New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-23
FIGHT RAILROAD BILLS.
Many attacks on GoodseU Measure
at Hearings.
TpY TrLEGRApH 70 THE TRIBUNE. l


Albany. March 22-Railroad grab bills had field
day for the first time in the session, and repre-
sentatives of scores Of civic bodies Joined hands in
the familiar fight against measures of alleged dan
gerous character which. like many measures OF
past sessions. bore the name of Goodsen Indigna-
ton at the annual appearance Of this sort Of egis
lation from the same source expressed by
Senator John Ford, who in speaking Of
introduced by Senator Goodsell. declared BIT
terly. indfcati the group Of NewYork City repre-
sentatives present, I'VE people getting tired
OF coming up here year after year and opposing
this sort OF legislation: getting the point
where we are about ready to carry the war into
Africa"
In the Senate Railroads Committee the two Good
sell bills. supposed relate to the stenway
tunnel under the East River the other the Inter
borough railroads in The Bronx. attacked by
Julius Henry Cohen representing the Citizens
Union; ex-senator Ford and delegation represent
Ing citizens of The Bronx. The character Of these
measures has already been fully set forth in these
dispatches In opposing the measures Mr.. Cohen
said:
refers to "a right Of Way UNDER water as WhoY or
parity within any city that it is intended affect
wnen the value OF underground transportation was
the No s AND gast rVera Wses
be North o R OF these he's was partly under
TSs not b resumed me- Until within short
right and completed one of the tubes and is work.
ing on the other II may very well be that the
" granted If this is true. the present bill under
and pose ige e Hst asf
for TUNNEL kno was f grsnt1d many years ago
the East River. from Queens 70 MANHATTAN. Work
IVES Degun but damage suits resulting from a
out of business The tunnel was in censeduencs
It 81 the the nt ggss
controlling the street railroad lines in Queens. II
the old right 81 way gu: Of the way and Of little uss
EoT the purpose Of composition they desire in Man
sr @ ing to cff,-
th hey sSea fSF % NEW fbs franchise which is really what
OF eoch a hn as this TO gain the new franchise.
In explaining his reference to carrying the war
fnts Africa ex-senator Ford said:
rr What meant in my alIusion before the
The people Of tie City as told the Committee a aTe
eaCeealngiy tired OF spending their time and money
its property ns f thy aoGP nf as
S SSs of 6o Us ba haSs nts been
orators from the city OF NewYork into the dstrcts
pel them to introd1cs these grab Bills enS
ace whether they cannot be defeated in the en-
Of the grabbers-
The fact that one measure did apply to the Stein
way tunnel was clearly established by the presence
Of a large delegation Of Queens County citizens
favorng the bill. A statement was issued over the
signature of Cord Meyer advocating the bill It
was significant that the chairman OF the Demo-
cratic State COMMITTEES was thus favoring a bill
which would confer privileges roads owned by
August Belmont, whose share in the Democratic
State campaign last year is well known. This long
statement contained the following paragraph
which indicated intention on the part of the
friends of this blind bill. originally declared to be
in the interests Of the Erie Railroad, finally to
come out in the open. This paragraph of Mr.
Meyers statement follows:
The proposed tunnel the Steinway route is
the most important Improvement the Borough of
Queens ever can have. Every other section of the
city Of New-York has been provided with rapid
hen a enter fha fall
and agrees to proceed Immediately with the con-
struction Of a rapid transit tunnel which will do
so much for the property owners of Queens County,
say that should all put our shoulders to the
wheel and put the bill through Appeal should be
made TO every member of the legislature to pass
the bill because il is not franchise grab,'' in
any way, shape or form. but is simply using
route the validity of which is fully established
and giving to the people of Queens through service
under the East River without change of cars to
their homes in the outlying sections of Long Island