New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-17
Queens Borough Presi-
dent at Hearing Offers
Ten Objections
CHANGES IN PRESENT
PLAN NOW LIKELY
$500 Paid Hughes Only a
Part of His Fee from
the City

Maurice z. Connolly, Borough Presi-
dent Of Queens. announced yesterday
that he would vote against the adop-
ton Of the Riverside Drive-New York
Central project.
Thus there are now three members
Of the Board of Estimate aligned
against the plan. This fact, il IS be-
lieved. means that there viii be nu-
merous changes in the plan as drawn
BY the committee on port and terminal
facilities.
The other two members Of the board
who have announced themselves as op-
posed TO portions Of the measure are
Marcus NJ. Marks, Borough President
of Manhattan, and Frank L. Downing,
President of the Board Of Aldermen.
Sets Forth Ten Reasons
Mr.. Connolly set forth ten objections
to the plan:
|. The elimination OF grade cross
ings at Death Avenue should not be
made a subject of negotiations, since
Chief Justice Cullen Of the Court OF
Appeals has held that the road could
be compelled to eliminate such cross
ings by legislative enactment
9. The proposed contract would per-
nit the road 20 exchange its present
doubtful franchise to operate two
tracks for an unassaiiable one to or
crate four or six tracks, without prop
er compensation 10 the city.
3. The pending negotiations can &C.
complish nothing except what the road
sees fit TO concede to the city.
T. The railroad would acquire, un-
der the contract, valuable rights and
privileges not explicitly set forth m
/ the report of the committee winch
/ drew Il.
S. There are inconsistencies and ap"
parent discreps .cies placed upon tho
valuations of surface OF streets relin-
auished by the road and the permanent
franchises granted by the city.
Road Is Absolved
6. The railroad is expressly absolved
from all liability for damages growing
out of the changing Of street grades,
instead of being compelled 20 make
good any such losses, as was provided
in the original contract.
z. The road now has contract per-
hitting il to operate line south as
/ far as Chambers Street. Under this
contract it relinGuishes only surface
occupation" rights below Canal Street,
but retains rights which may permit "
to operate a line under that clause OF
it's present franchise in future.
8. The strategic point in the city at
which a railroad might emerge from
a tunnel 20 an elevated structure Is be-
tween Seventy-second and Fifty-ninth
streets. But this site is ceded 70 the
railroad under this contract, thus pre-
venting the city from working out an
economic development of its freight
terminal facilities.
9. Chapter TT Of the law of 1911
provides that the road shall construct
a tunnel under Spuyten Duyvil Creek
/ at its own expense. This contract sub
stitutes a bridge over the waterway,
thus saving Sl2000,O0O for the railroad
but giving the city no compensation
because Of the change.
10. The proposed contract Is inequi-
table and unfair and grants to the
railroad franchise privileges TO the
detrinent of the city.
Made Investigation
Mr.. Connolly said mis- stand Was
based on personal investigation and
upou reports made 70 him by members
Of the city's engineering department:
lie checked up on the facts contained
in such reports yesterday before max.
ing public his statement, because or
the discovery that one Of the engineers
who had obtained information for him
had. while thus employed, sought a
position in the service OF the New YORK
Central Railroad.
In the afternoon Lamar Hardy, Cor
poration Counsel. explained that the
sT.5OO already paid TO ex-Justice
/ Char es +. Hughes for his work In con-
nection with the Riverside Drive plan
was Dnly n part of his fee. How much
IL would be he did not know.
VIII Give Another Opinion
IT nat is a matter about which Will
be the judge be replied TO inquiries.
Mr. Hughes is working on another
opin on, according TO Mayor Mitchell,
involving the entire question OF au-
thority OF the Board Of Estimate 70
adopt the pending contract. Moreover,
he will defend the pending suit OF the
Society for the Prevention Of Municipal
Waste. under which that organization
is endeavoring TO prevent the city from
continuing its negotiations with the
railroad.
The present hearings will be re-
sumed Monday morning, when the re-
naming civic organizations that have
not voiced their objections 70 the plan
viii, be heard. Wednesday the defence
of the plan will be taken up.