The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-26
Rapid rransit--rhe Duty Of the Cow
ernor ard the Legislature.

correspondent sends us somewrnt en-
phatic letter from Albany, which should not
pass without consideration. ION Tuesday
next, he writes (meaning tomorrow, rapid
transit comes before the Assembly. The
measure which ought to have been the first
legal act OF the Legislature viii doubtless
meet its customary defeat The street car
companies are to be represented by their
usual emissaries, men and money. What the
people want now is the name OF every Sena-
tor aud Assemblyman who by any single vote
cast against rapid transit shows his treason to
the pledge OF his party. This hst sur
rounded by a heavily-mounted frame OF
mourning, should be published in all the
papers, from the adjournment Of the Legisla-
ture until the next State election. There
is no other way to punish those who
sell their constituencies to the street railroad
companies" We are inclined to think
there is some force in the suggestion of our
correspondent and if he will send us the list
he proposes we shall make good use of it. tits
bad enough when o member Of the Legislature
sells his vote. There could be no punishment
too severe to mark the infamy of that crime
But here is a case where the infamy is kind
of treason. Rapid transit has become neces-
sary 10 the growth of the city, Without it we
have fallen back in the march of metropolitan
supremacy, and until the want is supplied we
can never hope to regain what we have lost
Every interest demands it-every interest of
the public welfare. Only those opposed to it
are the few who profit by the want of rapid
transit, Just as the old coach owners made war
upon the railways because steam superseded
the stage lines. When legislator sells out the
good of whole community to satisfy small
class of selfish monopolists he becomes
moral traitor to the Commonwealth.
We cannot understand why '.the street car
men" should be so strenuous in their opposi-
ton to rapid transit. Such q man as Com
modore Vanderbilt has more to gain by rapid
transit than most of our citizens He would
really lose nothing in the value of his street
railway and he would gain in the increased
value of his other roads. No citizen, no mat
ter what his interests, can prosper out of that
which affects the general prosperity of all
Rapid transit would assist and not diminish
the profits of most of the street railways.
Take the Elevated Railway on Greenwich
street, which, if we quote correctly the last
annual report, carried eight hundred thou
sand passengers in one year. We have never
learned that the success of this road injured
the prosperity of any of the west side street
rail ways. On the contrary, the existence of
this new means Of travel created new class
of travellers and aided the business of oil of
the roads. Mr.. Vanderbilt might not have
as many passengers on his Fourth
avenue line as he now accommodates,
with a fast steam line in operation,
but he would have twenty times as many
beyond Forty-second street. Already the
Third avenue line is taxed 10 its fullest
measure, and even that road would become
more agreeable, and, oil things considered,
not materially less prosperous. if there was
steam line to Harlem. If there should be an
interference with the profits of existing lines
it is the penalty of growth. New York must
not fall into hamilton to replenish the Golfers
of few railroads. The State or the city, if it
offended any vested rights, could make a
recompense. The street railway people are
in the possession of valuable franchises
They owe what they now possess to the grace
and comfy Of the people. They have made
large sums. They cannot claim to rule New
York as a monopoly. They must see that
rapid transit is question Of time, and that
money spent in now defeating it is money
wasted, as the expense will have to be in
CURED from year to year.
We confess We cannot contemplate the de-
feat, or even the postponement, of full and
generous system Of rapid transit without
alarm. The responsibility for such misfor-
tune would fall upon Governor Tilden, Mayor
wickham and Mr.. Kelly. These three gen.
tlemen represent the dominant party in the
State. They have unquestioned mastery over
the city and the State. They have only to
enter seriously into the question of rapid
transit to achieve it. They took power as the
heads Of triumphant party. They had but
to express a wish for the party to accept it.
'.The street car companies, with their usual
emissaries Of men and money! would have
striven in vain; they would have availed
nothing against the wishes of the leaders of
the party. Behind this party was a public
sentiment demanding rapid transit, which it
would have been most wise to consider
Rapid transit is not like the introduction of
Croton water or the building of the Erie Ca
nal-a measure of improved value and OPP
posed to many prejudices- It is q question
upon which the people are united.
Take a vote in this city on rapid
transit, and there would not be dis
sentients enough to fill the line Of
Broadway stages. Therefore for the leaders
Of the democratic party to fail in rapid
transit is to show their utter unworthiness to
rule. How can Governor Tilden expect the
nation to consider bis claims to the Presidency