New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-06
TRANSIT BOARD MEETS.
attends FaresceU Luncheon for Eu-
Controller Grout.

Charles Stewart Smith, of the Rapid Transit Com
mission, yesterday gave farewell luncheon in
honor Of Edward NJ. Grout at the Chamber Of
Commerce Present were all the commissioners.
the Mayor, William Barclay Parsons, George S.
Rice George L. Rives and Edward NJ. Shepard
While the gathering largely of social nature
there was an Interchange Of ideas with reference TO
future subways. Ex-Mayor Low was invited TO the
luncheon. but unable to attend. President Orr
OF the commission, who has just been elected presi-
dent of the New-York Life Insurance Company,
SAID nothing to his friends yesterday about retiring
from the commission. Mr.. Orrs friends assume
that for some time he will perform the exactins
duties Of both places. He is in good health, ana
does lot of work without much effort. Mr.. Fives,
when last night, said that there was nothing
to be said about the luncheon. it a private
affair. OF the transit situation Mr.. Rives said;
The order of the Appellate Division affirming the
G5 the he S SS9s Of s09a d Ap
donment the power Of consentns TO franchises Tor
merly enjoyed by the aldermen. received to-day
ahead with the legal forrnalites preliminary to the
OF tie ON nd Gn 5s s e noce of 4
application which Will be made to tbs Appellate
pass formally on the necessity for the selected
routes laid down by the commission: These ere
ave routes It viii be February, probably before
viii be first Of May before they have disposed Of
the questions which viii be brought before them
win be in position TO advertise for bids for the new
subways-
Speaking OF the commissions legislative pro-
graInne. MIR. Rives said.
Senator Elsberg has reintroduoed his bill Of last
year, the bill which has been successfully opposed
for three years by this commission. The commas
sion will not object to the provision for the separa
ton of the construction and operation Of the ROAD
If the law is made perrnissive- There are advan-
teges to be derived from the old plan of having
the bidder both build and operate the road rms
particularly true IN connection with the build
ing Of the first subway. Perhaps It is less iInpor
tant
There is no way Of telling far in advance
whether there will be more than one bidder for
days before the bids were to be opened for the
first subway that we were going to have bidder
The financial results following the operation OF
assume there will be bidders for the new lines
No doubt the metropolitan people
will be only too glad to build in Lexington, TIN
and Sth They might not want to build IN
3d-ave., because of the surface and elevated roads
already there. But the operators of the present
subway have not all the money looking for GOOD
investment The first road was something OF an
experiment, and it relieved from taxation
The results show that future subways can sus-
tain taxation like other real estate Even IN the
face Of the probability that It will have to pay
taxes, the subway is q good financial proposition,
and doubt will attract bidders
Ex-Controller Grout told his friends at the lunch
con yesterday that he had accepted retainers from
certain interests which would make it impractical
BILE for him to become rapid transit commits