New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-04-11
NO RlpyD TRANSIT ~ THIS.

NO RAPID TRANSIT IN inns.
The latest device for bcstowing the boon OF
rapid transit upon this eNpectant metropolis
will probably end with the Mayors nomination
of an irrcproachabe commission The five
eminent and excellent citizens who were great
~ aStonishcd at tho news of their sudden APP
pontmcnt possess the confidence of the whole
community. If they were to undertake pub
lie task they would certainly perform it to the
best of their ability. Criticism OF the project
which they have been asked to promote does
not imply the lca,t distrust of them.
The most singular feature of the Mayors
proposition is its ulcXpectcdness. We call 1t
the Mayors proposition for the sake of con
ycnicnce. and are perfectly willing that MIR.
John ID. Crimmins shoeld appropriate what
ever share Of the glory h. thinks himself en-
titled to : though that open hearted gentleman
is not wont to be quite so .ccIctiyc. At all
events the programme had bccl most slllfully
concealed until the very momem for the cur
tain TO rise. and then it went through with a
rush. The statutory petition, the speech Of
presentation, Mr.. CIimmins's fcrycnt appeal,
the MAYORS proclamation and the appointment
Of the Commissioners were put on record with
bewildering CELEBRITY and before the city knc"
what was going on Mr.. Grant had started loI
Albany to talk the business over with Governor
HILL TO all this we have no objection what
ever. On the contrary. such display OF ca
ccu,iye skill is Il refreshing spectacle. Moro
over there were strong arguments lot haN''.
In the first place, Tammany Hall IN genera
and the Mayor in particular are III desperate
need of salvation They have been on the
racl, for several weeks and their wounds are
extremely painful. The balm of public com
mcndation would he very grateful at TINS mo
mcnt. and they feel as if they must nave H.
In the second place, Senator fassctt cN'ci-
lent Rapid Transit bill has been 50 cordia'lN
apnroycd by the newspapers and their read
ers and. in It's present form, is sad TO nave
! Immersed the Governor so fayorably, that uc
| danger of even a brief delay became apparent
Those necessities of the situation are not argu-
ments against this latest contrvancc OF lam
many Hall: the objections 10 1t are intrinsic.
II is a mere makcshift, as nobody knows bet
tor Than Nayor Grant. His own bill, nitro
duccd a wear ago and presented again At TINS
eoss;on i = conclusive proof that he has no
fifth in the Act of 1915 as a means OF solving
the rapid-transit problem. Mayor Hewitt was
willing 10 tlv the same experiment when mas
now caught Mayor Grants fancy, but the cor"
mission appointed by him reported that th'r'
was nothing in it, If his successor had NOS
realized the necessity OF radically dln'reh'
procedure he would not have cNlrhd'u 80 MUG"
energy in the endcayOr to secure the passage
of the bill which bears his name nor SHOWN
50 mich chacrin and resentment over ms laii-
ure The fundamental objections against a.
tomntinc 10 obtain rapid transit by means oi
tho General law Of 1919 are that il exempt
ccrtain tborouchfarcs and fOrbid> certain modes
of construction which ought 10 hc lett free Tor
consideration ON their merits that it provide,
only for the hying-out OF routes Thereafter
leaving the enterprise i'll all lis parts al inc
mercy Of those who acquire the franchise ana
that il involve, "A perpetual surrender Oh inc
civ, criminal rights instead OF a temporary
lease Of privileges.
The Fassctt bill guards the interests OF the
nconle at every point, and at the same 'lIn'
nroyides the means Iy which comprehensive
and lasting solution Of the rapld-tran PROB
lo,o may bc obtained IT is known BY the
mama Of the Republican Senator who INTRO
ducod IT, but 50 far from c0nccalng any par
tjsan purpose il was expressly drawn /" Oh
viatc the possibility of political manipulation
In order to remove the last vcst@e ol III 'N'
cusc FOR questioning the sincerity OF us pro
meters it has been 50 amended a' 10 proNiu'
that the commission OF eight snail DC nom
mated by the Governor. that 1t snail cohSlS
Of four Democrats and four Republicans ah'
that the Mayor shall be an cX-oiiiclo member
Tho bill passed the Senate yesterday 1--WE
Democrats voting for it. The Assembly ouSh
10 give the Governor an early chance Oh demon
strating the commences Of his proic'Sco oc
votion to the welfare Of the metropolis.