New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-23
TIE RAPID TRANSIT BILL Law

THE RAPID IHINSlI DILh u '--'''
After hearing many arguments and after care
fnl elaboration Governor Flower mas signe"
III. Randi Transit bill This is an Executive
oct which will be very widely approved by resi-
dcnts of New-York, and for which the GOV
ornor is entitled to credit and commentator
rb. hill which has now become law IS not
norrectlv satisfactory in every particular but
:, &. ,rohohlv the best that could have been OBJ
,aired The amendments which 1t underwent
during the closing days Of the session uiu no''
+, our judgement improve II. and were from
Gonna noints Of view. 70 be regretted As we
have frequently said. the provision requiring NV
oucstion Of municipal construction To De SUI"
,n;,,ed IN nonular vote may be fairly criticised.
Tho referendum is not consistent with our I'Pi'
soptativc form of government. and there are
e,oc,ol reasons why question OF this KIM
AMI If such MAGNITUDE should not be put 10
voto partculary this year. when many o'h'i
.,,,,ortout decisions must be rendered MT the
polls. Nevertheless II IS great adVhh''He
and pleasure 70 obtain this opportunity Tor TO-
lief from 4 situation full Of evil and cons''hl!
growing worse.
Moreover. the Rapid Transit act Is, In almost
, all essential details. Il sagaclous ana pfud'n'
measure. II was sknfully drawn and has sue
ccssfullv withslood all the attacks or us op'
,.onor,s 81 far as can be Judged from study
Of the conditions which It provides, ana prior
~ q practical test. II outlines practical anu
J feasibl. plan for securing rapid transit ID 'il'S
CITY The interests Of individuals ana OF 'n'
municipality are carefully guarded. ana SAFE
and economical execution of the task j. e"''
ontecd by the terms under which ID" c''!'
should the people so decide. VIII contract iol
the building equipment and maintenance "a
TRANSFORMATION lines to which ii gives lis cr'hl'
and which il will permanently own. IL y ''u,
that an entirely new departure III lhuhl'iP"'
/ o1,niriet,,,ion * PROPOSED and if the situation
were not so distressing and the prospect Oh r',
lief through the Intervention Of private call'hl
so remote there might be strong an" SCUM
affections 10 the enterprise. But IN our "ph
ion. the risk Of Il bad investment on the part 81
the city is SO exceedingly small as amply ''
warrant the people in mourning II under eNis'
ing circumstances: and there is reason 10 beI'N'
that. II authorized by the popular vote IN y"
vombrr the scheme Will be carried ont IN suci
- manner as 10 promote the credit and welfare
Of the city as we'll as the personal comfort ah'
convenience Of The individuals who compose II
In the execution of any public work on -
large n scale the first essential CONDITION ol sue
cess Is the high character or thoSc WHO are "
. control IT, The citizens who, win Inc N'No
and Controller constitute the new Rapid iran
. SIT Commission. are men Of long experience il
affairs Of great intelligence and OF the hlgh'S
integrity. They have an excellent law unde
70 which 10 work and are confident mat the.
will utilize It's wise provisions To the ui'erihoS'
. II IS fortunate also that. although the decision
as to the question of municipal construction VII
NOT be rendered until November, the intervening
ncriod can he thoroughly and uscfuly employ"
. in preliminary work which Will not he waste
whatever that decision may be. The Coinmi'
sion will doubtless organize at an early day an
. proceed 10 the important business committed
? II steadily and expcditiously. The gcntleme
! named in the act possess the entire conffdenc
Of the community, and in ali their labors me
Will be actuatcd, we doubt not. by dislr
tcrestcd purpose 10 discharge their grave trlIs
, with absolute fidelity.