New-York tribune., 1907-01-24
AT STEIN WAY ACT
Francis Bill Would Repeal That E.r-
tending COmpany's Eristcncc.
LRv Telegrar h to rhe rrlbune. ]

Albany. Jan. 23,-Acting the belief that
August Belmont intends soon to try to have his
Steinway Tunnel franchises validated tn legaze
the building of his East River tunnel. Assem-
blyman Francis will introduce tomorrow a bill
To repeal the act extending the corporate eX-
istence of the Steinway Tunnel Company. That
act was Chapter 700 of the Laws of 1895 Many
organiza tiOns have Contended for several years
that the Steinway franchise had lapsed. and
that all work the tunnel was in direct de-
fiance of law. The introduction of this bill will
mark the first step in the legislative programme
of the Citizens Union to get repealed various
lapsed franchises which that organization holds
menace New York City's welfare while on the
statute books
Mr.. Belmont should appeal to the city for
a franchise. the Union believes instead of seek
ing from the Legislature renewal of privi-
leges which were not properly carried out.
Preparations have been under way here for
several days looking to the introduction Of
validating bill. Legislators having in mind the
fate Of previous attempts of this kind, have been
somewhat shy of handling the proposed legisla-
ton, but there seems little doubt that somebody
will be found to present the bill and others TO
support It. No trouble found I'm getting In
PRODUCERS for the ive notorious 'Steinway grab
bills of 1908. which were designed to validate
the charter and franchises which had been al
lowed 10 lapse, despite various legislative eXten-
sions. before the Belmont interests acquired the
Steinway property. Denunciation of the char
acter of those bills caused the company to admit
in paid advertisements that these bills were
needed to validate fiawy charter and fran
chises But the bills were not passed because OF
the agitation. Nevertheless. the Belmont people
began their tunnel work. and. despite the efforts
of many civic organizations. New York City
never has taken effective steps to stop this work.
Travis II. Whitney. representing the Citizens
Union in Albany said
No one realizes the Importance Of adequate
transportation for Queens County more than the
in the Steinway tunnel controversy The clay
years ago authorized the construction OF
bridge from 18th street across Blackwels Island
to the centre OF Queens. and il was planned 70
have the trolley lines in that county connect
with the bridge and transport their passengers
across Manhattan through 09th street. the
widening of which has been under consideration
at various times The construction of this
bridge has been strangely delayed. and II may
turn ultimately that there are no stTeetcat
lines in Queens that Will make application for
the use of the bridge when It is completed. u
is understood that the Belmont interests have
the Steinway tunnel can be completed they will
have an entrance of their own into the centre
of Manhattan II they are allowed to validate
their franchises and to complete the operation
OF the tunnel II viii mean that a most important
link I'm the transportatiO system Of the city
will be forever beyond that control which the
city should have of the subway lines.