The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-18
the Common Council and Rapid
Transit.


The meeting Of the Common Council yes
terday and its petition TO Governor Tilden
afford fresh proof Of the zeal Of that body
for an object which is Of greater Importance
to the city and deeper interest to our citizens
than any other which depends on legislation.
Our hopes of rapid transit have 30 often been
disappointed by the tricks Of the lobby and
the money Of the horse railroads that the
jealous sensitiveness of the Common Council
is not only pardonsble but praiseworthy.
They SUSPECT that the Hustled bill is a new
stratagem OF the paid enemies Of rapid tram
sit intended to entrap the Governor into an
immediate veto of the Moore bill under de-
ceptiye promises of passing the other, and
that these graceless plotters. after compass
ing the death OF the Moore bill by veto,
mean to kill the Hustled bill by parliament
AIRY legerdemain. There is nothing. in the
character of the Legislature to discredit such
suspicion. and nobody can say that
the prompt vigilance Of the Common
/ Council is uncailed for. But if the
Hustled bill be really q Trojan horse,
it may safely BE- taken for granted that
Governor Tilden Is not party to the decep-
ton We have no fear that ne will veto the
Moore bill until the passage OF the other Ii
assured. "A bird In the hand is worth two
/ in the bush," and the Governor, who knows
how ardently the people OF the city desire
rapid transit, cannot be so weak as TO trust
the frail promises and doubtful honor of
members and exchange the certainty Of one
l.. - L.
should veto the Moore bill, and, after all. the
Hustled bill should not pass, he would incur
the risk of being scorned as dupe or de-
nounced as an enemy OF rapid transit The
people OF this city are quite in earnest. and
we are not sorry the Common Council has
given the Governor this new token of their
deep feeling and watchful jealousy.
The practical action of the Common Coun-
Gil consisted in the passage OF series OF reso-
buttons urgently requesting Governor Tilden
to sign the Moore bill now in his hands We
think he should simply refrain from vetoing
it and await further developments. If he
thinks the Hustled bill better measure there
is no good reason why be should not hold the
other in allegiance until be sees whether the
new bill passes and what shape it finally
assumes by friendly or hostile amendments.
Ii he shares the public feeling Of the city he
prefers the Moore bill to none, but would be
glad OF better measure if better can be Sc
cured at this session. II this be the feeling
of the Governor, as we trust it is, the city is
at least sure OF the bird in the hand, and may
safely await the throwing Of u net over the bush
II the result is the capture of better bird it
will be cxpedient to let the one in the hand
fly. Whatever may eventually be thought of
the comparative merits Of the two bills,
there viii be an ample opportunity to con-
slider them when both are in the hands Of the
Governor He can then sign the one which
he deliberately concludes to be the best.
There will be no need OF haste in his action
on either. The Legislature is likely TO adj
iourn before the ten days expire, and
he can then hold the bills Cf he
shall have two before him) under adyisement
a. long as be thinks necessary for the purpose
Of taking counsel and consulting public SEN
timent. The Hustled bill may pass with such
amendments for the worse as would turn its
present advocates against 1t; it may pass with
such amendments for the better as would rem
der it universally acceptable; it may pass
without amendment; il may not pass at all;
but with the Moore bill safe in the hands OF
the Governor nothing can be lost, nothing
eau be even hazarded, if no waits and
watches the result The Governor will give
no Just ground OF complaint il he simply
withholds veto until the new bill II passed
or lost. II it fails the Moore bin viii be just
a. valuable when signed after the adjourn
ment as If signed now.
This reasoning has gone On The assumption
that the Governor win undoubtedly sign the
Moore bin unless he gets q chance to sign a
better one. But if this be a mistake, If the
Governor has decided to veto the Moore
bill in any event, the whole aspect
Of the question j. changed II the
Common Council has any reason to
tear that the Governor inclines to veto tho
Moore bin, without regard 70 the passage Of
any other, that body has not acted q moment
too soon. Not only the Common Council,
but the unanimous public sentiment Of the
city, demonstrates against en- unconditional
veto, i such Be tie purpose Of tho Governor,
which W DO not and cannot believe. We are
reluctant to discuss such an intention, even a.
= hypothesis. But supposng il possible, the
Governor should be cmphatically warned that
the people Of this city viii neither tolerate nor
forgive Il Il makes q great difference %
them whether the choice lies between the
Moore bill and better one or between this
bill and none, Their earnest cry i for rapid
transit by some bill Al all events; and, this
assured. by the best bill they can ct But
they require they demand, that the Moore bll
shall not be vetoed without the cer.ainty Of i
substitute Yet, II . veto q this biil j. fore
gone conclusion in the Governor mind
which argument and remembrance cannot