New-York tribune., 1873-02-19
THE CITY'S GREAT NEED.
RApIn TRANSTr AT PUBLIC COsT.

The discusson of the problem of rapid transit aud
She advocacy of bill now before the Legislature
,rovidipg for the construction of railroad by the
,,tv authorities which will provide for quick travel
from the Battery TO Harlem, had the effect of calling
t.eether last evening large and respectable audi
zee in the main hall of the Cooper Institute. AT
g. q hour named for opening the meeting the hall
- about two-thrds filled, but within short time
a., number was materially increased, although at no
ne during the evening were all the seats in the
Al filed. The audience in point of intelligence
~ much above the average, and the various speak
., were listened to with marked attention that
s in itself proof of the interest felt in the cues
IN under consideration. The proportion of elderly
r..n among the audience was noticeable, although
. ages and classes were represented. On the plat
m were lnanywrrominent men, including Gen.
T.anz Sigel r. A. Witthaus, A. S. Hewitt, City
- -age Sutherland, s. L. Church. and others
he meeting was called to order by Il. A. Witt
ms who briefly skctched the objects in view, and
minated as President City Judge Sutherland
.-e reading was interrupted 10y Mr.. BceDey. who
upained that the workingmen were not repre-
ted on the list. The Chairman informed him
,at be and his associates would be glad TO receive
t.. of names representing the woikingmen. He was
.srous that all classes should be represented in the
-oyemcnt TO promote the great enterprise which
.-ey had met TO advocate. Speeches were made by
,1-Judee Sutherland, the Hon. Z. Delafeld Smith,
s hewitt, 5. /. Church, Gen. Sigel, Gen. Viele,
I'D others
SPEECH OF Il. A. w1TTHAUs.
FIowCIrIzEHs: During the last 20 years the City Of
etr York las needed suitable accommodations for
-r-tk transit from the Battery to the Harlem River
q ing tins period generation Of active and energetic
-u has passed away, but the problem of quick transit
90 remains unsolved The field has been free and open
gryate enterprise Capitalists have obtained charters
. al styles from the Legislature, aud pledged them
ives TO build aud operate quick transit accommoda-
-ar for the public, but these pledges have been
.-- .ated and dishonored You all know that pri-
-.e capital will never furnish suitable accommodations
the million this island. IApplause.l Therefore o
mcr of public spirited citizens have formed the New
'k Transit Association aud have introduced into both
uses of Legislature act which authorizes the
..y Of New York Iapplausel-to build Peoples Quick
--nslt accommodation, and TO operate it at the least
-,>shlc expense with the lowest possible fares Zap
aus, In order 70 insure the passage Of this act those
o. our most prominent and practical citizens have signed
aI for his great meeting, and they nominate to-
sht as President man whose name IS synonym of
r.nesty aud patriotism, the Hon. Josiah Sutherland
Appauscl
SPEECH OF JUDGE SUTHERLAND.
lam very sensible fellow-citizens OF the honor
'rrcd upon me especially considering the purpose Of
ihe meeting. The Association which my predecessor
alluded has prepared bill OF act, which has been
.lhmtied both houses Of the Legislature and is now
sic purpose Of encouraging and promoting the passage
. this act The bill is drawn with great precision OF
inruage. Judge Sutherland here explained the provi
--,s Of the bin, which has been published in The
'HEtNEl Before anything can be done, this
.- 10 be submitted 10 the people at the charter
ron, aud il majority do not approve Of
-. :ling will be done There is only circumstance
t-.at this whole thing which regret although II may
OF place to make the remark IIegEes that this
y with It's ancient charters guaranteed by three sue
constitutions, and further guaranteed IN point
s-ch has never attracted attention by incorporation
--oIt Of the most valuable clauses in Magma Cnrta
.vud he compelled to 20 the Legislature for leave to
d railroad. lApplausel But, al the risk of being
understood, l will say that things are in
s-lh fix in consequence of the long ac
.-esCcnce Of this city in depredations its
rlghts 10y the Legislature, through an unfortunate
6rcson Of Justice Story early 1915, when
-l4 learned and good made the distinction (Which
Afterwards reafrrnedl in the Dartmouth College case
4' t.e Legislature had power over what were called
. l corporations. such as cities, towns, and villages,
ed At has the effect Of throwing this city at the feet Of
tle Legislature. hope the time may come when the
Legislature itself will pass act prohibiting their own
interference with the chartered rights Of this city.
lAppiause II is tact that very many legislators have
procured themselves be elected the very purpose
"'"" thrir votes, and thus II is that we frequently
~ - -"puical and unjust bills which in
IN, , I p,I ciT lher,, As 1t Is now gentlemen, any
man tDat has money enough can 20 .S @ ', - so him
rnr nef any law almost, passed, winch Will cuH"s m
10 make money or crush out bis neighbours uguts aud
interests IApplausel --.7s - -: -,
After Judge suler'nd had closed his remarks which
have been produced nearly in fun, long list Of Off
'ei' iwas read
SPEECH OF T. DELAFIELD SMITH.
The Hon T. Dclaheld Smith then described his own
posOu matter Of rapid transit He said that the
only real estate he owned farm in Monmouth
County aud piece OF land in Fortieths. and he was
Therefore not pecunary interested in this enterprise
For he probably the most dsinterested
and IN fact the only disnterested speaker present 1t
seemed 70 him the present exactly the time TO
begin tins work, when the municipal government was
in the haLds OF honest men, After alndhg 10 tne com
I0euts tie daily newspapers IN reference 10 the late
opments at Washington, he said that he believed
the people here were more interested IA the question OF
plauso Mr.. Smith then touched upon the pracucablly
Gf leaving private enterprise and cited the condi
ton Of the street railroads as adverse argument
describing the dscOmfOrts and aunoyances which were
H. necessary accom- paniment TO an imperfect system
He sid that road costing $4,000 would issue 100000
and the surplus would be used as corruption
fund to buy up LEGISLATURES and tins was generay the
marks were continued at some length
The President then called upon Mr.. Hewitt who after
pointed anocdote suggested by some remarks of Mr.
Smith, spoke nearly as follows:
SPEECH OF A, s. HEWITT.
When 7 came here, gentlemen, supposed would not
De committed any any particular act Of legis
lation or any particular bill that might before the
Legislature any more than would be committed 70 any
particular constructing rapid transit which
all 10 desire supposed also that the people Of
city bad arrived al practical conclusion as TO this
ouestOn As a business man, very largely interested
IN tie industry Of this city aud this coun-
try, say that unless more efficient
means OF moving the goods aud materials in
which We deal through this city is devised than what
possess TINS city cannot maintain ITS present
The truth is that very many kinds OF business have
been carried away from TINS CITY because u j. mpoS,