New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-09-20
YIELDS POINT IN CHARTER
Gaynor Makes Concession Affect
ing Construction Contracts.

Realizing the danger that the proposed
new city charter would not pass the Leeis-
ature 80 long as il contained the provi.
sons giving the Mayor the power Of sep
arate and additional consent over all rapid
transit franchises and contracts as we'll
rs routes. Mayor Gaynor yesterday made
another slight concession. In a letter to
Corporation Counsel Watson he suggested
that The clause except contracts for con-
SurucUon' should be inserted.
The safeguard Of the Mayors approval
~ every contract comforting a franchise
whether FOR years or in perpetuity" he
wrote lis important, aud the cnartcr and
III, rapid transit act should he assimilated
on that head, but it Is not necessary TO a
mere contract for construction. which in
wolves no franchise grant"
About tho time the Mayor was giving
out his letter 10 tho newspapers. Com
missioner j. Sergeant Cram. at his first
meeting o. The Public Service Commission
since his return from Europe. was de-
nouneing tho broad provisions of veto
given 10 the Mayor m the charter
81 don't believe that any man should
have the absolute veto pos .. I'M public
onico,' no said. 9TH. President Of the
United States has never been vested witt,
such power. The Mayor of New Yorl,
has multitude of duties TO perform. and
! think il Will Dee conceded that he cannot
hc so familiar with transit matters as a
board especially created TO study that sub
Ject Eoe'des you must remember we DO
nes Gct Gsyuor for Mayor more than
orr '0 "a generation"
Commissioner Cram said he was not sat
i-GCd oit1 The protest that had been made
against tH. charter 10y counsel for the
commission.
chairman Wil'roS said 10 believed the
power conferred upon the Manor was alto
gClhc. too broad nut ne did not think il
wise fo pick tho charter 10 pieces As a
ttsto Officer ] do not care TO get into d
controversy over city legislation" he said
However. counsel FOR the commission was
instructed TO stl further study the pro-
visions II to charter a. they affected
transit matters, with view TO making
further protest 90 The Governor should
tho charter he passed.
IN DIS letter 90 the Corporation Counsel
Manor Gsyuor acknowledged that probably
50 would not hu time to make contracts
Irr operation with the Brooklyn Rapid
Transit Company before the expiration Of
his term as Mayor but me did not believe
the city would ever elect q Mayor who
would sign contracts with the 3. r. r..
for tho opera ton of the Broadway subway
unless tbe company should be willing to
give transfers to 81 from its surface lines
as we'll os from the elevated lines.
on this point he said.
The project u ;he Brooklyn Rapid Tran
SIT COMPANY l- o. get tho city 10 construct
? subway Al lts own expense up BroadwsN,
81 Manhattan. and under othe' streets 10
9th street, and torn n over 20 that COM
yany The franchise contract which the
company wants, and which some officials
seem 10 desire 70 give tOr they have SO
NotCdJ, Is that iu consideration Of GettirS
such subway tho company WI. transfer 10
il without additional fare all yf ITS passeu-
ger coming 10 Manhattan from BROOKLYN
b. its elevated roads and distribute them
all tie way up to 18th street.
Bw why should not the franchise con-
tract cover the passengers Whu are brought
Over 10 Manhattan by The company sur
fac. cars also? The surface car passengers
EfoOKINu WHY should they have TO pay
an extra fare 10 transfer go the subway,
while the elevated passengers do mott !
brought this matter before the Board or
Estimate when the MISTER was mp. This
company Us now eager 10 have the Mayor >
power Of franchise approval taken away
20 lndl IIf may Ibi Nldiiu III JUS va VI
getting this valuable subway franchise IN
les 70 contain "a provision Tor the transfer
~ the Brooklyn surface passengers, as wei
as the elevated passengers.
The term Of the present Mayor VIII have
expired before that time arrives, but those
who control the company feel certain, as
they may well DO that the people OF TINS
city will never elect a MAYOR who would
approve OF "a franchise turning the said
zUbWay over TO them on the terms Of trans
Ter 10 40 Of the elevated passengers only.
AL passengers from Brooklyn should De
carried through tins subway uptown with
sut paying an ADDITIONAL fare.
CommontiuE on the Mayors letter Tim
9TH $. Williams. president Of the Brooklyn
Rapid Transit Company, said last night:
4 nave not observed any anxiety on the
Fart Of MAYOR Gayuor TO force the Inter
borough to issue transfers between the
subway and the elevated and the surface
lines. ~ u is good for BROOKLYN. why j. 1t
not good Tor Msnhattan2'