The sun., 1890-01-21
FASSETT FATHERS THE BILL.
TINE RAPID TRANSIT MEASURE INTRO
DUCED IN THE SENATE

Authorizing m Investigation Into Tam.
mnny's Conduct OF the city Government
II Applies TO Any City or Department or
bureau OF Any city In the state.
LBASY, Jan. 2O.-The metropolis was the
objective point OF tho two oimportant bills intro
duced in the Legislature to-day. though both
we're ostensbly very general in their pro-
visions. The Senate Chamber was whore they
came TO light. and the prolific Fassett fathered
both OF them. The rapid transit measure.
which tho sduabble over the selection OF Com
missioners had delayed some days. was the
frst and most important Of the bills. The
Senator indicated that he felt this way about It
BY asking unanimous consent to make q state
ment concerning 1t. the particularly interesting
feature OF which was wall Of wo6
over the fact thnt premature publicity
had rendered impossible tho connection OF ex-
President Cleveland with the scheme. The
Senator dwelt upon tho bill as a much talked
ofmeasuro and upon rapid transit as Of an
Importance that crowded 1t to the front against
every other consideration. He believed that
II q vote was taken among the citizens Of New
York as to what they considered the burning
question OF the hour they would almost unani-
mously declare that 1t was rapid transit. They
are Indifferent, In the Senator'S opinion.
whether the Governor appoints the Commits
sioners or the Mayor Of New York. What they
OF any possibility OF political advantage to any
CLIQUE OF any party. He concluded:
II remember when the Broadway matter was
before the Senate, that the Legislature was
ground between the upper and the neither mill
stones Of Philadelphia interests on the one
hand and Jacob Sharp's interests on the other.
Now this bill, as far as possible, avoids all in
terests 1t is not in the interest OF the elevated
roads, and anticipate some opposition from
them. 1t Is not In the interest of the surface
roads, nor OF the cable scheme. nor of any
CLIQUE Of flnanciers that know Of think
that the bill. to use a homely phrase. is as
clean as a hounds tooth. 1 don't wish to
claim any credit in the matter, but 1 am free
10 say that am willing to take the RESPONSE
bility for the bills being here and for many OF
the features Of It To get rapid transit at all,
and especially to get 1t quickly. somebody must
be clothed with unusual power. 1t was sug-
gested at one time. and hoped that 1t might
be 80. that an ex- President OF the United States
that IL this bill had not been prematurely dis
cussed in the public press, he might have been
ing him, perhaps. to unfair and unjust criticism
to ask him TO take such a public position"
he then read the names of the Commission
:" think these names will compel public con-
hdence by their very mention. / think that
saying. all that 1 ask for this bill is fair and
hone honest treatment G las Is am trying to give It my
In favor as 1t is Investigated"
Lleut.-Goy. Jones gave the Senator a sly dig
BY saying that the bill was evidently intended
to apply only to New York. and might properly
go to the COMMITTEES on Cities. but referred it
to the Railroad committee all the same.
Senator Fassett's other big measure. whose
METROPOLITAN application is all that its proJec-
tors care for. was launched without any words.
One uf the senator's most oily smiles was it's |
only introduction to the Senate. Its sweeping |
provisions, giving a two years life to one OF the
q A Nnf fifn
dreamed OF by bucolic relormers, surprised |
those to whom 1t was new. and in their sur.
that his smle became chronic. Ii reads as
follows:
universally recognized as among the most dif-
fcuit problems OF government: and
Whereas In the absence Of general law |
very great diversity exists between the char
ters oil the several cities Of this State. continu-
ous appealS 70 the LeElslatnfe Ior the amend
consuming the time of the Legislature. encum-
bering the statute books confusing the laws,
and involving municipal administration Ia all
OF the difficulties attendant upon instability
and uncertainty; and
Whereqs, This is particularly true OF the great
metropolitan city of New York. as appears
from the following statement In the last an
nual message Of the Mayor Of that city TO the |
Board OF Aldermen:
Our water front has been permitted to grow with.
made ns uc Of rfsn Which aRs sss
oped into fruitful source OF conflicting claims to
Jurisdiction between the different departments OF tho
Tne control streets has been suffered to pass
iargely from the hands Of me city oticerS Various
tnre power 10 open trenches i'll thoroughfares at
s disarOsd and f Is tho
G S oS 10 seEs S tas the pSS
W NAM SSSc OF s pspIS III. uno,Da,v n.x,
BY sgcgssye enaetmentG been reduced 70 Stale OF
their nteraretatiom exceedingly diicuit Whiio the
I iGcn ofdn tncss emanaAng from various departments
oy tue people and Often irreeOncsbs with
one another
And nhaeas. The result OF this condition OF
the laws IL not only u complete absence Of
general system and mothod. but grave specific
evils In the administration OF particular cities;
now
Behheretore resolved. That the Committee
On Cities be. and It hereby. Is authorized ana
directed to undertake and prosecute during
the term OF the present Senate n general In
curry concerning the government OF cities. as
relating thereto and the actual methods and
Conditions OF administration of any city, or amy
with power of itself or by any sub-com-
Titneso Wilt1ee Whlcl! 1t may appoint 10 summon
oath, 10 SEND for books and papers, and to
mold meetings at such times and places as to
such COMMITTEES or subcommittee may seem
.: -,S,Ete and proper. and the said committee
is hereby authorized to employ counsel and
tneh accountants. auditors, and assistants as
MAY 90 tenulsite to enable 1t to thoroughly
prosecu the lnduest herein provided for and |
Stufh commit go shall from time to time whom !
u Its Judgment the results OF it's inquest and
me public welfare require report to this House
sucn matter or matters as may demand i'm
mediate Legislative action. and Wi hout await
iGg snE lts lnal report upon the question OF the
SSlehdment and systematiZing OF the general
cities.
- senator Cantor though he had no objection
VINE W ne investigation OF the New York city de-
partments thought that 80 much work as the
seflau!ing OF the Affairs of all OF the cities Of
hte htne State would interfere with the ordinary
Sus important legislative business. He thought
AsSpeclal committee would be better.
bsSS SSSG@as0l @ McCarren said that the Republicans (
mNl nau made grave charges against the manage
bunI b"t a oi rookyns AFFAIRS in the last Senate.
t Eut an investigation had not shown them to be I
sre Iee and he thought Brooklyn ought to be
NSemnted this time.
IN senator Jacobs characterized the resolution ]
m aJhlanpLatlc terms, and said that some time
SH!SInt SuSnt 10 be given to the Senate to consider
lay 1t over N-' 'N'''N w I
,SsfGnator Fassett interpolated: mo one
dose" " 10 "'"A' ~ 10 l7'n0r strohE