New-York tribune., 1909-05-23
TRANSIT BILL HEARING
GTVEN By GOT. HUGHES.
Little Opposition to TraJiS-Robinson
Sub5cGy Measure
b Telegraph TO The Tribune J

.1bz7,. MAJ 22-Representative OF property
owners and taxpayers associations urged Governor
Hughes At a hearing to-day To sign the Travis
Robinson bill amending the rapid transit act TO
n-oy-de for the construction Of subways by pr1
vats capital on indeterminate franchises, and the
financing where advisable Of subWays by assess
rnent on the property benefited. Practically the
only opposition 10 the measure was expressed by
those who deeming this not bad bill, considered
municipal construction OF all subTays the oetter
course
Tohn J Murphy representing the Peoples Insu-
t,lte the Reform Club and the Municipal Democ-
rscv declared that the measure had many good
points. but he was directed by those organizations
to appear against it because It would tend 10 pre-
vent the construction Of subways by public funds
In the interest Of the Public Service Commission
which everybody believed was doing a good work
the bin should vetoed, he said, as otherwise such
great rressure would be brought 10 bear on that
body that unwise terms would be granted TO private
capital as the quickest way of getting much needeo
transit facilities Seumas OSheel. who declared ne
represented the Peoples Transit Conference and the
Minute Men. made the statements about the tran
sit trust and organized labor which drew from SUD
seuuent speakers tart remarks about demagogues'
q believe though couldn't prove fl. that these
denla goges who prattle about organized laoor anu
frequently IusIead the laborers, in the pay OF
the transit interests they denounce, said Dr. George
W Brush Of Brooklyn.
Dr. Brush advocated the measure for the Brook
lyn League and the Greater New York Ta1payeTs
} Conference. Henry ". NTlsht. lily NiOb
= W Rowe representing the Citizens Central Com
nittee Of Brooklyn; Lewis H Pounds Of the Flat
bush Taxuayers' Association; Walter NJ Meserole-
Of rhe Eastern Parkway subway Association; John
T Sleeves and Charles l.. Reid Of the North Side
Board Of Trade; +. B. De Berard, Of the Mer-
chants Association. and Alex Dresher Of the
Brownsville Board Trade, all urged the Governor
10 sign the bill.
Following that hearing the Governor gave hear
! ing on the Stllwen bill authorizing the Public Ser
vice Commission to lay out an extension OF the
/ present subway Up WestchesteT avenue Repre-
| sentatves Of various organizations IN The Bronx
favored the measure. Thomas Martin, representing
property owners the neighborhood declared that
this route would clock the Broad way Lexington
avenue subway proposed by the commission Com
missioner Bassett of the Public Service Commits
sion argued that nothing in that bill gave the
commission more power than Il would have II the
Travis Robinson bill became Law. Various points
where the bills would conflict were brought out
In the course Of the hearing.
Frank Moss. Harry ". Mack. Alfred r. Cruik-
shank and Assembyman Murray urged the Gov
eruor TO sign the Murray bin authorizing the judges
Of the Court Of General Sessions to establish and
control calendar p-actice in that court. instead OF
having the District Attorney make up the calendar
This bill vas vetoed by Mayor Mcclellan They
argued that the Court Of General Sessions vac not
a city court a court for the County Of New
York and therefore the bin should no: have been
submitted to he Mayor for his approval Assistant
District Attorney Murphy appeared against the
measure He submitted arguments on the point
brought out by the others.