New-York tribune., 1910-04-26
SPOTLIGHT ON TRANS
Alderman 8oschen to Start New
Fire to Follow Smoke.
CUT PRIVILEGES, HIS CRY
Will Ask Board of Aldermen TO
Preserve Streets from
Franchise Grab"

~
Franchise Grab"
Trans" the mystic sign that stirred up
trouble for former Senator lothian p
Aids. the same trans which vas pinned
to the costtails OF a dozen other former
and present legislators in the recent fire
insurance investigation. will come 10 the
front again to-day in a new field
Alderman John II. Boschen. Of the 23d
Aldermanic District. wants some fire 20
follow all the smoke. and for that pur-
pose he viii Introduce in the Board Of
Aldermen meeting to-day a resolution look
ing toward a curtailment Of the privileges
granted to the New York Transportation
Company by the bill which went through
the Legislature in 1900. the passage Of
which has caused such trouble for legfs-
lators within the last few months.
According 70 the Alderman from the sd.
his constituents have fled complaints with
him because the Fifth avenue motor bus
line, which is a subsidiary OF the New
York Transportation Company. has recently
elected 10 run what the Alderman believes
is a franchise grabber car from the
terminus of the regular service, al Fifth
avenue and soth street on up TO 15Sth
street and St Nicholas Place
They run one or two, possibly three
cars a day up there said Alderman
Boschen yesterday. "and people OF my dis
trict won't stand for that at all It's not
service at all: it's Just spasnodic car or
two, apparently for the sole purpose OF
holding possession OF that portion OF the
city's streets"
Motor Omnibus Monopoly.
Working over the complaints. the Alder
man saws he discovered that the New York
Transportation Company, whose stock
designation, IL appeared in the AIlds-
COnger case, and later in the fire insurance
investigation, was shortened 10 trans
had secured from the 1890 Legislature an
amendment which virtually gave II an aoso-
lutte monopoly Of motor bus traffic in great
or New York. and also fixed matters IN
such manner that TO secure extensions
Of its street rights the company had Only
10 get the permit Of the Public service
Commission. without resort to'the vulgar
method of paying for the franchise exteh-
sion which is obligatory on the part Oh
ordinary street railroads.
THAT amendment is so worded that tha'
COMPANY can operate any stage or OMNIBUS
propelled by electricity OF any other power
IN our streets" said Alderman boscneh
Yesterday. and if they wanted TO verlS
believe they could string wires along BED
ford avenue Brooklyn. and run stages IKE
the Germans do. without tracks and WIN
o,,t paving the city anything for the privi-
Iege."
Alderman Boschen said that Edwin A
,,-..so- ,-bo was counsel TO ex-senator
Penn Conger in the Allds-Conger case han
traced out for him the course OF tne aiiieilu-
uAnt through the 1900 Legislature. ana ne
was astounded al the apparent connection
batu,aen the activities OF dozen legislators
in behalf Of the bill giving such extraorul-
nar,, privileges 10 a company in the stock
~ which thev were active SPECTATORS
..1,,s time we had some action on this.
eta Alderman Boschen "and 1 mean 70
End out by means Of this resolution
whether this company can hold this vaIua-
bIe franchise for all time. without even
contributing a dollar to the city IN return
for the privilege.
Wants Legislative Correction.
The aldsrnan's resolution reCites that
t-,srnucb as the electric storage battery
sasr,s TO be nearing successful completion
and inasmuch as the law now reads that
This company may extend its lines over any
~ the -itv's streets limited only by the
p,bIic Service Commissions permission the
Board OF Aldermen recommends that I'M
mediate steps be taken by tie Legislature
before adjournment OF the present session 10
amend The present law so that the evil VIII
ba corrected and the Fifth avenue bus line
nut upon the same footing with regard 20
city permission that limits extensions Oh
other street railroads.
1t was a special privilege grant even Il
II was worded in general terms. said Al
derrnan Boschen yesterday. and by the
terms of that notorious 1900 amendment this
one company may both choke OF all COM
petition and extend its lines through any
street in the greater city
Richard W Meade president Of the New
York TRANSFORMATION Company, when asked
about the extension service In Nashins-
ton Heights last night. admitted that the
company was running two or three coaches
a dav north from Fifth avenue and goth
street I'd 10 i55th street and 81. Nicholas
Place.
The patronage doesn't Justify any more
service" Mr. Meade said first but he stat
ed that the recent extension along River
side Drive 10 135th street had called into
use all the ears they could spare from the
Fifth avenue service
Why do you run the three day up
there" he asked.
We've got 20 do that he replied, and
later-we have more cars now in course
Of constr.iction-we will put on a more
adequate service"
lie was Informed that Alderman Boschen
viewed the ST Nicholas Place extension
service as a'simple case OF street grab
bing"
We don't need 20 do that" said Mr.
Meade. our charter allows US 10 extend
our lines pretty freely"