New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-05-23
THE RAPID 7RdNSIT HITCH.

Does ANYBODY Of full age believe that the
Manhattan Company for matter OF Sloo'ooo
, wear. whether recovered by Increased Dusi-
ness or not. really intends 10 admit nval
where now it possesses monopoly Inc
seeming controversy between the company and
the Rapd Transit Commission presents the
apparent dilemma Of the assumption OH the
company's part OF tax amounting 10 aoo"'
twice as much as it is willing to pay, or 'he
abandonment of part OF its present ilcld anu
Of all its future prospects in the growth OF 'he
CITY to some other corporation. Does anybody
sunnoSe if this were a real controversy, that
the elevated people would hesitate second IN
choosing to pay the full amount demanded
They profess to be willing to be taxed at the
late of ) per cent upon their gross fecelp'S' ~
calculated as to bring into The city ueaSH!
a,;out $50. 600 The offer they have IN
formally" declined would not require them 10
pav more than 100000 in addition Bu,
whatever the sum proved to be. 1t would be
percentage of gross receipts. 50 that the com
panv would pay only in proportion to lis bust
ness. and it is not asked to pay until II begins
70 do business on the new basis with ITS eN-
tensions completed There can he no SOUND
reason to claim that this is not liberal 0iicr
On the ctys part. All the probabilities drawn
from the growth of the city and the develop
ments of the country north OF the liaiIeSs
River argue that the company will make Il
splendid profit on lis additional investment.
These probabilities are understood by nobody
more thoroughly than by the directors Oh the
Manhattan COMPANY. ana the idea that they
are serious in proceeding which appears TO be
IN abandonment of the field Of the future. IS
clearly prepOstcrous. They do not intend 10
abandon it, They simply calculate that they
can obtain the privileges in controversy with
out being required 10 pay a much aS inc
Rapid Transit Commission now demands.
or course the Manhattan Company must have
90, d reasons for the faith on which lis present
conduct is predcated. It's directory is composed
Of rcl-headed business men who do not trie
with their interests 1t has for allies the ruling
powers of the city. Tammany Hall, I" the
friend of the poor man" and all that, * hand
in glove with thi, great monopoly corporation
in the scheme to make lis monopoly Richer
greater and more enduring. ,Tammany states
men have made handsome fortunes on the rise
and fall of Manhattan securities and are now
prepared to make another 50 soon a the com
bination of capitalists and politicians in charge
Of Manhattan stock shall think well 10 put an
end to the controversy and allow the stock TO
respond to the movement which an agreement
between the company and the COMMISSION VIII
inaugurate With Tammany as its ally, and
with three members Of the Commission ANXIOUS
10 do its bidding, the company ha, reason Tor
assuming an independent attitude and iof
thinking that time j. bound to work in H.
favor What it now informally declines ii may
continue to think Of, to talk about in another
form, to meet with compromises and counter
propositions. The minority of the Commission
| will find its powers Of endurance well tested.
Meanwhile, whatever happens, the duty Of
| the Rapid Transit Commission is clear. 1t ha'
made It's formal, final offer 10 the Manhattan
Company and the offer has been rejected.
Without another days delay, it should prepare
the plans for the construction of lines that will
| accomplish the same ends a. the proposed Man
haitian extensions and offer them at public
| letting II should remember, however, that its
| good faith has been widely suspected by reason
of the fact that appointed - devise system
Of sufficient rapid transit it consumed two
years in investigation and then reported that
the thing was almost imposSible that il pro-
posed plan which capital laughed at, and
which many people believed was proposed in
order t. make it appear that the money could
not be raised for new and complete rapid
transit system. and that all these proceedings
seemed to help along the scheme of the Man
haitian Company 70 obtain the franchises now
in consideration. This view may be just or
otherwise, but it is widely entertained and
mindful Of it, in offering franchise for another
elevated system, the Commission should take
pains to convince the investing public that it
means business This is what the Commission
| ought to do what it will do we shall see.