The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-22
Ths Success OF the Hustled Rapid
Transit BiII.

Il IL was urSt introduced, Inhue III dSSSPt~oA0
amendment by transferring the appointment
i of the commissioners from the Gov
ernor 70 the mayors OF cities and
the supervisors Of counties. Governor
I Tlden himself does not disapproye Of this
amendment in the interest Of home rule,
attaching too much importance 70 the sub
stance OF the bill to desire an authority which
IS as safely lodged in the hands OF Mayor
Wickham; for the broad provision which in
Guides other mayors and boards Of super
visors is mere surplusage to bring the bill
within the constitutional requirements of
general law. In intention and practical
effect il Is merely a law for rapid
transit il New York city alone, and no
body distrusts the fidelity Of our present
Mayor or the intelligent pains he viii take to
select fit men TO organize this great under
taking. When the bill went to the Senate
vicious amendment was offered by Mr.. Lord,
Of Canal Ring notoriety, and adopted IN Com
mittee Of the Whole, restricting the opera
ton Of the bill TO the two counties
I would have made it void by repugnance 70
\ the constitution. which torbids local laws Tor
railroad tracks. This hostile amendment was
afrerward thrown ont BY the Senate which,
however, adopted some others Of doubtful
utility The bill was then passed, sent back
10 the Assembly for concurrence in the
amendments concurrence was refused
committee Of conference was APP
pointed; a report was made from
that committee with modified amendments,
and the bill was triumphantly passed last
evening by the Senate, with assured GER
tainty that it Will also pass the Assembly. SO
We are at last secure Of 4 good, practical law
for rapid transit, for which our citizens viii
be thankful. II passed the Senate by the
strong majority Of twenty-!our to six and, as
the Assembly passed it unanimously, there is
10 doubt that they viii repass it as it came
from the conference committee, whose amend
ments are not unfriendy to the purpose Of
the bill.
\ point worth notice in connection with the
Rapid Transit bills is the practical ineficacy Of
those provisions Of the amended State con-
stitu,on which forbid the passage Of special
Of local laws. such prohibitions are easily
avoided in substance while complying with
their form, Of which there could not
~ i more striking illustration than
is furnished BY the Rapid Transit bills. They
ar intended to apply to New York alone, no
other city in the State needing or desiring
such facilities. Each Of the Rapid Transit
bills Is really local law intended tor New
York city alone, but each is SO framed as to
be applicable to the whole State, although
there WIS 10 expectation on the part
Of their trainers that they would be
put in force except IN this one locality. The
prohibition Of local laws is valuable and salu-
tary ia all those cases where the same kind Of
wants exist or are likely to atise il all parts
81 the Commonwealth; but when some parlic-
ular locality has wants peculiar to
itself the requirement OF general laws
is Of no value, though not an
insurmountable obstruction. A great
deal Of the sparring and wrangling
which have attended the discussion OF the
Rapid Transit bills might have been avoided
had the legislature been at liberty 70 make
tie plaster no broader than the sore. The
bills might have been simpler in form, re-
curing less ingenuity to draft them, and have
given less opportunity for the cavils Of the
enepies 81 rapid transit
We are glad that bill has at last been put
in d secure way to passage which meets all the
constitutional requirements and makes II safe
Tor capitalists 70 invest their money without
fear II annoying and obstructive lawsuits i'll
the prosecution Of the enterprise. There vas
x pretty general apprehension both il the
legislature and cut Of it that the Moore
bin was exposed to this danger, and all
wise friends 81 rapid transit will be glad 10
exchange Il for the more careful bill, which
will IL sent 70 the Governor Tor his signature
ana !, known 70 have his preference. The
most that was expected If the Moore bill was
that Commodore Vanderbilt might be induced
II act under il and build rapid transit road
"a Fourth avenue, connecting with tic pres
cnt steam roads Al the Grand Central
depot r GYMS The horse railroad on that
avenue and the tunnel which extends quite
distance below Forty-second street through
which rapid transit cars could b. run. and lie
would derive great advantages from an *
tension or bis steam lines to the City Hall.
This. though great deal better than nothing,
would It'll be very inadequate. y would
~ubserva The public convenience Only below
Forty-second street From Forty-second
street % Harlem the accommodations would
probably u 40 better than they are AZ present.
n \ essential to the idea OF q good rapid
transit road that il should Accommodate
The greet body Of orr citizens that
i should have frequent stations for
taking ~ and setting down passengers
. convenience hardly 70 be expected on
Fourth avenue between the Grand Central
depot and Harlem. Ia the first place. such
stations "a that part ~ Fourth avenue, even
5. i ve could exps,t them, WOULD not accom-
modate the reople. 4 great part Of the way