The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-17
Governor rnden's Rapid Transit Bii-

II
is perhaps no kind Of work for which Gov
ernor Tilden is 50 competent, when he bends
his mind to it as the drafting Of railway bill
that will stand the wear and tear of conflicting
interests and pass safely through the ordeal
of the litigations always liable to arise under
such acts of legislation. Mr. Tilden has been
the legal adviser OF half the leading railroads
of the Northern States. and the most valuable
| fruits OF his skill have not consisted in con-
Quoting lawsuits with success. but in avoid
ing their necessity by shrewd foresight
His experience has made him familiar
with all the sources from which such litigation
can arise; and he has more than once lent his
assistance in the preparation of railway laws
| for the consideration of State Legislatures.
There is no man in the country whose deliberate
| appreciation Of railroad bin would be
safer guarantee that il provided for every
exgency likely to arise. Governor Tlldens
Endorsement of the new Rapid Transit bill en-
titles it to respectful examination.
1t would be idle at this stage to compare the
Governor bill with the original bill Of the
Common Council The Common Council bill
is past praying for. 1t has been so deformed
by miscaIled amendments that It's parents can
hardly recognize it. Having passed both
branches of the Legislature in this misshapen
condition there is no possibility of its going
back into that body and being born again. The
choice therefore, is not between the new bill
and the Common Council bill, as first drafted
but between the new bill and the misshapen
progeny Of the Legislature, now in the Gov
errors hands, with doubts in his mind as to
whether he shall strangle it or permit it to live
If the new bill passes there can be no question
as to his duty. Whatever may be thought Of
the comparative merits of the two bills in
their original shape there is no room for hest
tation in choice between the Governors
bill as drafted and the Common Council bill
as amended by its enemies. If the new bill
passes it will be the clear duty of the Gov
ernor to veto the other. Considering the
alternative to which we are reduced by the
perverse, hostile amendments all true friends
of rapid transit should desire the prompt
passage of the bill which will occupy the
Assembly this evening. When horse has
been entered for o race if corrupt or ma
licious jockeys lame him nobody bets any
| longer on the disabled steed, however splendid
may have been his original running qualities.
Such horse is the Common Council bill
since it was Indignantly practised upon by
the corrupt jockeys of the Legislature in the
pay of the street railroads.
| AS the Governor has committed himself to
the new bill we trust we may rely on his ex-
ertiug all his legitimate influence to secure its
passage. In q matter Of such magnitude and
| such pressing urgency we waive our objec-
| tons to the appointment of the Commits
sioners by the Governor. That he would APP
point upright and competent men we never
had doubt and it is better that the Gov
ernor should select Commissioners under a
law which would give us rapid transit than
Tor the Mayor to select them under Ia "
which would be practically abortive. We
want the thing done, and when the choice
| lies between o bill framed to do it end a bill
amended to obstruct it there is no loom for
hesitation. We had rather see rapid transit
march at the word Of tho Governor than
merely mark time at the command of the
Mayor, and this is the alternative to which
/ we are brought
In the brief comparison we are about to
make We viii drop the designation Common
Council bin' dor it is no longer the same
\ bilD and call it the Moore bill, the title by
which it is commonly known in Albany, from
the name q the Senator who introduced it,
| and for the sake Of brevity We viii call the
other the Tllden bill
First The Tilden bill is superior TO the
Moore bill in the fact that proceedings under
1t must necessarily mean business. The Com
/ missioners appointed under the Tilden bill
receive no salary unless a rapid transit road is
organized and built, and their salaries are to
be paid by the company but the Commits
sioners under the Moore bill are to be paid by
the city, and will have no pecuniary stimulus
/ to make the work a success. Under the
Tilden bill they 90 out Of Office when the CON-
pany is organized under the Moore bill they
are appointed for three years and are o stand
/ ing charge upon the city whether anything is
accomplished or not The practical effect Of
the Moore bill might be merely TO create fat
I Offices for the benefit Of nobody but the in
\ cumbents. Besides, II is right and honest
/ that the company which is to receive the
I profits Of the road should defray the prelim-
mary costs. This is sound pre-
caution against bogus attempts and
deceiiful dalying with the subject
1t would he for the interest Of the
street railroads to bride the Commissioners
under the Moore bill to put on busy disguises
and do nothing. Under the Tilden bill each
Of them is required to give a bond in the
penal sum OF twenty-five thousand dollars
for the faithful performance Of bis duties and
to take an official oath.
lSecond-The Tilden bill is better than the
Moore bill by the permission it gives to con-