New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-04-10
Republicans Help
Defeat Ottinger
West Side Bill
Measure May Get Another
Chance Before Legis-
lature Adjourns
[Staf Correspondeucel

ALBANY, April 9.-With three Re.
publicans. Senators George F. Thomp-
son, Alvah w. Burlingame and George
R. Wellington. joining with Senator
Robert F. Wagner in fighting the meas.
ure, the Ottinger West Side improve
ment bill was defeated for the time
being in the Senate by vote of "a
to %. On motion Of Senator Ottinger
the bill was laid on the table, by :.
vote of 26 to 21. This gives the meas
ure new lease of life, and before the
friends hope to win over enough Of
the opposition to pass it with the nee
essary 26 votes.
Minority Leader Wagner denounced
the bill as "steal.' He said that the
entire Hylan administration and the
Public Service Commission. which is
composed Of Republicans. had voiced
their disapproval of the bill.
The measure provides for commits
sion of nine to negotiate an agreement
between the city and the New York
Central on the proposed West Side
terminal Improvement
Ottinger Defends Bill
Speaking in it's behalf, Senator Of
finger said that the bill was neither &
grab nor a steal, and declared it fully
protected the interests Of New York
City by providing that three members
of the Board OF Estimate and two
members of the Public Service Com
mission shall participate in the nego
tlatlons,. and by the further provision
that at least six members of the com
mission of nine shall sign the agree
ment.
The commission is given power to
exchange property owned by the city
Tor land held By the railroad" said
Senator Ottinger, land this power the
solution of the port problem be ar
rived at"
Senator Burlingame. who comes
from Brooklyn, attacked the bill
through the Fusion campaign fund
scandal of last fall.
The Vanderbilts and their friends.
out of gratefulness for what was done
by the Mitchell administration in con-
nection with this proposed improve
ment, contributed to the Mitchell cam
paign fund $2,000,OO0," he declared. "Is
tnls Dill being pressed by the leader
or the Republican majority with view
to bidding the moneybund welcome to
the Republican campaign this fall?"
Senator Elon r. Brown said the Hill
vs. necessary because New York CITY
had proved itself impotent to do things
necessary for its own welfare.
Brown Blames CITY
The city had an opportunity to nre-
pare plans, but it prepared none" said
senator Brown. ut kept this problem
as political issue. 1t is easy to rniso
cry against the corporations. Thar
was one of the issues on which the
Hylan administration rode into Office
and now it is hugging it to its breast
70 preserve it. This is not New York
S'ty matter, nor 81 state matter, Tho
development of the port of New YORK
IS national matter"
The Legislature to-day passed tho hill
appropriating 100000 as the states
share for the expenditures of the Hars
Dor Commission appointed by the rov.
ernors OF New York and New ,Jersa. :,
devise plan for New York's bsTnor
port developments. A similar amornt
Will be appropriated by New jersey
The Senate to-day(amended the Hew.
Ut bill prohibiting the use Of the st,to
highways to motor trucks wbnrn
weight, together with their loads l.
ten tons or more. The amendmn,,.
which was satisfactory to the usrrs -
motor trucks, extends The limit -
twelve and one-half tons.