New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-25
MARGINAL R. R. BILL
SIGNED BY WHITMAN
Action Comes as Surprise
to Advocates OF
Measure.
GOVERNOR APPROVES
$19,500.000 TAX
Mills Court House Act Law
100000 Appropriation
Bills Vetoed.

,F.'m S'aT CI--esg- % .,a' p TIE m un-l
Albany. May 81 Governor Whitman
finished A. midnight tonight iis work
on tho bills loft 80 his hands b. The
Legislature month ago he viii de-
vote tomorrow to preparing for his
trip 20 San Francisco.
Practically the last measures 70 re-
ccive the Governors approval were
the direct tax bin to raise sl9,500,00O
and the nlGHed general Appropriation,
supply and construction bills. Nearly
NIFTY other measures were signed to-
day. including the NILS New York
courthouse bill and the Cullen mar
Giual railway bin for Brooklyn. Re
appropriation and special appropria-
ton bills agCregatinC 100000 Were
vetoed, with the measure establishing
"a bureau of standards in the Office of
the State Engineer and Surveyor.
Under the Mills courthouse bill
work can he begun at once on New
York CI'v's new S10.00O,O00 court
house. and j. i asserted that a say
INK OF 100000 can be made on ma
terial because Of the present low
prices. The city does not have 20 APP
propriatc the entire amount immcdi-
atcly.
The structure can I've erected in sec
tons, and contracts may be suspended
when appropriations give out. II is
also provided that the courthouse
board may put in a single contract all
the work 81 construction, including
plumbing, steam heating. gas fitting,
la
Signing of Cullen Bill Surprise.
The signing Of the Cullen marginal
railway bill for Brooklyn came as a
surprise even 70 its advocates. It per
mits the immediate construction of a
marginal railway along the big freight
terminals on the waterfront IN Brook
Ign and Queens. The Board o. Estimate
and Apportlonmcnt already has power
to construct such railway, but lacks
the necessary funds The Cullen bill
permits the formation Of marginal
railway company iE Brooklyn, stock in
which may be- purchased by railroads
Railroad had previously been prohibited
from owning stocks or bonds in any
water terminal company.
The Cullen bill he'd been objected 20
on the ground that il would result in
an eventual loss 70 the city, that the
ultimate investment would be ST.
600 1000, on which the city would receive
interest on only SG600000; that the
measure was designed for certain land
owners; that there had been purchases
of unnecessary property al excessive
figures, and that they would continue.
1T seems 20 me- said the Governor,
that these objections are not germane
70 the question as TO whether I should
approve this bill. They have reference
TO the law as IL exists at present, and
my refusal 70 approve the measure
would not prevent the conditions COM
planned Of, II they exist. The measure
before me simply vests discretionary
powers in the Board of Estimate and
Appor,ionment and is restrictive IN
terms.
an the first place, a contract must
be entered into between the Board OF
Estimate and Apportionment and
freight terminal company;
Second, such contract must be made
pursuant to the provisions Of the very
section that this bill amends;
Third. tie Board Of Estimate and Ap-
pOrtlOnmcnt must give its consent 70
"a railroad company before the latter
may be interested in stocks bonds or
other evidences Of Indebtedness of such
freight terminal company, and,
Fourth, such consent can be given
only after notice and a public hearing.
Puts II Up to Estimate Board.
"By this proposed amendment. there
fore. the Board of Estimate and Appor-
tiOnment will be responsible for the
proper, Efficient and satisfactory con-
struction, equipment and operation of
these terminal facilities.
Furthermore as the city has already
invested a large amount of money in
this enterprise, II should not be pre-
vented from securing from this eXpen-
diture that benefit which II claims will
be obtained through the approval Of
this bill"
Four-year terms for all the county
clerks within the City Of New York are
provided in the Gilchrist bill, also
signed by the Governor.
K. A. c. Smith, Dock Commissioner,
sent letter 10 Governor Whitman yes
terday thanking him for signing the
Brooklyn Marginal Railway bill. The
commissioner said, in part:
THE passage Of this enabling act
frees the hands Of the city and permits
il TO negotiate with the trunk line
railroads for contract which will
give the city what, in its opinion, Is
the bes, possible operator for the pro-
posed terminal
81 am confident that when the mis-
under landing which has surrounded
this measure is removed and the people
generally understand that the new act
does not commit the city 10 the cX-
penditure of a single dollar but simply
permits i 20 contract for the most ef-
fcicnt operation OF the new terminal.
it vii! receive universal approval