The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-09

Legislature. The representatives and the
lobby at Albany regard rapid transit in New
York as q rich placer. and they are not willing
that it should be worked unless they can
secure share. directly or indirectly. in the
profits. 1t has been said that if steam rail-
roads in New York could be shown to be q
remunerative investment plenty of private
capital would be ready to construct them,
without the work being done or aided by the
building the roads in an honest, business
like manner, would find no encourage
ment at Albany. There must be mar
gin for picking and stealing, stock given
away. dummies" let in as corporators, loans
made to satisfy those who will take nothing
but money down and all the other leakages
which are certain to be made in any rich
measure that seeks a passage in the State
Legislature. With an entirely upright and
independent Senate and Assembly the question
of rapid transit would be disposed of with
speed and certainty. The creation of CON-
mission, to be nominated by the Governor,
with authority to issue bonds and build the
road or roads, on the peoples credit, for the
peoples benefit, would give US steam
communication through the city without fur
ther delay. So far from increasing the public
burdens, the construction Of the roads would
raise the valuation of property SO largely as to
materially decrease the percentage of taxa
ton, while property owners would no longer
be compelled to carry the dead weight of IN
salable and unavailable property which is now
eating itself up in taxation.
Some weeks ago we hoped that the present
Legislature would take this all-important sub
ject honestly in hand and dispose of it in the
interests of the people Of New York alone.
The prospect does not now look so en-
couraging Every wild scheme of rapid
transit seems to be helped forward
from some quarter or another, for no
other purpose than to middle and embarrass
the question and prevent any action at all.
Bills that at first appeared to be disnterested
and effective become so altered and haggled
as to be worthless. In all matters relating to
New York improvements this same carping,
dishonest spirit makes itself manifest. A
proposition is placed before the Legislature
to prosecute great public improvement, the
Riverside Park, and Immediately squabble
takes place among the departments and the pol
iticians as to who shall have the doing of the
work, and political organization 'instructs''
its members to vote the power to the Common
Council, or, failing in that, to give it to some
department the democracy is likely to control.
The same disgraceful and dishonest influence
prevails in the consideration of the vital ques.
ton of rapid transit. The interests of the
city, the necessities, health, morality and
comfort of the people, are nothing. The point
is, Who shall have the job and who shall
pocket its profits? We commend to our
legislators the study of our rapid transit map,
and we urge upon them once more to give us
an honest, straightforward law creating rail
road commission, to be appointed by the Gov
ernor of the State and fully empowered to
construct steam railroads on the peoples
credit and in the peoples interests.