The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-23

Rapid Transit-The Lsgaeiss or en-,
Last Legislature.
The people Of New York were very badl
treated by the last Legislature in the matte
of rapid transit. The "men in Lincol
green" who stood on the Legislative highwa
ready to stop every bill that appeared to shaw
anything in it" with the time-honored demand
'your money or your life !" set thsmselve
resolutely against the measure demanded b.
our citizens, which would have taken th
rapid transit question out Of the hands Of th
Legislature and placed it under the control
commission composed of responsible, com
petent and honest New Workers. This would,
Of course, have deprived the Senators and
Assemblymen of all interest in New York
steam railroads for the future and have cut of
a fruitful source of supply There were other
practical, bona Jide propositions at Albany foE
the construction of rapid transit lines; but
unfortunately genuine projects cannot afford
to pay large sdms OF idoney for votes, and
hence they find but little favor in the eyes Of
the official highwaymen OF the State Capitol
When it is really intended by the projectors
that a railroad shall be built as an investment
it will not do to burden it with debt amount
ing to about one-half its legitimate cost before
the work of construction is commenced, yeta
road that is not willing to thus burden itself
by the issue of paid-up stock to legislators and
their friends cannot expect to secure charter.
At the close of the last session, it is true,
several bills authorizing new lines and
extending and enlarging old charters were
passed and poured into the Executive Cham
Der, but the best proof that the Legislature
had no intention that they should become
laws or no belief that they would efectually
and speedily supply the great want of the
metropolis is to be found in the fact
that the bills still lie on the Governors
table unsigned Governor Dix is too sensible
of the need of rapid transit through the city
to delay his signature to any bill which hon
estly promises such road as the people re-
quire.
The meeting of the friends of the Green
wich Street Railroad Extension bill yesterday
was designed to induce the Governor to sign
that particular bill The Greenwich street
road is the only approach to rapid transit we
at present enjoy, and it is no doubt con-
venience SO far as it goes. Whether the bill
now before the Governor should or should not
become law is question which Governor
Dix may we'll be left to decide. His interest
in the city, his familiarity with its wants and
his sterling integrity, are assurances that no
improper bill will receive his approval
Nothing is more certain than the want OF .
rapid transit road; but such road should be
capable of fully accommodating travel and
should be controlled in the interests of the
people, and not Of any set Of stockholders.
TIE OFFICE OF AssIsTANT SECRETARY OF TH1
TREASURY is one that has come to be regarded
as of great Importance, the immense business
of that department since the war giving the
second officer of the Treasury almost as much
actual power as his chief. This will cause the
new appointment to fill the vacancy occa-
stoned by Mr.. Sawyer's retirement to be
scrutinized with great care. Mr.. Lyman T.
Bass, who has been nominated to the Office, is
o young man and, like Secretary Bristow, .
lawyer by profession. He is only thirty-six
years old, and it is comparatively short
time since he left college. Until elected to
the present Congress he never held any Office
except that Of District Attorney of Erie
county, all his business life having been spent
in the practice Of his profession ct Buffalo.
He may be man Of ability, though he has
not yet had much opportunity for its display;
but it may well be doubted whether it was
wise to commit the Treasury Department to
the management Of two lawyers The MEM
bers Of the legal profession are more apt to be
financial theorists than financiers.