"About the remaining bill of the four reported by the Senate Investigating Committee, I cannot find, by the newspapers, that it has passed.
"It seems to me better than the original Cantor bill, which is now a law, but it still has serious defects.
"1. It leaves the present law standing whereby the general term, appointing commissioners, and rectifying their action, will dispense with the consent of the abutting property-holders.
"2. It allows the Aldermen to pass over the veto of the Mayor a resolution granting a railroad franchise, provided the consent of one-half of the abutting property-owners be obtained.
"The first defect is the most serious. Perhaps the second may be risked, though I do not think it quite safe to dispense with any restrictions upon these grants.
"I do not know whether it is intended to pass this bill, or whether it can be amended.
"In discussing these bills, I am not advised how far, if at all, any of them have been changed by amendment.
"Very truly yours,
S. J. Tilden."