The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-06-10
WILL LEE VETO CAR BARN
 SURRENDER AND CONCESSIONS?
Republican Place Holders Fear Effect of Double Grab on Fall Campaign-The Mayor at the Hearing Be fore the Railroad Comm issioners

lOIC GllC IGd1l1OdNl OOll1ll Will Mayor Lee yield to the opposi- 1 tion to the car barn surrender with | in his immediate official family and veto the resolutions in which the New York; New Haven & Hartford Rail- road Company is given permission to build it's spur tracks on Fairfield ave- nue and Congress street?
 Some Republican place holders who fear that Republican prospects in the next election may be jeopardized much desire him to write a veto. But the more thoughtful politicians of the administration perceive plainly that the Mayor, in signing so hastily has burned his bridges behind him. They see that he cannot destroy the ''concessions'' without being open to the charge that the real purpose of the acres of harbor to the New Haven road free of incumbrance, as through out his administration he has tried to do.
 The general feeling in political cir cles Is that the Mayor might have got away with the harbor grab. The peo- pie admire courage even in bad cause, and the Mayor had been so bold in his determination to concede the railroad demand for permission to fill in eleven acres Of the harbor that net a few were convinced that he was conscientiously of the opinion that the railroad claims were just.
 But the contrary is true of the car barn surrender. It was Mayor Lee who discovered the injury that would be done if spur tracks were laid into Stratford avenue and Congress street It was he who led the crusade to save the bridge approaches from the dan gerous congestion that will follow when every car on the trolley system is turned into the crowded spaces at the ends of the most important con necting links between the east and the west sides.
 It is recalled that the Mayor was so determined to get all the credit that might result from the success of his torney at the hearing on the railroads appeal on the spur track proposition, conducted the hearing himself and was conspicuously in the limelight as the champion of the citizens How inn pCrtant was the position occupied by the Mayor will be- seen by those who read the extracts from the proceedings before the Railroad Commission, which follow:
 (From the Farmer of Dec. 3, 190s.)
 Vice President Calvert Townley, of the Connecticut Company, testi- fled before the railroad commission CTS. in the common council cham Der. tris morning, that the com
  run spur tracks across the side walk in Stratford avenue somtime ago as it would be satisfied to se- cure the right to build spur tracks in Congress street and Middle street.
 The indications to many of those present at the hearing are that the Railroad is sparring for the pro posed Congress street outlet and is asking for the Stratford avenue proposition to make it appear that 1t is not getting all it asks for in case the railroad commissioners should grant it permission to lay tracks into Congress street.
 The city attorney asked if MT. Spock. attorney for the railroad, claimed that the commission could grant permission to lay tracks across the strip of land owned by the city on Stratford avenue.
 MT. Spock. ''We understand there is a little strip of land which the company gave the city for highway purposes"
 Ut was not given for highway purposes calculated Mayor Lee.
 MT. Townley asked the mayor if he did not think it would be possible for the railroad. anytime in from two to ten years. to get permission for the entrance to the proposed car barn to Stratford avenue.
 The mayor replied: 'I will have to move out of Bridgeport if I ever favor the laying of spur tracks across Stratford avenue at the point in question:"
 Thsre were over a hundred spec tators and they applauded the mayor, when he seemed to have scored while MT. Townley was testifying that the company did not look with favor upon having an entrance in Water street because it would only provide a single en- trance to the barn.
 The mayor replied that they would only have one entrance if they secured permission to lay the tracks in Congress street.
 'Rut there is hope of getting the other entrance later on,' replied MT. Townley.
 Mayor Lee further explained that by having the entrance to the barns in Water street. at Gold street. cars could be run out of the barn and distributed over the various routes. by way of Golden Hill street, and Fairfield avenue. .,1
 Mayor Lee. said: 'The McElroy building was essential to the proposed plan in his opinion as a building lot was to a man who was about to build house,
 President A H. Bullard of the fire department opposed the plan of the railroad on the ground that the Ire department already had trouble in getting the fire com
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