New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-23
MANY "GRAB" BILL HEARINGS AT ALBANY
PAVEMENT GRAB DANGER.
F;tzgeraId's Bill Likely To Be Re-
ported from Committee.
lay TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuSx.l

Albany Nav 22-One OF the worst grab"
nils Of the session. carrying millions in graft
and engineered by Big Tim" Suivan's repre-
sentative senator Fitzgerald. came dangerously
rear srneartng in daylight to-day as the result
% = 5een laid plan to have it reported from the
senste cities Committee. The bill would open
.ha streets OF New-York City to the complete
oo,.-ol OF patented pavement companies. by
removing the charter prohibition against the
,,se Of patented articles. The charge was openly
r,oas IN committee that the bill was designed TO
bsneht the Boston corporation manufacturing
htshuIhc pavement The plan to kiss the
btu through committee" as the legislative
nsrase goes. defeated finally by Senator
white. chairman OF the committee. who vigor-
oIsly opposed the bill Senator Guy. represe Mt
ing Mayor Mcclellan, sat through the whole
hearing. and objected in the strongest terms to
the measure.
This bin, which was thoroughly analysed in
these dispatches many weeks ago. and more sub
secuently discussed In the editorial columns
seeks on the surfacs to prevent the laying OF
patented paverents. It's friends urge that IL
Is aimed st breaking asphalt monopoly in
New-York City. The existing charter provisions
say that except for repairs. patented pave
rnent shall be laid. and no patented article shall
be advertised for, contracted for or purchased,
except under circumstances such that there
can DC 4 l6lE anu TGhSODGDle opportunity
competition, the condition TO which shall
Re prescribed by the bill OF estimate and appor
tionnent"
Under this law the patent pavement was ex-
GUIDED. This put an end 10 the old Tammany
igraet" which consisted in q conspiracy between
officials and contractors by which the contracts
so drawn as TO permit only the favored
kind OF pavement 20 meet the specifications.
Under this system pavement cost the city So
square yard, where it now costs 70 cents, and
Tamnany officials grew rich. The Fitzgerald
hil repeats the charter prohibitions against pat
ented pavements and then declares that no
patented pavement shall be laid. eIcepe witk tbs
action OF the Borough President in asking for
some other form OF pavement in his bids. The
text OF this amendment which shows the OBJ
vious grab" is as follows:
20 patented pavement shall be laid unless the
Borough President or other officer having author
fly 10 contract 20 lay the shall in his notice
10 Bidders ask for bids upon other form of
pavement IN addition TO the patented pavement.
psveueat unless bids have been received by the
officer having authority 10 let contract for the
pavement Cor some other form OF pavement In
:he event that the bid for the patented paw srent
awarded for said patented pavement unless the
Board Of Estimate and Apportionment shall au-
shor1ze The officer receiving said bid 10 accept the
same
The Senate COMMITTEES wrangled over the bill
until late last night and then adjourned with
out action a special meeting was called fo-
to-day, but no quorum was present. Unless
public pressure IS brought TO bear at once this
bill, which ex-senator Guy opposes on behalf Of
the city. and which breaks down vital section
Of the city charter. will be reported out. AL
ready Tammany legislators are wondering II
the Murphy contracting system Is getting ready
TO extend its activity TO asphalt.