New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-08
Saws Measure Intended to
End Central r. r. Dis
pute Is Political
Aimed to "Discredit"
City Administration
Passage Over Veto Puts Re-
sponsibility on Legislat-
ure, He Says

Mayor Mitchell yesterday vetoed the
OuinCcr- Ellorbogcn bill, which recent
Is passed the Legislature, providing
for coordinate" jurisdiction between
the BOARD Of Estimate and the Public
Service Commission in negotiating a
settlement Of the West Side improve
ment plans between the city and the
New York Central Railroad Company.
The Mayor characterized the meas
IRE as vicious legislation" enacted by
the Legislature "in its ignorance and
prejudice" and the elimination Of the
practise Of small politics on the part
Of certain legislators who aimed mere
ly 10 discredit the present city adj
ministration. He declared mat there
had been no honest or sincere effort
on the part Of the Legislature "to
learn the facts" and that the bill by
its own terms frustrated any future
adjustment Of the important West Side
problem. He warned the Legislature
that If IL passed the bill over has veto
10 must assume ali responsibility Tor
the result.
Mayor Mitchell received the bill from
Albany last Friday, too late TO call
the required public hearing Saturday
The hearing was held in City Hall yes
terdav. and the Mayors veto followed
shortly afterward. julius Henry
Cohen. representing the Citizens
Union. and Charles L. Craig. repre-
senting the West Side Association, APP
pearcd in favor Of the bill, as did
William /. Ransom, chief counsel for
the Public Service Commission. Ira
A. Place. general counsel and vice
president of the New York Central.
and Controller William A. Prender-
CAST appeared in opposition to the bill.
The Mayors Statement
Iu announcing his veto the Mayor
said:
"This bill evidences the extent TO
which some members of the Legislature
are prepared TO sacrifice the public in
tercst in the accomplishment Of pur-
pose that is wholly political. The whole
movement. eliminating in this bill, 10
Illustrate proper and equitable settle
ment with the New York Central Rail
road Of its terminal freight situation
on the West Side of Manhattan Island,
inspired and accelerated by a single
disreputable newspaper of this city and
furthered by the efforts of a number
Of members of both houses of the pres
ent legislature has rad as its sole pur-
pose the attempted public discredit OF
the present city administration.
"Thc paramount Importance 10 the
vast commercial and business interests
Of the City of New York Of an lmme-
diate settlement of this veXed question
L lbs chovf hi pd
men or brushed aside as trivial he
effect. i'm the immediate future, upon
the cost of living in this city, through
the cramping OF the terminal facilities
Of this vast food carrier. has been
passed bv as Of no moment. True 10
q spirit which has permeated consld-
cradle number Of the members OF the
present Legislature throughout its ses-
sion. the only considerations which
have moved that body in dealing with
this question have been those OF po-
litical eNpedicncy and political spite.
With the certainty born Of my expert
cncc Of the temper and motives OF
these men throughout the present leg
iSlatlve session, that the motive behind
all this legislation has been political.
and in no respect bred OF regard for
the public welfare. ] cannot treat this
nII4 even WIN llNN res DtNA NiilAll I I b'
tcmarily accord TO the regular crop Of
vicious local tills transmitted from
Albany. and which yearly receive the
disapproval of the Mayor
Reasons Why Bill Was Bad"
IN pointing out a "few" Of the rea-
sons why the bill was bad" the Mayor
said first that II was Fundamentally
yiolatiNe of the principle Of municipal
home rule ln seeking TO take out OF
the hands Of the municipal authorities
the power 20 deal with the West Side
matter and placing 10 IN the hands Of
the Public Service Commission. The
Mayor declared that the bill would
Illustrate any agreement between the
city and the railroad company. because
OF It's mandatory provision for the
charge by the city TO the railroad com
pany, IN the form OF rental, for any
right 20 use city streets and for
rcadjustment Of such rental at inter
walls, each o. not more than twenty-five
years lie said that this provision
wholly ignored the fact that the rail
road company enjoyed the right to use
the streets along and across which its
rails are now laid for an indefinite
period The representatives OF the
city who have dealt with the railroad
were convinced. he said. that no settle
ment can be effected involving the pay