New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-21
FOR CITY RAPID TRANSIT.
SENATOR FAssETr INTRODUCES HIS BILL!

PRECAUTIONS TAKEN TO PREVENT
STOCK JOBBING AND TO PROTECT
THE cITY's IYTEREsTs-oUT.
LINE OF THE PROPOSED
NEW LAW.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBrNEv
Albany, Jan. 20.-This has been a field nikht ID
the Senate. The Senators in session fox
less than an hour, but managed TO transact some
highly important business. The rumor had spread
that Mr.. FasSett TO introduce his much
of Rapid Transit BILL and nearly all the Senators
excepting the invalid. Mr. Sheard. were on hand.
The galleries were filed when the popular young
leader Of the majority, after several other bills
had been introduced, 10 bcspcak attention
for his measure According to legislative custom.
only the title of the bill was read, but Mr. Fassett
prefaced the reading with brief explanatory
statement that seemed to satisfy Democrats
we'll as Republicans His announcement OF the
names Of the commissioners seemed especially to
please Mr.. Cantor and his colleague from Brook
lyn Mr. Jacobs, while those who had been in
dulging in dark and mysterious hints concerning
the true intent Of the measure were puzzled by
the candor of the reference to Mr.. Cleveland.
The BILL, said Mr.. Fassett impressvely, has
been drawn solely and exclusively with the object
of procuring rapid transit for New-iork. 1t Is
not in the interest of the elevated roads, and
anticipate opposition from them. 1t is not
in the interest of the surface roads, nor of any
cable scheme, of any clique OF financlers, that
] know of. l think the bill, 10 use homely
phrase, is clean hounds tooth. / am
abundanty willing to take the responsibility for
its being, and for many Of It's
general features But we believe we will effect
iNcly prevent any stock -jobbng or financial
thmble-rigging 1t is founded largely the
Dailr ACT I : n nd IA
of the best features of the Rapid-Transit Act Of
1875 and of Mayor IIewitt's bill and Of the
so-called Mayors bill Of last winter. Not tie
least important we think, is that providing
for the determination of the franchise so that 1t
may return again to the city, as is now the case
with some of the ferry franchises.
AS to the commissioners it is, Of course, UNI
dcrstood that in order TO get rapid transit we
must clothe somebody with unusual power. The
Rapid Transit act of lS15 failed to do this. or
course, it is difficult thing to find a gentleman
of wide business reputation and personal integrity
who could afford to accept such an appointment,
but think the seven gentlemen named in this
bill meet every requirement. 1t was suggested
at one time, and l hoped that it might be so,
that eXPresident OF the United States here tie
members Of the minority pricked up their
ears might have been one Of these commission
discussed in public he might have been one, but
it seemed that it would be subjectng him to, per-
haps, unfair and unjust criticism to ask him to
take such public office. His private secretary
was well known TO be connected with certain in
terests in New-York City running along the line
of this bill
This frank acknowledgment, implying far
greater respect and consideration for Mr.. Cleye-
land tkan many of his own party are just now In
the habit of displaying, efectualy disarmed crit
icsm. and the bill referred without DEBATE
to the Committee on Railroads, after Mr.. Fassett
had invited the fullest and freest criticism Of its
provisions Mr.. Ives, of New-lork who intro
duced Mayor Grants Rapid-TranSt bill at the
first meeting of the session. was alone conspicuous
by lis absence.
This Dill is the result of the most careful Ia
Dor on the part of well-known lawyers and others
who have made 4 study of the rapid-transit prob
lem in this city. Its purpose is to provide COM
pletc, permanent and satisfactory solution Of the
pcrplexing question. far as New-York City is
concerned. The measure, as first drawn. included
Brooklyn as well as New-York, but after an in
vestigaion of the subject, the makers of the bill
became convinced that it would be impracticabe
TO attempt to provide a rapid-tmnsit system that
would apply to both cities they confined their
efforts this citys needs, and they believe that
they have produced bill that VIII meet all the
requirements OF the situation.
According TO the terms of the proposed law the
commissioners named in it are authorized to pro-
ceed at once TO give the city the rapid-translt
facilities it requires Ample power is given TO
enable them to protect the interests of the pub
lie at all times, and provision Is
made for the whereby the
work can be prosecuted vigorously. Ii Is be-
lieved that under the terms proposed 1T Will be
simply impossible for any individual, corporation
or political party TO acquire any Deneilt or adj
vantage from the undertaking that VIII DE az
the expense of the city. The franchise Will be
really acquired, in the first instance, by the COM
missoners for the city, and the lease OF thls
franchise will then be sold for the cltys account
to the highest bidder who takes it subject To all
its provisions and requirements and does the work
under the direction OF the cohnllssioheis cnsi-
nccrs.
While tie bill is believed to he as nearly per-
feet as possible Senator FaSSctt Will be glad 10
receive suggestions for IFS improvement from any
source lie wants to have II distinctly under-
stood that the measure is solely IN the interests
of the city and entirely disSocated from pontlcs
tbe city is the best kind of politics. There Is no
provision in il that he Will not consent % chalSe
if good reason is shown for doing 50, except one.
This is the naming OF the comm; ;soheis' i'
this point he will cling tenaciousy :.
The men chosen are representative cltlzcns
against whose character and fitness for the WORK
il viii be dlihcult 10 hrlhT any accuSati9h' lhe
Democratic members. Charles :. Falrchild. Joseph
! O'Donohuc, Charles Canda and Mayor Grant,
are all conspicuous members of their party. Mr.
Fairchild was Secretary of the Treasury under
Mr. Cleveland. Mr.. Canda was Assistant United
States Treasurer under Mr. Farchid. Mr..
O ODonohuc has Just retired from the coffee business
in which he has acquired fortune. lie has been
for years treasurer of Tammany Hall, ana one OK
its strong leaders. or the three Republican Com
miSsioners. Colonel William l.. Strong is the best
known. lie is president of the Business Mems
al fiau rpSiI ot
National Bank. head Of the drygoods commission
house of w l.. Strong X Co., and is interested
in dozen other corporations Mr.. Robinson is
was the first president of the Garfield National
Bank lie is n business man. not n politician.
The same may be said of Frederick r Brown. Of