New-York tribune., 1905-04-18
GOODSELL GRAB ADVANCED
THE HEARING TO-DAY.
after This Farce Bill VIII Be Passed
by assembly.
IBr rELEoRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l


Albany. April l7.-Having tonight advanced
ono Of the Goodsen railroad grab bills, granting
powers with no limit except as 10 the compen-
sation 10 the State which is not mentioned. the
Assembly will tomorrow Sc through the SOL
emn farce Of giving a public hearing or the
Niagara power grab, after which II win with
still more gravity pass the measure. As has been
The plan al the time. The hearing tomorrow
as has been said before bears no reference to
the vital questions Of the bill. which are: How
much is the beauty Of Niagara Falls 10 be in
sured. and how much is the State 10 be paid
for the enormous franchise granted. The hear
ing is 10 decide how much Of the financial ad-
vantage incident 10 the powers granted by the
hin the city OF Locxport is going 10 receive. II
has nothing 10 do with the real issue Of the bill,
and the defects that secured its veto last year
The exact situation is that the city Of Lock
mort under last years measure would have Sc
cured all the advantages, since the power Noulu
have had 10 be manufactured in that city. This
wear the power can be manufactured anywhere
under the terms Of the IegEett cill. ana the
people OF Lockport oppose the bin no men
who eattered it last time are shaking ther
heads about il gravely this year. although
little bit chary about expressing an opinion tnat
might reflect on their position last year No one
hiss much hope OF its being defeated by the
legislature.
No new story can be told about the corruption
attending its progress; il is known 10 every one
fn Albany II is cheap, inconsTicuous ana
rather the dirtiest proposition Of the year. nut
Il win pass because no one Of Importance VIII
make a fight. The New-York City Republicans
Stanley. Agnew and Prentice aided by Naln-
wright Of Westchester. who have opposed
every bad bin which has passed the legislature
during their term. win speak against it, Then
with a rush it viii be put through and sent over
10 The Senate. where the men who look after
this scrt Of legislation viii take it in charge
Short Of the Governor there is little hope OF
beating the bin. Certain people assert that the
Mayor Of Lockport win veto it. but Lockport
has selfish interest and a selfish interest can
be satisfied. AS far as any strong opposition
based on the obvious defects Of the measure IS
concerned II does not exist and cannot be reused
in The present session. But its friends begin 10
-ealize that IN executive hands ii will hardly be
50 tenderly cared for
The Goodsel grab" bill, advanced tonight, con-
fers the power on railroad corporations to make
such additions, berterments and facilities as may
be necessary or convenient for the better man
Rgement maintenance or operation Of their rail-
roads and the right by purchase or condenna-
son TO acquire property therefor. Assemblyman
Fuller. Of Brooklyn. made formal objection.
asserting that the reading of the bill left it
doubtful whether II Gid not confer additional
Franchise. This thought deeply gTeved Assem-
blynan Wade, who has the measure in charge
and he rose with every evidence of deep emo
ton and assured the Assembly that the bill was
the most beneficial 10 Eew-York City and
State Of the whole session" He talked for
some time about the line OF low grade which
this enables railroads TO find and follow. about
the Gulf railroads. which received this priYi-
lege TO the detriment OF New-York commerce,
and finally nursed the bin along. A final debate
viii be had on the bin later in the week.
The definite charge was made tonight that
the lobby working through the agency Of GER
tain Well known legislators. has determined
the defeat OF the SaXe-Stanley bill providing for
the removal OF the New-York Central tracks
from l1th-ave., and that arguments Of imposing
character have already been advanced. Some
damaging revelations along this line expect
&c soon. when II is believed some names of the
agents used by the third house" viii be made
public