New-York tribune., 1906-04-21
EISBERG BILL HEARING
u4YOR F.iVORS ME4SURE
Rapid Transit Counsel Say Bill
Would Restrict Bids.

There VIII he no new sabWa5's eXcept the.
which ~. Belmont and Mr. Ryan are disposed
A..;15 II the Elsberg bill becomes a Law. ac-
.,-5,nc 10 Albert e. Boardman and George 7,
r,vss counsel 10 the Rapid Transit Commission
,,.ss-s Rfves and Boardman put themselves
-. racord as prophets Fl tho hearing on the
,,.hsrr bin before the Mayor at the City Han
.--ets-5sv. alleging that the twenty-year lease
-. - the bill would tie the hands OF the
- Transit Commission and prevent inde-
,sndent bidding.
Fc..-o- F-sbe~S. William NJ. WINS. ex Senator
=. ro-d. Horace E Deming. Borough Presi-
-. ,-oler and Others we're just as positive that
- rTsberg bin IS a good measure. and they
-ra5 the Mayor 10 sign IT,
z,ovo- Mcclellan undoubtedly viii sign the
An DESPITE The warning of the counsel Of the
n.ri5 transit Commission. All the way through
- soaring his manner indicated friendliness
- bin When Senator Elsberg held the Rapid
.,rst Commission up 20 ridicule the Mayor
...,a5 heartily in the laughter and asked Messrs
1.rcs and BoarInan a number Of puzzling ques-
.tors M Boardman. addressing Mayor Nc
CqeHan, sad:
ere IN favor Of home rule. and that is why
-, ought no veto this bill. which IS forced upon
- citT bv outsiders. il is ridiculous to talk
h,,- = rvenry-year lease. / hate 10 see the
.-3,,-v 20 tie city which VIII follow the com
ross -
1rbat can De expected if this bill becomes d law.
Ven must have private capital TO build these
sflhvsvS The citys financial conoltloh ooeS
,ot warrant its building them on a large ana
a.isrr scale have talked with many nnan-
,isrs about the building Of subways ana ! never
Ave met one who takes the slightest interest
q 3 subway with a twenty-year lease II COST
-, rl-z- s. 500 coo TO build the sixty miles OF
single track in the present subway. II was
b,1It BY the open cut system. which is cheaper
and quicker Than Subsurface work Inc new
+Tacly subway Of equal length and capacity
r5U h. far more expensive The next one Will
- foTT- feet wider and nine inches higher. II
tbis bill becomes 4 law the city viii ran 10 get
+, bid6e- Tor its next subway contract Inen
!, viii try 10 build il itself The financial OH,
scllties viii be TOO formidable, AND, as a hnaI ma
oucoue the city viii decide not 10 pulIc Ile
tuunel itself and viii ask the Legislature 10
repeal the law
Mr Rives said:
This hill is very loosely drawn. II Is sort
NJ patchwork by different hands ana Is hheiy
n nrovoke prolonged litigation II SUBWAY -
mil, under its provisions. j maIeIla4ly res
H. movers now enjoyed by the Board OF EsLl-
mate and the Rapid Transit Commission Soiape- %
tcrt engineers estimate that IL VIII cost sl'ooC'-
apl mile TO build and equip four track SUD
vsv To enable a contractor, on a twenty year
assc using his own money, TO get DICK d per
cent or his investment. IL would pc, pc Iecessdly zee y
for the new subway TO carry - IVoVtcoV pcs
sengers 2 wear or Just about double the uaIlc
on the present subway. which is carrying pas
sengers now up 10 its capacity Onoer IWeHIE
eS-s would be the only ones who could make a
low hid for q new subway, as these interests
own four large power stations, which could fur-
ri~h additional power for new system at COM
rsratively little expense The result would De
that TIE merger interests would be sun Iur-
ther tuLreuChed.
The Yerkes interests in London were elad 10
huild The tuppenny tube system under a tWen-
-v-ore year lease" said the Mayor.
The phvsical propositions are entirely dlner-
ent' said Mr.. Rives. There II is clay or olrL
Here il is largely rock There IL Is largely
tUo track plan. and here il viii be four tracks.
II is far more costly to build subway here
than IN London"
Senator Elsberg. the author OF the blll sald
,hsf the bill was not an affront 10 the city. The
sr-ort 20 the city he said was when the RAPID
Transit Die creating the commission was passed
William n Wins said mo one who has
studied The present Rapid Transit act does not
know that it is one of the most remarkable OF
UlscarrLa ges
r Fulton Cutting said he did not agree with
the critics Of the Rapid Transit Commission.
He said thar II had given a service 10 the city
that could not be secured for pay.
Ex-senator John Ford said that the Elsbers
bl srnplifes and ratfonalizes the Rapid Transit
act and restricts the power Of the '1rresponsibla
Rapid Transit Board"
BorocSn President Bird s. Coler, Of Brooklyn.
said that he did not believe that there would be
any trouble getting bidders II the contracts were
properly advertised
Horace r Deming. of the City Club, said that
Il anything has been shown by the past history
of New York and other cities II was that long
tern frarchises were injurious TO the interests
q the city