New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-04-24
A GREAT DUTY AND OPPORTUNITY.


As we said on Sunday and as our Albany
| dispatches yesterday showed, the rapid-transit
| question has now been brought into a condition
which promises little advantage 10 this com
munity. The two bills which have been before
| the Legislature for weeks past have both been
| favorably reported 10 the Senate by the Rail
| road Committee. and are TO come up for special
| consideration today. The ButtsLcxow bill,
| though improved 10 some extent 10y the latest
amendments. still contains several extremely
| Objectionable features, and certainly ought not
to be passed by Republican Legislature which
Is supposed TO have the public welfare NJ heart
On the other hand, the Chamber of Commerce
bill which in its original form was an alto
gcther admirable measure. has been badly treat
ed by the Railroad Committee. As reported to
the Senate it contains provisions which are. TO
say the least. extremely unfortunate, and which
we think are sure to impress most persons as
being suspicious.
The bill as amended provides that the present
Mayor of Ncw-York shall appoint five citizens
10 the Rapid Transit Commission. It IS not
hard TO determine in advance what sort Of men
Mayor Gilroy would select for this enormous
task. Moreover the bill was very hurredly
handled by the Railroad Committee, and as it
HOW SldHl> Contains IIONISlollN Nul'l Ill l''iNt
seem to be contradictory In ono part 1t retains
the original excellent feature providing that the
rapd-tranSt roads, if constructed at the expense
Of the city. shall be built, equipped. maintained
and operated by an individual or corporation
whose interest it would obviously be to build
them as skilfully and as economically as pos
siblc, in order TO keep the fixed charges for in
tcrest on the bonds Of the city and sinking
ND ott bo n
part the bill as amended provides that the Com
mission shall If the vote be favorable 10 munic-
ipal construction, proceed to construct the
rapid-transit roads Possibly II is intended that
the Commission shall proceed 10 construct them
in accordance with the preceding plan Of a con
tract with an individual or a corporation; but
the two provisions certainly seem TO be incon-
sstent on their face; they are sure TO cause
doubt and confusion. and it is scarcely possible
TO escape the conviction that The phrascoogy OF
the amended measure conceas Tammany Job
Of colossal proportions We do not wish to be
understood as accusing any Senator Of con
scious completely in such scheme when We
say that a bill opening the way TO such posi-
bilities ought never to be passed.
There was nothing whatsoever the matter
with the Chamber Of Commerce bill IN its
who want and demand an adequate system Of
local transportation constructed with absolute
honesty and the highest efficiency. But il was
Objectionable 10 the Tammany- Manhattan com
bnation. which has thus far succeeded in block
ing rapid transit in this city The bill named
an excellent Board of Commissioners. and the
pretencc that this feature was unconstitutional
has been refuted, not only by expert opinion
but by numerous prcccdents. including one
established by Governor Flower himself this
winter when he signed the Penn Yam b!ll, 10
which Mr. SaXton recently referred. Every
conceivable guarantee Of fidelity and adNntagc
was secured by the plan which Mr.. Hewin has
so ably advocated. The session is nearly ended,
and there is reason TO fear that the two houses
will succeed in dsagrccing on this vital sub
jcct until the last; but if they do they will make
a serious mistake. The need Of NewiOrk is
imperative and relief is universally demanded.
The Republican majority are under the strong
est obligation to pass the Chamber Of Commerce
bill in substantially its original form If they
send it TO the Governor with the names Of the
Commission included he may possibly be able
to find an excuse for vetoing ii, but this IS not
their concern and would not be their fault In
that case the Governor alone would have to bear
the heavy responsibility Of defeating one Of the
dearest wishes of the people Of this city. If the
a measure as would accomplish the purpose
safely cxpeditously and thoroughly, the re-
sponsibility will be theirs.