New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-17
MR. PLATT ON RAPID TRANSIT
NO SURRENDER BY REPUBLICANS.
lTI NOT 4 DEMOCRATIC But A REPUBLICAN
TRIUMPH IL THE PROPOSED BILL
A


BECOMES A LAW.
The absurd efforts OF Democratic papers to make
il appear that there has neen surrender by the
Republicans in the S'atC Senate on rapid transit
and that certain Republican Senator's had deserted
the party organization caused Tribune reporter
TO ask cX Senator Platt Yesterday what basis there
was for such reports
There never was a more plenOstcr0uS claim,
was Mr. Platt's prompt reply. II is the Demo
Gratis who have abandoned their position. The
first definite scheme for rapidtran~it legislation
a1.pcared TWO years ago. 1t was TammaDy job,
gotten up by the Inside Tammany ring for the
purpose Of lining their pockets and to increase
Tammany's power hy controlling the expenditure
of $50. 900 900 or SO COO ooO in money. 1t was
merely bill TO amend The Rapid Transit act Of
1875, crudcly drawn. and glvi1y the Mayor power
~ name commissioners ard control their proceed
incs. II was transparent lob. and very properly
defeated by Republican legislators. not because
they were hostile TO rapid transit and the lr-
tcrcsts Of Ncw-Norl Ci'v. as has been charged.
hur because they desired to protect tie city from
political plun;creIs.
During the following summer and preceding
the session of 1891 senator Fassett, il coajunc-
lion wiz many of the best lawyers and experts
in the city several Of them Democrats. after much
study and labor. formulated hill, which hc pre-
sented in the Senate Il the last session Of the
| LEGISLATURE II WIS 50 f,ir ard Just plan tha;
il has never been criticised even by the Demo
cratic and Independent press except in some
minor details. and has beer adopted almost YER
batim bv the Democrat, Of the present LecSlatur
for the solution of Nh" raril-transt problem.
Last winter this bill. IS introduced named a
commission of citizens composed Of four Demo
crat, and three Republicans, all men o: known
probity and business capacity, and to none oi
whom was any exc. p,ion ever tai,rn The Demo
Gratis. led by the Governor and aided 10y few
allics in the Republican FanfS. prevented the
passage of this hill just at the end Of the session.
solely because it did not give the Mayor power TO
name the commissioners.
At various times while the bill was pending
senator Fas;ctt and other Senators offered TO
Weld 10 the Mayor the right 10 nominate the
commissioners. provided they could have aSSur-
,ucc in advance that men Of good character would
bc appointcd The bill was defeated because tie
Vovor would not sotisfy Republican Legislature
that he would not appoint Democratic war'l
noliticionS of the kind he had been in the habit
If choosing for public offices. The course of the
Pcpublcaus in this was wise and in the interest OF
good government.
This year the Mayor, to avoid his blunder OF
last year. and seeing that no bill could pass which
would leave him free To name the commissioners,
toni; occasion before the convcning of the Legs
l,turc 10 indicate the names of satisfactory
commission And now the Democrats have in
troduccd the FaSsctt bill of last year their own,
with the names already proposed by th" Mayor
as commissioners They have done exactly what
rho, refused 10 do a,t year. and what the Re
pubncans insisted must be done. lhcy have
,rtuolly conceded all that was ever desired Of
them. and have compelled th" Mayor to guarantee
q commission of ncorruptible men. who under no
circumstances will us their offices for political
purpcscs. The Republican Senators in adopting
this plan have not in any respect receIed from
,hc;r princlples of lust year, but have
demonstrated the earnest desire which they have
entertained from the beginning, for hoist, non
partisan rapld-tmnslt
What IS your position personally in this mat
tcr?" was askcl
BEFORE the present session OF the Lesis.a'uic
and M 10 the present time, was the reply. Il
hnvc ,lvisrd all Republican legislators with whom
hovr had ouportunity to talk 10 stand firmly
hv thc principles which they adopted last year.
and {, accept cordially any plan that might ne
nncrrd which would give the result now likely
tn rc attained. | have never been opposed To
roriJ transit i'm any form which was non-political
i'm character and which was honestly intended 10
live the people of this city the relief thry 80
n,uch needed bat have aborcd untirngly t. bring
nbnut tbc result which now seems about. 10 10 a"-
"nr,nlished | believe that the FaSsett bill Of
LAST wear now the Stewart bill of tins year, Whch
name an uncNccptionabr body Of comma ssioners
and does not leave the Mayor power 10 appoint
tbc commissioners. will accomplish the desired =
result If thc bill passes, the loyal kepuDncanS
Of the Legislature viii have achieved great
victory.