New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-02
GAS MAKES PEACE PACT.
MURPHY HAD TO YIELD.
Forced to Combine s0itb McCarren
to Protect Industries.

rho +r,,cs between Senator McCarren, leader
OF the Kings County Democratic organization,
and Charles F. Murphy, leader of Tammany,
was brought about, so 1t was learned last night.
through agents of the Consolidated Gas Com
many. This peace so it was said last night. is
one of expediency and necessity. The bitterness
between the men is just as keen as ever. but
they were practically taken by the scrufrs of
their necks by the corporation that owns them
both and told to be good.
The investigation Of the gas situation in this
c,tv nv n legislative commission was the real
cause Of the reconciliation. Up to the time the
gas commission came here the warfare had been
TO the knife and no quarter was asked or given.
When the investigation started representa-
tives of Senator McCarren went to the officials
and controlling factors Of the Consolidated Gas
Company and said In practically so many
words:
Murphy is bound to drive McCarren out of
politics Murphy is owned by you. If you al
low Murphy TO continue these tactics McCarren
will take the Republican end at Albany. The
Republican leaders intend to make 75-cent gas
an organization measure They will also have
drastic inspection and supervision conditions in
the bill. You can hardly beat these proposed
measures even with McCarren with you. With
out him you will certainly lose. Now call off
Murphy or McCarren will work in with the Re-
publicans.
This was a strong argument for the Consoli-
dated Gas people. and 1t is said they at once told
Murphy the warfare must stop. 1t is under
stood that Murphy declined to be called of. He
said that he competent to fight his own
battles and appealed to the Pennsylvania Rail-
road officials for help. Until that time Muir
ply and the Pennsylvania Railroad had been on
the closest terms of intimacy.
The relations between the Consolidated Gas
capitalists and the Pennsylvania syndicate are
1t is said, of the closest kind. The gas people
appealed TO the Pennsylvania crowd to whip
Murphy into line They told Murphy he had
better stop his war with McCarren Murphy
was angry, and at once began TO attack the
Pennsylvania plans in this city The Penn
sylvana then struck back and struck hard.
They gave McCarren a big, fat contract for his
construction company, and went to Albany and
passed the bill deprivIng the Board Of Aldermen
OF the franchise granting power. McCarren
worked in with the Pennsylvania people on this
proposition and voted for the bill in Albany.
With all this against him, Murphy decided to
quit fighting. He didn't have the grace to settle
the differences with McCarren himself, and he
allowed Mayor Mcclellan to act as peacemakeI.
Mcclellan and McCarren had long talk in City
Hall, and the plans for bringing about perma-
nent peace were laid and are now being worked
cut to complete fulflment.
The old bitterness against the Pennsylvania
Railroad slipped out however, when the Mayor
wrote his cryptic message vetoing the bill de-
priving the Board Of Aldermen of It's franchise
granting power. The Consolidated Gas people
and the Pennsylvania Railroad people, 1t is
said, having forced Murphy and Tammany into
line will soon be found working in harmony
with the administration. In fact, the relations
between the Consolidated and Tammany have
never been broken off, although until the
Murphy-McCarren truce i'll feeling was
engendered by the demand that the two lead
stop fighting.
One Of the significant facts in connection with
this peace pact is the complete cessation of
Quarrelling between Mayor Mcclellan and Con-
troller Grout at the Board of Estimate meet
every day occurrences. For the last ten days
they have been all smiles, honey and brotherly
love. 1t said last night that under the
terms of the peace agreement McCarren is to
be left alone in his leadership of Kings County;
none of his to be displaced. and those
who have been removed are to be taken care Of
some other way: GrOut is TO be renominated
for Controller. and McCarren will have his own
borough ticket. The two leaders will work to-
gether in legislative matters. Politicians, how
ever do not expect the peace to last beyond the
coming city election. They say the bitterness
is too deep to be eradicated and that ii is bound
TO break out sooner later with increased
force.