New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-25
PRICE THREE CENTS.
THE RAPID TRANSIT MUDDLE.
PUBLIC OPINION MAKES ITSELF HEARD.

THE COMMISSIONERS NOT PLEASED WITH THE
EXPOSURE OF THE DEAL BETWEEN TAM
MANY AND THE ELEVATED ROAD.
The developments of the week thus Tar have
not been particularly favorable to the interests
| of the great Tammany- Manhattan deal. The
Tribune's exposure of the scheme on Monday
was promptly followed by Assemblyman Malbys
resolution for a legislative investigation OF the
whole affair, and this was supplemented yes
terday by some court proceedings that Will not
tend to reconcile the public TO the alliance Dc
tween the elevated railways and the Wiswam
Some Of the Rapid Transit Commissioners are
considerably dispeased with the article published
| in this paper about the relations existing De-
tween a majority of them and the Manhattan
! COMPANY Their dispeasure was met by the
proposition that they were at liberty to correct
any mistatements that might have been inade
as to their propositions affiliations. But neither
Mr.. Spencer, who appears to be the most
deeply greved, nor Mr.. Inman nor MIR. Bushe has
! deemed il expedient to accept the invitation.
| Mr. Starin. who is one Of the original members
and went into the Office enjoying public confidence.
| is equally reserved Mr.. Stemway, who has come
! TO be looked upon as the stanch defender OF the
publics interests, was reported to he sick ~
| all events he was not present at the meetinx
Yesterday Despite his absence, however, the COM
missions actions eminently conservatiNes
evidently the majority of the Board realized that'
notwithstanding their zeal for the Manhattans
welfare the time had for them to proceed
with the greatest deliberation- So instead OF tho
public hearing, expected, long executive seS-
sion was held.
As a result of these deliberations the press was
furnished with copies of a letter from the Com
| tbo Manhattan Railway (OmUdny.
This letter is an answer to the application made
by the company last week for permission to grid
iron the city 1t was doubtless intended by the
Commissioners that the public should see IN this
communication certain assertion OF indepen-
dencc on the part of the Board but it is far more
probable that the majority of intelligent people
will interpret it somewhat cyncally, looking
upon it merely as bit of bluff so empty ana
transparent as TO deceive nobody familiar with
the connection between the majority OF the Board
and the railway.
The application of the company, II Will he
remembered, admirable specimen OF rail-
way literature ingenious at first glance, Dut 10
reality SO obscure as almost II not altoSetier, 70
baffle understanding. In availing themselves Oh
! its abiguity yesterday to gain time the conn
missioners simply showed that thcy were aWaIc var
AZ last of the fact that the people Of New-iork
are taking deep, watchfu interest IN the SOLUTION
Of the rapid-transit problem, and while II rs en-
tirely possible that Tanmany t,all may deliver
the cty's franchises 70 the Manhattan company
in return for campaign subscriptions this VIII
not he done without an indignant. emphatic pro-
test on the part Of the taxpayers. -
In the af1idavits offered in court VIII he found
An interesting illustration Of another feature OF the
deal the mcrciless treatment of the property
owners having claims against the elevated road,
| bv TaiIIInany referees. As explained in Mon1ays
issue of this paper, This is one of the most alarm;
| ING results of the alliance between Tammany and
| the Manhattan Company. IL Involves the
Claims Of over 10000 prorerty-owners along
the lines of the railways. At present
| these claims or most of them are being sent for
| adiustment 10 men actually selected by the Man
| haitian people In other words the claimants have
practically as judges the lie PENDANTS in the actions
| How satisfactory this is TO the unforfunate
| nroperty owners can he easily imagined. Iha
ease against Fox and Pomerov are fair samples
OF long list that will be brought up for investi'
! CATION