
ly resent any implied impeachment of their
actions.
What the committee viii do Monday next,
when it takes up the franchise is a subject for
guessing match. J. Edward Swanstrom, pres-
dent of the Transportation Reform League and
George McAneny. former secretary Of the Civil
Service Commission, seemed pleased last night
when they heard of the action Of the aldermen.