New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-05-16
HEARINGS ON BILLS
Vieus on Important Measures Pre-
sented to GoUernor Hughes.
rgy telegraph to The Tribune. ]

fBy telegraph to The Tribune
Albany May l5-Final hearings were gwen this
afternoon by Governor Hughes on the Robinson
BILL designed to facilitate the construction OF suo'
ways IN New York City by private capital; the
Frawley BILL permitting the city of New York 10
buy the Steinway tunnel; the bill of the Assembly
Railroads Committee, reducing from 10 to cents
the fare between New York and Coney Island and
the bill of the Senate Cities Committee permitting
the marlborough to charge 10 cents from points
in Westchester County and extending subway fran
chises in fifty years.
The Robinson bill vigorously opposed by
several speakers, who asserted that 1t tended to
give capitalists permanent franchises, and that it
a step backward in the path toward municipal
ownership.
Charles sprague Smith, of the Peoples Institute.
headed the opposition. and said that the people
only just awakening to the value of their
possessions. and that this bill was transgression
of the rights of the people.
Calvin Tomiins of the Reform Club declared
that the capitalistic influences behind this bill
depended not on the good faith of the Public
Service Commission, not on the good faith of the
Board of Estimate and Apportionment, but
their bad faith, and that they also depended
the Governor not seeing the bad effect the bill
would have on the city Of New York
Other opponents Of the bill Frederic c.
Leubuscher, president of the Manhattan Single
Tax Club; ex-Sherir Flaherty of Kings and Rob
ert A. Stewart of the Independence League.
Senator Brush. who headed the delegation for
the BILL said that the city of New York was con-
fronted by condition and not principle. And
New York. he said, is in bad condition far
as traffic is concerned The city has no money
and 1T needs $500 600 and needs quickly to get
relief"
Among others who spoke in favor of the bill
were Frederick W. Rowe, chairman of the Citi-
Gems Central Committee. of Brooklyn. represent
Ing forty-four civic bodies; Allan Robinson, of
the Allied Real Estate interests; Charles H.
Schneille. Of the United Real Estate Owners AS
ISOLATION, representing ten thousand real estate
owners. and E D. Fisher. of the Flatbush Tax
payers Association.
The only one who opposed the Steinway tunnel
bill Robert A. Stewart, who said that the only
who would benefit by It would be August Bel
mont, the tunnel would be a feeder to his
Queens County railroad Assistant Corporation
Counsel McGoldrck declared that the city ought
to have the right to purchase the tunnel. and il
something in this line not done New
York would have difficult traffic problem to solve.
Ex-senator Brush favored the bill, as did J. p
Kohler who declared that II twenty tunnels
being built under the East River the city should
buy them Business and traffic" he said. ARE now
ali going Jersey and should be +'rrned the
other way"
William NJ. Dyckman, representing the Coney
Island s. Brooklyn Railway Company, the first
speaker against the Coney Island bill.
I'VE in active competition with the Brooklyn
Rapid Transit" he said. land must be let
alone. We charging FIVE cents for the
fare Coney Island every day but holidays.
Saturdays and Sundays. 1t is absolutely necessary
that we be allowed TO charge 10-cent fare on
these days in order TO get a return the money
paid for a large number OF used in carrying
the summer traffic. and which lie idle q large part
OF the year"
Charles A. Collin, representing the Brooklyn
Rapid Transit. told the Governor that II now was
up to him TO determine whether he should use
executive power in reducing the fare should
leave II to the Public Service Commission.
The bill was also opposed by representatives OF
several Brooklyn civic organizations including
Walter Brown, OF the Brooklyn Board OF Trade:
ex-senator Brush, Edward r. Fisher. OF the Flat
bush Taxpayers Association; T. b. Ackerson. OF
the F1ske Terrace Association. and J. p. KOhler.
Of the West End Boar1 of Trade. .-.
Those who favored the bill Senators Nc
~Manis and Mccall Assemblymen Wagner. Hackett
and Francis. ex-sherir F1aherty and Elections
Commissioner Doong.
Eighteen Of the leading life insurance companies
OF the East represented at the hearing on
the insurance bill. The argument was opened by
George L. Ide. president OF the Home Life com
pany. No opposition TO the bill expressed
The companies represented at the hearing included
the New York Life. the Home Life. the Security
Mutual. Mutual Life. Equitable Life Manhattan
Life, Washington LAfe, United States Life, Ger
mania Life, Metropolitan Life. National Life OF
Vermont, New England Mutual. Of Boston; Pru-
Dental of Newark; Aetna Life, OF Hartford John
Hancock Mutual. Of Massachusetts: Phoenix
Mutual. OF Hartford: Connecticut General, Hart
ford and Provident Life and Trust OF Philadelphia.
The life underwriters associations OF New York,
OF the Hudson Valley, or Syracuse OF Rochester
and of Buffalo and the National Association OF
Life Underwriters represented
The arguments In favor OF the bill were based
the contention that the securing Of new bust
by the companies will be seriously handi
capped II the present provision in the Armstrong
insurance law is continued unamended. The agents
presented the argument that many OF their as
sociates gradually turning to other occupations
because the commissions under the existing law
not large enough to support them.