The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-04-03

system OF dockage in the world, and the con
struction Of railroads for the use Of steam fo
city travel. The first Ia in fair way o
accomplishment under competent supervision
the second Is likely to be delayed by the po
litical scheming which threatens to destroy
our present efficient dock management and te
transfer those important interests to the poll
tioians; the third Is being tampere with by
the trading representativ es and unscrupulous
lobby at Albany, and Is In danger Of being
thrown over for another year. Yet the last
evil can be easily av oided if the State Legisla-
ture will only pass sim pie law authorizing the
city to build the required rail roads, provided
that the electors of New York shall at the next
charter election vote In favor of such a
policy. To this no honest objection can be
made, and no Senator or Assemblyman could
justify himself be fore an intelligent constitu-
ency for vote cast against snch PROPOSE
ton. Indeed, there Is but one point to be
to construct our railroads, and that Is the
general plea of the corruption of the municipal
government and the usual carelessness Of the
citizens in the election Of their public officers.
AS the HERALD has frequently shown, the ex-
perlence Of the Croton Water Works and the
Central Park are sufi cient to prove that great
public trusts can be honestly administered |;
but it may not have occurred to many Of our
citizens that the speedy construction of ample
railroad accommodation within our own city
ha kba cf off al nd for nj
cipal corruption. At present the high rents
extorted from tenants in those portions Of New
York available for residences to business men,
and the absence Of all means Of rapid and
comfortable locomotion, compel many thou
sands OF our most active, useful and
intelligent ctizens-those forming, as 1t were
the middle class Of society-to seek homes
elsewhere. They flock to Jersey, Staten
Island and Brooklyn, and spread along
the several railroad lines outside the city, In
localities easier to reach, although thirty miles
away, than are the uptown streets above
Forteth street; and thus, while they transact
their business or follow their pursuits here
they are not voters. II they remained resi-
dents Of New York, as they would prefer to
do, they would rank among our most faithful
and useful electors. The Weather citizens
live In the city because they can afford to do
SO, and unfortunately they frequently neglect
to vote. The poorer classes do not leave the
city because they cannot afford to do so, and
they generally vote as often as they can. But
the sterling men of the middle class who are
driven away seldom, If ever, neglect the most
important duty of the citizen, and always use
the privilege of the elective franchise honestly
and intelligently.
We now once more urge the State Legisla
ture to give us some practical law by which
we can secure the speedy construction Of the
railroads we 80 much need. The disgraceful
admission Of the leader Of tho House Of
Assembly. the Chairman of the Committee Of
Ways and Means, that the Albany lobby is
passing the underground jobs now before that
body, and that the success or failure of the bills
depends not upon the Independent judgm emit
OF the Legislature, not upon the merits Of the
schemes, not upon considerations Of public
good, but upon the consummation or defeat of
and jobbcrs, will not take by surprise any
person who Is familiar with the character of
our present reform legislators. But 1t will
confirm the general impression that tl{e
bestowal Of these franchises upon the men
who are now seeking to secure them will not
be likely to promote the desired end. 1t is In
this belief that the HERALD opposes these
schemes and demands Of the State Legislature
law not in the service Of a corrupt lobby,
but In the interests of the people. After Mr..
Alvords naive admission, no name can be re-
corded in favor of any Of these lobby jobs
without being tainted with suspicion, and we
have yet hope that they may all be defeated
by the veto of the Governor, if through no
other agency, and law enacted authorizing
the construction by the city Of two viaduct
roads along the river lines for the use and
benefit Of the people.