New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-07
Demand Restoration Of
Control to Public Ser
vice Commission
Warning of Monopoly
Legislators Ask for Protection
of Riverside Park and
Waterfront

The proposed West Side contract Is
condemned severely in separate re-
port 70 the Legislature, made public
last night, submitted by nc joint legis-
lative committee appointed to invests
gate the Public Service Commission
The committee. declaring that the mat
ter was deemed to be within the scope
of its investigation, calls the proposed
agreement monopolistic and blow to
the commercial growth Of the city.
The report attacked as unconstitu-
tional the law Of July, 1911, which d.
vested the Public Service Commission
Of jurisdiction in the matter and gave
the Board Of Estimate authority IN
grant to the New York Central land
under water and other land. The cont
mittee recommended that the law be
repealed and new legislation be passed
giving the local authorities sufficient
power TO provide for the e.iminaIoa Oh
dangerous grade operations BY rail-
roads. and limiting the exercise OF that
power in such manner rs shall protect
the state and the municipal corporation
from overenthusiasm OF its local Of
ficers in regard to important details.
Prompt Action Urged
AS the subject involves not only tho
preservation OF the scenic beauties OK
Riverside Park. but also the COM
mercia. prestige of New York CITY, IN
which the entire state is vitality inter
ested, the Legislature should take
prompt measures to protect these IN
terests," the report stated.
at was claimed" the report added
chat the agreement contemplated
vast grant by the City OF New York OF
land. waterfront and park property TO
the railroad company in fee and by
perpetual easement on pretehb OF
aboishing dangerous grade crossings
and dangerous operations on tracks az
grade
The report dwells on the contention
that the New York Central would OBJ
tain a practical monopoly Of terminal
facilities on the West Side. TO the eH-
clusion Of the New Jersey railroads,
and pointed out that the title and
OWNERSHIP N the railroad was so com
pletc nat IL might be enabled not only
20 engage in transportation, but IN any
other Kind Of business without any
necessity for franchises. In that re-
spect the report states;
There is included within tho ar
rangement the grant of such properties
and such rights and privileges TO inc
railroad as would permit It 10 make
electric current and to sell that current
along its route.
"Afready the company lights railroad
buildings at the Grand Central Termi.
nal with its own electric current, and
lights also such outside buildings as
the Biltmore' Hotel and the Yale Club,
necessarily crossing streets with it's
lines of wire.
"The districts in which its system
are located include the richest field for
sales OF electric current in New York.
Should the West Side tracks and
terminals be physically connected with
the Grand Central Terminal, with
tracks crossing the city, the oppor-
tunity for selling electric current would
be carried into the great avenues
Legislators "Misled'
"The apparent purpose Of the bill
must have misled the legislators Of the
1911 session." the report continued.
1.-THE terms Of the proposed contract,
however. reveal the purposes of the
act. and IL now appears that the real
purpose was 10 give a new and greatly
enlarged roadbed, with added strips
OF land granted in fee, and other rights
and privileges in perpetuity.
"Your committee calls attention "a
the fact that the act violates the prin-
ciple written into the Charter Of New
York City (Sections II, s3, s4), prohib-
iting the city from alternating its water
front and park lands and other lands"
Prices Called inadequate
The committee stated that IL be-
lieved that even the prices placed upon
the lands of the city 20 be conveyed 20
the railroad company were inadequate;
that water privileges were granted.
leaving such narrow margin at tactical
points west OF the new roadbed as TO
prevent all competition By city rail-
roads or other railroads; that uses OF
the properly dlONS the 'hIiIt NSos
Side were provided for in such way
that the city could in no event provide
for city owned terminal available for
the common use Of all railroads which
now enter or may enter the city in the
future. and that the establishment OF
general terminal and market facilities
in that locality is prevented.
"Inssmuch as by tunnelling and By
subway construction and other de-
vices" the report stated in conclusion,
"the Objectionable and dangerous cross
ings Of the New York Central Railroad
Company along the West Side Of New
York City could be eliminated without
disfgurng either the parks or the
streets and without granting unneces-
sary monOpolistic rights. privileges and
immunities. IL is recommended that
Chapter ~ Of the laws OF 1911 be re-
pealed and that new legislation be
passed"