New-York tribune., 1908-12-31
SEES M'CARREN'S HAND
MAYOR OPPOSES PLAN FOR
W RUNNING FERRY.
Also Learns That ID. VI. COkGldn
Represents Manhattan tLntenests-.
Would Check Unloading goOnsCftM

satisfaction that Senator McCarren has tbeen re-
tanned by the ferry interests on the Brooklyn.
and Daniel F. Cohalan chairman of the Tam
many law committee the Manhattan side, is
positively against the plan Tentatively proposed
bv controller Metz at the meeting of the Sink
ing Fund Commission yesterday to, pay the In
ferborough company 100000 year to operate
the East River ferries recently discontinued.
Apparently the Mayor did not make the dis
covery until this week, and it may have had
something TO do with his break with, McCarrer
which seems to reveal Charles r. Murphy's
legal adviser in close business relations with
Senator McCerren.
Furthermore the Mayor learned last
night has recently investigated various i'm
provement and franchise propositions coming
from Brooklyn and Queens and presented to
the Board of Estimate and ApportionTnent. and
has discovered without exception, it is de-
clared that Senator McCarren had been re-
tained BY the interests TO be benefited. He is
roT looking up certain similar propositions in
1olying improvements in Manhattan and The
Bronx TO see if Mr.. Cohalan is retained by those
most interested
The Mayors belief that attempt is being
made through the aid of NfcCarren and Cohalan
II unload the ferry properties on the city prob
ably means the end of the ferry service unless
1he companies decide to operate without cost
10 the city. Controller Metz's plan, briefly stat
ed is that the city should lease the ferries TO
the Interborough Ferry Company. which is a
new name for the old New York Terminal Com
,sany and pay the concern from 100000 to
100000 a year. or purchase outright of the New
York Terminal Company for $9.50o,0o0 the
ferries real estate. etc. A short time ago the.
ferry people asked S12.O0O,000 for their holdings.
II also is stipulated that 1he operating company
shall not pay taxes and shall receive 25 per cent
OF the net receipts.
TERMS OF THE UNLOADING
AS soon as the Mayor heard the terms as out
lined by the Controller the meeting of the
Sinking Fund Commission yesterday he seemed
10 be angry. Banging his clenched fist on the
desk and scowIing, he exclaimed:
IN be damned if I will stand for that kind
Of 4 proposition Six hundred thousand dollars
for rentals and another $4,000 loss in taxes,
making altogether $4,000! I'll never stand
for IL"
The company never paid more than $4,000
in taxes, according TO the information furnished
ms" said the Controller
Il don't care said the Mayor My informa-
ton is that the taxes amount TO S150,OO0."
These are not recommendations, said the
Controller, referring TO his report, they are
merely suggestions But 1 want TO emphasize
this For 100000 We can operate fifteen boats
This seems to be comparatively cheap when
YOU stop 10 consider that it costs S1,O00OOO an
nually TO operate i've boats on the Staten Isl
and line"
THAT may be-" said the Mayor. but one ex-
travagance does not justify another
The formal memorandum presented by the
Controller for reference to the Sinking Fund
Commission is in part as follows;
ii contemplates the leasing to the city Of me
land ane buildings & a. BFS4S"Ee a sgee Brooyn T i'm
Sludlng sips PIERS slGps, 5leI - Coat ne 0"riod
on Q! NE 3is sssrae5ts 1gI and water rates and gives
he city ne
also the property owned by the company at Grand ana
street. Brooklyn, and such ferryholses, racks ana
other property owned by the ferry company ", al
sd street, Manhattan and at Grand street N NAL an
aitai a any uI & % 3 - 6g- n5 If The civ elects
ease I9T sne sun ] 2I 4e t SIX SIX 4 months of the
term Of The lease any money paid on rent snail snali De
the city does avail itself of the privilege to buy
Si5n n [e rsse rss ' rie the remainder Of the term
OF the lease the price TO increase per cent an
'1s The Terminal company win lease to the city its
$4,000 t3e period Of such rental TO run f95 fEe
Years with cancels.0n bsI1s made S The lease
with the Terminal company for the land and boats:
Company. and in addition 10 leasing the boats to
paw the Interborougl Ferry Company up TO the
SUN 81 Sc boate and dock property leased from
the Terminal company and in ADDITION thereto .
lion of the after deducting the cost Of actual
i.s i4s own nropertvNthat Is all OF its own
ferry property sgch as racks houses etc and to
ing The cost Of actual operation Of the ferries
MAYOR CANT SEE IT'S UTILITY.
The Navor read a report from Chief Engineer
Lewis Of the Board of Estimate recommending
= restricted ferry service in conjunction with
the Long Island Railroad.
Ex-Navor Frederick W. wurster Of Brook
,vn and Senator Elsberg. speaking for the busi-
ness men Of Williamsburg. told the commission
-ta+ unless the ferry service was restored the
interests affected wiz be compelled TO ask the
7sx Tenartrnent for a reduction of assessments
AIavor Mcclellan announced that he had re-
ceived a letter from the Nassau Ferry Company,
oneratine the lire between Grand street, Brook
ryn and Houston street. Manhattan, announc-
inc that il would be discontinued on January 1.
The company wants the city to take over the
line.
wnen fha Mayer was asked about the pro-
rosed lease 20 the Interborough company and
the payment Of $4,000 a year a subsidy, he
said:
81 cannot the utility Of IT. Chief Engineer
Lewis soon after the closing OF the ferry ser
Vice kept tab the increase in the trucking
over the East River bridges and found ii TO be
between 200 and 1.400 trucks day II
accented the terms of the Interborough COM
many we should be paying at the rate Of 81 a
d. for each of those trucks. It would be
cheaner TO rnunicipaIize a trucking system
7o,.t see where the city is called on TO assume
ans, e,,cl, burden We have, or soon Will have,
- bridges in commission besides four tunnels
,-,,,,s, the Pennsylvania and the Steinway
:, ,s, ba that the business interests affected
n, ho,a "a adjust themselves 10 the bridges