"It is known that the consent of the local authorities was obtained by bribery. Yet this bill provides that that consent shall be valid and effectual.
"It is known that the general term appointed improper persons as commissioners to decide whether or not the Broadway Railroad ought to be built.
"It is known that the general term confirmed the report of those commissioners in favor of having the road built by the grantees without regard to the fact that the compensation to the city from the grantees was grossly inadequate.
"In the case of the Cable Railroad grant, the same general term refused to confirm the report of the commissioners on the express ground that the compensation to the city from the grantees was inadequate.
"Yet this bill adopts, by legislative act, the consent of the local authorities obtained by bribery.
"It also adopts the action of the general term which was at least improvident and unjustifiable in face of its later action in the cable case. The appointment of commissioners, and the confirmation of their report, was a substituted consent in behalf of the property-owners. The direct consent of the property-owners could probably not have been obtained.
"The substituted consent was obtained only by the abusive action of the general term.
"Again, the effect of this bill is to deny to the people, to the local authorities, and the property-owners interested any opportunity to pass fairly upon the question, whether or not Broadway should be occupied by a surface railroad; it practically determines that there shall be a surface railroad in Broadway.
"The only question which it leaves open is, Who shall own and operate that railroad?
"In my judgment, this bill ought to be held under advisement, after the two former bills have been acted upon.