New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-29
rISBERG BILL PASSED.
GRADY GETS CHANGES.
r,troducer Fights Hard to Preserve
Original Form.
lBy Telegraph to The THbuns.I

IS nassed by the Senate to-day without dis
ling vote. Before it could be passed. how
.rsr. senator Elsberg fought for three hours the
s,.-est battle OF the session TO have stricken out
ne Grady amendment which, he charged. came
s-,n attorneys for The Belmont-Ryan interests.
s.-stor Grady did not deny the charge. but
len. IN line the supporters Of the bill who un-
zisrurbed by denunCiations Of corporations and
,o-rrayals ~ suffering publics. sustained his
.-endrncu-. The vote was - TO p against
.-kiug out the amendment Senator Stevens
and Senator Quinn, who last week voted with
senator Elsberg, were absent because Of i'll
ress.
This issue stands out clear and plain" cried
senator Elsberg time after time IT'S the rail-
roads against the people. have no quarrel
with any man who chooses to take the side OF
lie railroads. but he's got TO go on record on
his question. and he's got TO stand the iudg-
gent Of The people this fall If he wants TO come
saek here"
Ehch ran high last week over this measure.
su-gsd far higher to-day. Senator Grady. pro-
suarg series OF letters from George /. Rives
I1i Albert B. Boardman, accused Senator. Els
sEg Of trying 10 misrepresent their attitude
Ft,h me declared. was the attitude Of the
REld Transit Commission also. In return. Sem
gtr Elsberg declared that If Mr.. Rives wanted
make an issue OF veracity with him he was
Fsoome. and then declared vehementIy that lie
new the interests behind the Grady amend
nent
Well, tell US about Them" sneered Senator
Raiues
I'll tell you all about them. in good time"
replied Senator EIsberg.
But LET'S have II now" demanded Senator
Raines.
-T'U Ier Won have fl 7 CO.. ,,-,,~. 2 ..- - ,
mean what say. which is more than YOU have
been known for in this body" declared Senator
Elsbarg. "Youu get the information, but I
Know you don't need il"
REFERRED ONLY TO MAYOR.
Again. when Senator Grady declared that the
Rapid Transit Commission, as well as its coun-
g., was in favor Of his amendment. Senator
Es5erg by successive questions pinned him
Gown until he admitted that he referred only to
the Mayor. who had said that the bill in its
original shape was a public calamity" and
that nothing should be done 10 disturb the routes
already laid out, which was what his amendment
guarded against.
Preliminary 10 the debate on striking out the
amendment, Senator Elsberg and Senator Grady
had a violent dispute as TO whether Senator
Quinn should be excused or not. Senator Els
berg maintained he should not be. as he wanted
aim 10 be present, but Senator Grady declared
hat no sick man should be subject TO arrest for
and his view prevailed.
The technical motion which brought down the
storm OF debate was that the vote by which
Grady.s traction merger amendment was passed
be recOnsidered. Advocating this, Senator Els
0erg declared that. with the changing Of the
City Club. which. he said. now advocated his
measure in its original form, the last organized
opposition TO it from any recognized body Of
citizens had disappeared.
The only people who now oppose this bill are
he railroad corporations" he said, which have
he people at their mercy. I know the shocking
sondiuons which disgrace our community but
an hang on TO straps as long as anybody else.
But plain citizen hope the Senate win re-
c.ad The amendment which took the heart
Urgs and vitals out Of my bill"
Senator Grady declared he was glad he didn't
;sve 70 apply 10 the City Club for an indorse-
1err N his legislative career Senator Els
aerE. he said was too fond of ringing the
sha1ges on "Boardman."
"Nrr Boarduan as an individual. but Board
aa- with all the horrible shapes behind him."
'ejoLued Senator EIsberg.
Then Senator Grady read a letter to him from
E- Rives. saying he concurred in the letter from
Er Boardmau declaring that the clause stricken
out ri me Elsberg bill would result in changes
70 The routes for future subways adopted by the
Rapid Transit Commission. and copy Of one
rom AIr Riyes TO Senator EIsberg. saying he
lus- have misunderstood the writer's views on
be amendment
u arm free from corporation dIctation or the
mandates of railroad interests" he went on
Ny oaly interest is 10 prevent grievous delay
% .a7 extension Of subway privileges"
ADMITS CORRECTNESS OF LETTERS
Senator Elsberg retorted that the letters in
goducec In evidence" were correct. but that
A- EiTes had 'skated around" the proposition
"a-oa DE had set forth in the debate last week.
ana Thar 3Ir Rives had said the clause in contro-
'eEs was only a stump speech in the bill"
I'm non afraid OF any issue of veracity be-
tween 3r Eyes and myself" shouted Senator
hsaerz M ] don't think any has risen" And
Lra. or chance reference 10 the interests
"--la -l- Iaves and Mr. Boardman represented,
came tae encounter with Senator Raines.
The people Of New York are not taking this
'--1s as "a Joke" went ou Senator EIsberg en-
Iaafoal'v. They and their children and their
ol--l.Hs children are affected 10y it, ] know
where th.s amendment came from. I'm not
saying that il came from this source directly
" lle Senator from the 18th. but # certainly
1a Hat originate in the Rapid Transit Commits
s---. d originated with one Of the counsel Of
-. 71aHt subway interests, and ] have that
information on the best authority
l1eE "ere going over the bill again and
again after II had been amended in committee
70 See 81 something might not be in II 10 make
--7I- loosen their grip on the threats Of the
IeaI. and they found tais Insignificant para
7'e.-. That must come out they said, and
--lr aa-eaauent was brought up here. It's
1--e proposition 70 say that what came from