The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-29
RAPID TRANSIT BILL PASSED.
ELSBERG FAILS TO STRIKE OUT
GRADY AMENDMENT.

Hand OF Ramapo Believed to he Behind the
Opposition TO New York City's water
Supply BnI-FOwIer Measure Held Up
For 4 Week In Senate Cities Committee.
ALBANY, March Ex-senator Elsberg's
New York city rapid transit law amend
ments passed the Senate to-day by a
unanimous vote, after Senator Elsberg made
an unsuccessful hard fight to have rein
corporated in the bill the provision declar-
ing that future subway routes shall be laid
out with a view to their operation indie
pendently of the present subway system.
Senator White aided Senator Elsberg in
his effort to restore this provision to the
bill. But their efforts we're defeated by
practically the same vote by which the
provision was eliminated last week. Sena-
tors Grady. Malby, Raines and McCarren
prevented the incorporation OF this pro-
vision, and their position was sustained by
a vote of % to 20.
The advocates of the Elsberg bill are
sorely disappointed because the essential
provisions of the bill were stricken out.
But Senator Elsberg wanted the bill passed,
saying it was infinitely better than the
present rapid transit law. which would
not permit the Rapid Transit Commission
to let contracts separately for construction,
equipment and operation. h new bill
permits this, though it is entirely permits
sive. Another provision of the Elsberg
bill prevents the Rapid Transit Commission
from being self-perpetuatine, and provides
that the Mayor of New York shall fill va
cancies in the membership of the COM
mission.
During the discussion on the bill in the
Senate senator Malby said that he had
always been opposed to municipal owner
ship or anything that pointed that way
Further than that he said the bill was an
insult to the Rapid Transit Commission
in attempting TO outline its work.
The hidden hand of Ramapo is believed
to be behind the opposition of the plans Of
New York city to go into Ulster county
to secure its water supply. Although the
Assembly, without a dissenting vote, passed
the Fowler bill, which is a compromise
measure, and which was drawn by the
State Water Board to meet the objections
Of the residents Of Ulster county and TO
remove the obstacles that prevented New
York city from at once starting Its opera
ton toward getting the Catskill water
supply, something has happened that looks
most suspicious. The bill is now in the
possession Of the senate Cities Committee,
and that body refused to report it this week
saying that it will take it up next week.
Why there should be any delay in re-
porting the Fowler bill is one of the mys-
teries that cannot be explained. Senator
Elsberg, a friend of Edward Lauterbach.
was responsible for the holding up OF the
bill in the Senate Cities Committee last
night. He objected to the provision per,
uniting New York city to pay consequential
dam auaG aSnaoinllv in nnnnnptinn With
the payment of wages for a period Of six
months Of men employed in industries in
Ulster county wiped out by New York
city's water operations there. He in
sisted that this would open the door for
wholesale claims against the city, but in
the next breath he succeeded in having
the Cities Committee report favorably
Assemblyman Young's bill, which com
mits New York city to the payment OF
millions Of dollars growing out of theclaims
Of merchants and property owners as the
result of loss of business during the con-
struction of the subway.