New-York tribune., 1906-04-11
TRANSIT BILL PASSED.
S4LUT4RY, SAYS ELSBERG
Majority Leader Puts Blame for
Harmful amendments on Grady.
LRr relegraph 70 The Tribune. J

| IBy Telegraph to The Tribunel
Albany, April 1O.-The Elsberg Rapid transit
| bill was passed unanimously by the Assembly
to-day The Grady amendment, which aroused
much criticism in the Senate, was attacked
bitterly being in the interests of the TRACTION
trust Assemblyman Shanahan said the minor
ty would vote for the bill because, though emas-
culated by the amendment it was better for the
people than no bill at all.
THE amendments made TO this BILL" Mr..
shanahan declared. Ought to show plainly
enough that certain interests in New York can
do what they want with legislation here this
winter, Notwithstanding public sentiment There
was much talk before the Senate about change
OF sentiment in favor of the amendment. That
sentiment was manufactured the spot to fit
the need of the amendors. The fact is that 80
i per cent of the people of New York City wanted
the Elsberg bill passed in it's original form. 1t
ought to be understood however. that the blame
for the amendment rests with the Republican
Legislature that passed it."
mo blame for the amendment can rest with
the Republican party retorted Mr.. Moreland,
majority leader The policy of this Legislature
has been to give New York City just as great
a measure of home rule possible The admin
istraton OF these houses has not denied AS
semblymen and Senators from the metropolis
the final word in legislation confined to the in
terests of the city. 1t was Senator Grady, the
minority leader of the Senate, from Manhattan.
who fathered the amendment and forced its pas
sage The blame for it lies there"
'If we attempted to change the bill to its
original FORM said Mr.. Prentice, I'VE would
probably lose what have gained, as it is,
and while the Grady amendment practically
does away with competition for contracts, am
still convinced that there is great deal of
merit left in tho bill"
The bill now goes to the Governor for his sig
nature.
ELsBERG TELLS OF BILLS DEFEATS.
Senator Elsberg tonight gave out statement
telling Of the various defeats the bill had suf-
fered since its introduction four years ago.
While various changes had weakened it some
what he said, in its present form it was a
'salutary and important piece Of legislation
making many changes in the law of the hlghest
import to the publc's interest Continuing, Mr..
Elsberg said:
The bill permits the separation Of the con-
tracts for construction, equipment and opera
ton to let in competition against the present
monopoly which controls all transportation Ia
cilities in New York City. Such separation is
TO be had unless the Board Of Estimate and
Apportionment declares that it is required by
the public interest that the contracts be let
jointly, in which event the Rapid Transit Com
mission is authorized to exercise its discretion
10 so let them.
The hands of the city are united, and the
opportunity Of ending the monopoly is given.
Reserve power is given to the city to equip
future subways itself construct them, and as
last resort operate them If that should be neces-
sary. This reserve power has been called a
club to hold over the monopoly and in that
sense was desired even by tbe Rapid Transit
Commission. If a contract for operation is
awarded to private bidder. the term, If the
contractor equips at his own expense, is cut
down from seventy five years to forty years
Under the existing law, the term is fifty years.
with twenty-five year renewal
Under my bin the term is twenty years with
a twenty-year renewal II the operating con-
tractor does not equip at his expense the
term is ten years with ten year renewal. This
portancs, as IT will prevent the giving away of
valuable franchises for long terms that the
control by the city would be practically gone
for generations.
The power of the Rapid Transit Commission,
given 10 it under the existing law, to grant per-
petual franchises is absolutely taken away. The
people of New York will no longer tolerate the
granting of franchises in perpetuity
The self-perpetuating feature of the Rapid
transit Commission is wiped out, and hereafter
When vacancies occur in that commission they
will be filled by the Mayor of the city, a local
official who owes allegiance to the ctys electors
and can he held responsible by them.
The provision for pipe galleries in future sub
ways would end the conduit monopoly. said Sem
ator Esberg. AS to the Grady amendment
while that was struck out in the interests of the
monopoly. the fabric left seemed to be sufficient
TO limit that combination for some time 70
come. he thought
we believe that the future subway roads u,it1
be the key TO the whole Transportation nrob1er, /"
said he. and with the changes made bv tho hill,
icS advocates expect that these problems will he
worked out In such way to conserve the in
terests OF the city and prevent the wanton giving
away of the most valuable franchises which it
hal left