New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-13

THE OITIOOE FOR RIPID TRANSIT.
The description in Our Albany dispatches
YESTERDAY of the Rapid-TlanSit bills now ne
fore the Legislature makes 1t reasonably GER
tain that all three of them need to be amended
The DELAY in printing them prevents perfect
IL accurate ANALYSIS of their contents ana II
may he that other defects besides those which
our Albany correspondent points out may come
10 light under close inspection; but enough dp-
near already to make necessary great caution
on the part of the Legislature.
We do not assume an attitude OF dlStf'S'
from any political motives whatsoever. II Is Il
Measure to credit the opinion generally eN-
pressed at Albany, that Il universal desire cN-
lists among Senators and Representatives OF hoth
nartics 70 pass Rapid Transit bill at TINS
session We are perfectly wlllinG'to admit II
the Mayor is SolicitOuS on that point that inc
measure which is supposed to reflect his WISHES
comedies some points upon which ne once
thought il necessary tn insist nhappiN now
ever. both the Ives bill, which Is presented IN
his name. and the Fish bill. which is not I'M
naturally connected in the public mind with
the peculiar interests Of Tammany. are radical
Iy objectionable in this most important par
nCuIaf, 0dUlclA. ludI tHNH Si'N S''"N 'll~'
tlnities. if not an absolutely clear field. to par
tisanship. This they do in different ways
the Ives bill directly and by intention, the flSh
bill indirectly and possibly through nadNcr-
tcncc The former starts with Commission
of three Democrats and two Repubhcan>-ali
excellent men-and authorizes the Mayor To Ill
vacancies as he plea>cS thus bringing directly
into prospect solid Tammany Commission (;
moreover, it makes three quorum except as
70 specGed acts. The Fish bill starts with a
Commission of three Democrats and three Re
puhlicanS and preserves that balance, but 1t
constitutes no quorum except as TO >lfclhed
acts. There is not, therefore much choice be-
tween these two bills, is they stand, IN respect
TO the facility with which partisan appllca-
ton of the powers which they confer could be
made.
Though not faultlesS measure the bill in
troduced by Senator Stewart is far better Sc
cured against partisan manipulation. Like the
Ives-G Grant bill, it accepts the existing Com
mission of five, but it makes four, not three, a
quorum. ana it provides that every vacancy
shall be filled from the political party TO which
the outgoing member belonged and filed we
note in passing, By the Governor with the ad-
vice and consent of the Senate instead OF by
the Mayor. Assuming, as a matter OF course,
the perfect sincerity and righteousness OF Sen
ator Stewart, his bill is defective at least IN
this respect. that It's phIaSeology opens wide
field for conjecture as To the meaning ana effect
of some OF its provisions. l. seems 10 permit,
for example four of the five Commi SSOners Of
their own voliton to authorize the construction
of additional tracks by the elevated railroads,
while both the lvcs-Crant and the Fish bills
interpose rigid conditions. Nor is the Stewart
bill 50 clear as it ought to be in eXcmpting Ger
tain streets and places from its operation.
There is no occasion to despair of rapid transit
because an examination Of these bills dl>cOses
more or less serious faults; but it is we'll 10
recognize these defects at once, 50 that the
task Of removing them may begin without de-
lay. - far from being incapable OF removal
they serve rather 10 show that tbs great prob
lem can be solved if members Of the Legs
lature are really determined TO Ind solution.
The temper Of both parties at Albany now
seems to be favorable. The exigency Of New
York is certainly great. The distinction OF
being instrumental in giving to this city the
transportation facilities which lis inhabitants
have PRAYED for so long Is one that any man
might cOvet but no Republican, 50 far a. we
are aware. is Jealous Of Mayor Grant, or unwil-
ing TO give him all the credit which il is in his
power TO earn We can readily conceive that
the bill introduced by Senator Ives in his be-
half might be 50 amended rs TO secure the OBJ
iect which every honorable citizen must have
at heart, and at the same time to leave him
in possession of all the prestige and influence
which any honorable citizen ought to ask for.
The people will watch intently for evidence that
the Mayor is resolved to serve them to the best
Of his ability.