New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-05-15
TO.DAY.S RAPID TRANSIT MEETING.

There will be meeting of the Rapid Transit
Commission to-day. What it will amount 70
den,nds ON whether the Commission is AMI
mated primarily by sense of duty to the
nnblc or n sense Of obligation to the Man.
-Tammany combination. II It's prime
purpose is to obtain rapid transit Tor the
nconle at the earliest possible moment and I'M
der fair conditions, it will take the opportunity
of to-day's nottingham which it Will never
have a bctter-to bring the Manhattan Com
many TO terms. Of course, If the Manhattan
neonle have reason to think that they can get
whatever they want from the Commission, II
they understand that the Commission Will obey
Mr.. Croker-if, in a word they consider that
the Commission is not an independent body,
but one subject to pressure and intuence-they
will continue to meet It's demands with eva
sions and complaints. On the other hand, II
they are made to see that the Commission Is
its own master, that it has the public interest
sincerely at heart that it cannot be overcome
by the power of speculative and politlcal
combination, that 1t is neither to be deceived
nor coerced. and that their chance to obtain
the splendid privileges offered them expires
with to-day's meeting of the Commission ana
upon their neglect then and there to comply
with the generous conditions under which the
offer has been made, they will promptly ac-
cept them.
The Commission should know that the public
understands the situation. Manhattan stock
is selling to-day at 1870. A few weeks ago,
soon after the Commission proposed its i'm
possible plan of rapid transit which. no bid
ders offering to adopt it, left the matter in the
hands of the Elevated people, this stock sprans
nimby up to 1859. Many persons made great
deal of money on this rise. Some OF them are
conspicuous in the leadership of Tammany
Hall Now, of course, if these Tammany lead
ers. when the stock was low, knew that the
Commission was going to issue report so
magnifying the difficulties of rapid transit as
20 make them look almost insuperabe: and II
they knew that the Commission was gong TO
ask for bids for an impossible plan on finan-
cially impracticable basis and if they knew
that the Commission would finally propose to
the Manhattan Company grand scheme OF
extending its lines as substitute for real RAPID
transit; and if little company of mllllonaifes
we've in these secrets, toO-why, then as any
one can see. baying Manhattan stock was a
sure road to fortune. Well, the stock went
ND to 100. Mr.. Croker began to buy racing
horses and Mr.. Byrnes to shut up the pool
rooms. Then there came seeming hitch BE-
tween the Manhattan Company and the Com
mission. They couldn't agree as to the terms
of the extension, and there were weeks OF cross.
firing, apparent contention, compromises and
al that. The stock fell. 1t is now at 1870
And, of course, if these same Tammany lead
ers and Manhattan capitalists knew that the
company and the Commission were going to
enter on period of disagreement, the sure
way 10 another fortune was to sell Manhattan
stock on sagaciously timed short accounts
One doesn't need to be Overwise to see that.
We have not yet said that these things hap
pened in Just this way. but there may possibl,
be need to say it hereafter. There is no ex
cuse for another days delay in compelling th'
Manhattan Company to abandon the new fielt
or go ahead with its Improvements and eyten