New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-02-18
MUTE ON 70 CENT GAS.
Tammany Still Seems Friendly to
the Lighting Combination.

In view Of the signing by Mayor Mcclellan OF
the East River gas grab bill year ago. the eager
ness OF Commissioner Oakley in signing lighting
contracts ana the well known fact that the light
ing monopoly tstands in" with Charles F. Murphy
tand Tammany Hail. IL no surprise 10 INTEL
iigent people yesterday that at the hearing in
Albany on Thursday bill for 20 cents gas for
this city no representative OF the Mcclellan ad-
11.insstration had anything 10 TO say.
me conclusion is irresistible that Tamnany
wants 20 cent gas bill Just long enough
70 enable the leaders to work the Wall Street
end OF the gas combination. and no longer
Senator Grady and other Tamnany orators
shouted themselves hoarse the other day at the
proposition 10 increase the appropriation for State
Superintendent Of Elections, knowing that State
Chairman Odell is cunning for Tammany hoaters
IN this city. but when it came to bill for cheaper
gas Mayor McCIellan's representative at Albany.
Assistant Corporation Counsel Guy had nothing to
say
wher fact was called to the attention OF
State Odell yesterday. he said:
That he phenomenal things about the
devotion city government of this city to
cheaper lighting for the people. 1t is a new
the last tNenty-ive years There has been a loud
cry for cheaper gas but il does not seem tospene-
given at Albany yesterday on Senator F5rzgerads
oil 20 reduce the price Of gas to % cents thou
nainistration was on hand The gas companies were
well represented.
Senator Maiby. chairman of the Senate Finance
II IS. perfectly apparent that the people of the
city OF NS%-1ork want cheaper gas. but the city
admins, 49, does not seem 10 want it. Mayor
gacClsllan sent to represent him the
hearing the Fitzgerald bill yesterday. His pol
icy on the lighting question seems to be all talk
and no action. ] agree with Mr.. Odell that the
legislature Is disposed give this city anything
wants. But how tell what the city wants?
One oeega ton from this city to Albany and
presents a petition on behalf Of the city. The
Jay another delegation comes along and says that
1he city wants something entirely different How
ran the upstate legislators decide which repre-
sentiment hare7
When Fltzgerald's 20 cent gas bill came before us
Se thought IL meant thai the local administration
wanted the bill TO become a law We assumed
that some Of the eloquent speakers of Tammany
aan would ne on hand 70 dilate on the need OF
Just such q bill
Ex-senator Guy. charged with the duty Of repre-.
senting the Mcclellan administration at Albany
had no rational exclamation yesterday Of the fail
uTe Of the city 10 make itself heard on the FYtz-
gerald bill on Thursday. He said that Mayor Nc
Clellan's letter he municipal lighting plant
proposition was all that Mayor Mcclellan had to
say.
In connection with the disposition Of tire Nc
cleilan administration to hUrrah for cheaper gas
and let il at that. il was recalled yesterday that
Charles F. Murphy never denied the following
story:
In the campaign last fall an agent of large
corporation which had received faVors from Tam
many Hall called on Mr. Murphy and told him that
70 the Tammany campaign fund. Mr.. Murphy said
that the money not needed that time. but he
asked the agent kindly keep the money and
double the corporations subscription this coming
Eition. thus assuring Tammany overlooking
treasury next fail.