New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-07-21
Threatens Further Fight II
Brooklyn Company Gets Lines
and Predicts B. r. T.
Award Will Come
to Naught.
MAY NOT BE PRESENT TO-DAY
Mitchell and Prendergast, Undisturoed
by Gaynor's Attitude, Insist
Upon Vote, and Bare Ma
jority Will Suffice on
Second Ballot

Having rejected the proposition NJ tne
Interborough Rapid Transit Company for
taking its share Of the proposed new
transit routes by n vote OF 10 To o. tne
Board OF Estimate turned around yester-
day and lined up IL to ) to give the eH-
tended system 10 the Brooklyn Rapid
Transit Company.
AS the latter proposition required a
three quarters vote-or twelve-comins
, up for the first time. as IL did, IL vas
I necessary TO call another meeting for
1890 o'clock this morning 10 pass on II
gain. At this meeting only majority
nine votes-will be required. II was
! generally considered last night however.
that the question had been settled. az
only some extraordinary and unforeseen
! occurrence could change enough votes to
beat the Brooklyn Rapid Transit.
| Mayor Gaynor made a strenuous et-
! fort to prevent action in giving the lines
! to the Brooklyn Rapid Transit. Il pre-
| dict now. and 1t is an easy prediction TO
make" he declared. that 1t will come
absolutely TO naught."
/ He fought for delay, declaring il was
| grave question as to whether IL would
/ be constitutional to give the guarantee
proposed. When he saw this argument
made no impression he went still
! further. anil indicated plainly that he
would use his power of holding up such
parts Of the proposed new routes as had
not been legalized. The rapid transit
act provides that the Mayor must give
his individual approval Of such routes.
! Even this veiled threat did not move
Controller Prendergast and President
Mitchell of the Board of Aldermen, who
insisted upon vote.
Few Routes Not leealzed.
It was pointed out last night that rh.
, routes not legalized formed small part
of the mileage of the entire system.
that they made only small gaps here
and there; that the remainder OF the
! lines could be constructed at once. 1t
would not be necessary To fill i'm these
| gaps before the end of Mayor Gaynors
term. In case he should persist in his re-
fusal to approve them.
AS to the Mayors declaration that
lawsuits would follow any attempt 20
sign the proposed contract with the
Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company. Presi-
! dent McAneny said Il would not be pos
sble to hold up the building Of the lines
to be constructed with the city's own
money. The courts would unquestion-
ably expedite the settlement of any legal
points that might be raised. and, as Il
matter of public policy, would he OK
tremely loath to allow technical point
to hold up the transit development Of ;he
city.
Controller Prendergast worked late
last night over the contracts the Public
Service Commission has awarded for the
construction of five sections of the tri-
Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company. He
will be prepared to recommend at the
special meeting of the board this morn
ing that the contracts be approved and
signed. That recommendation will un-
doubtedly go through by the same vote
as will the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Cons
pany proposition.
These two propositions once passed by
the Board OF Estimate, the Public Ser
vice Commission Will order the con-
tractors to go ahead and dig. and will
begin 10 prepare the forms of contract
which are to be entered into with the
Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company. IL
is certain that every step that can be
taken to block the signing OF these con-
tracts will be taken in the interest of
the Interborough. How effective they
may be remains To be seen.
Most Of the members OF the Public
Service Commission and the Board Of
Estimate take a hopeful view of the
case. Although it is known that papers
are already drawn up in a number OF
| suits they believe substantial progress
can be made right along. and that such
suits will be decided favorably to the
city without undue delay.
How Members Lined Up.
The vote 'on the resolution To accept
the proposition of the lnterborough.
which was put before the board in a re-
port of the conferrees by Borough Pres
ident McAneny. was as follows:
For Votes Against. Votes
| President McAneny.. = Mayor Gaynor. ....... =
| President steers 2 Controller frendergas,S
/ president Miller. President Mitchell. 49,. \
/ pr.sldant Cromwell | President GrpsSer. ..... y