The New York herald., 1874-03-30
Mr.. AlvOrd's Invitation and the Rapid
Transit Question.


Although the invitation extended by Mr..
Alvord TO the "editors and proprietors" of the
New York journals to visit Albany and appear
before his committee is not likely to meet
with any extended response, yet we have no
doubt that his invited guests will be willing to
supply that veteran legislator with their rea-
sons for questioning ''the integrity of the
Railroad Committee" in its action on the New
York Rapid Transit bills which have been sub
mitted to its consideration, without wasting
their time in trip to the State capital. The
HERALD, at least, will gladly supply MIR.
Alvord with the information he seems to de-
sire.
The Railroad Committee of the Assembly
had several rapid transit schemes placed in its
hands early in the session. Among others it
had a bill introduced by Mr.. Eastman,
which provides for the appointment
of Rapid Transit Commission by
Governor Dix and the transfer of all power
York to the Commissioners. In addition to
this the Railroad Committee knew from the
New York journals the importance of the
question OF rapid transit to New York, and
the desire Of the people that commission
should be created in order that conflicting
adopted, the public interests protected and
the construction OF the desired road, either by
private enterprise or as public work, in
sured It was within the province-indeed,
it was the duty, of the committee to origi-
nate a measure, if no bill which in it's judg-
ment met the public requirements was before
it. The committee did nothing of the kind
1t procrastinated and dallied with the i'm
portant question until two bills appeared
in its room-one to grant a rapid
transit franchise to the Third Avenue horse
Car corporation and the other to grant a
rapid transit franchise to Commodore Van
derbilt These bills met with immediate
favor and went trippingly through the COM
mitee, only pausing long enough TO enable
the two grantees to 'harmonize," so that both
bills could be pushed through the Legislature
together.
The citizens of New York have not asked
for these bills. They have every reason to
know that the Third Avenue horse-car cor
poration, making nearly million dollars
year out Of the present city travel, would kill
rapid transit if possible. Mr.. Vanderbilt
obtained a rapid transit franchise from
former Legislature and failed to build the
road he then proposed, and if he should now
construct a rapid transit line to the Battery
the danger is that when built it would be used
more for the convenience and profit of
moving freight in connection with his
through railroad lines than for the accommo-
dation of the people of New York. Yet Mr..
Lincoln and his associates of the committee
propose to give these two valuable franchises
away against the wishes OF the citizens, against
the interests of the city and without any safe
guards thrown about the bills to protect the
public interests; for the forfeiture of one
hundred thousand dollars in case the grantees
should choose to keep their present profta-
BILE monopolies and cheat the people out of
rapid transit altogether is the baldest sort of
imposition upon public credulity.
This action OF the committee makes us
question its integrity. The parties in whose
favor it seeks to legislate, against the wishes
and interests Of the citizens Of New York, are
wealthy and the pecuniary interests they en-
deavor to guard are very large. The committee
pretends that in granting these two franchises
it desires to give rapid transit to the
centre and east side of the city. This is q
false pretence. The Third and Fourth avenue
roads, if built, would be only two blocks or
about eight hundred feet apart the whole
length from Fourteenth street to the Harlem
River and from Fourteenth street to the south
ern terminus would run on the same line
What honest object, then, can the committee
have in favoring both these schemesp Infor-
nation is within its reach that some of our
most respectable citizens complain of the
extortions Of the Harlem Railroad Company
in the present rates of fare and commutation.
guards against similar impositions on rapid
transit line are not desirable? We hope MIR.
Alvord will be satisfied that there is ample
reason on these grounds to look with suspi-
cion upon the action of a committee which
thus legislates for private against public inter-
esS auu "AAcA seehs W give wealthy
applicants for franchises privileges inoon-
sistent with the rights and in conflict with
the wishes of the people of New York. We
hope, also, that he will cease his rant about
'integrity" and oppose these special fran
chises on the floor of the Assembly for we
fear that-without his knowledge, of course
the dust he is endeavoring to raise may hide
the real issues involved in the rapid transit
controversy, and may enable members who
are not possessed Of his iron-clad integrity to
indulge in corrupt practices without the fear Of
discovery.
The possibility Of neD issue Of inconuertible
reddrd 2nuh and