New-York tribune., 1894-04-14

TIE DEMAND FOR RAPID lKANHII.
Ex.Novor Hewitt had no difficulty in refuting
what Mayor Gilroy called arguments against
the Rapid Transit bill Of the Chamber or COM
mcrcc In reality they were not arguments
but nctions incautiously prepared by Mr. Gliroy
after he had asccrtancd from Mr.. Croker WHAT
tho official attitude of Tammany toward the
measure under consideration was 10 DO. lhe
device of arraying the Mayor against hils'H
bv CITING recent articles inserted In THE North
Amoricon Review" over his name was partic-
ularlv neat and effective Obviously Mt "l
rows recollection of those articles was vague
and he now probably regrets that he dld ho'
read them more attentively either Delore "i
after their publication. But though Mt licWltt
made an adroit and plcasurablc use or the op
nortuuitv thus inadvertently bestowed upon
him, sucb a demonstration of the utter insln-
cor,,v and intrinsic worthlcSSncSs Of the pleas
uut forward in oppoSition 10 the Chamber or
commerce plan was really unnecessary. NO
fact has been more completely established dur
ing the last three years than that or 1amihahy
Halls hostility to every scheme Of Improvement
and method of administration which WOULD ui-
minish the power and plundcr or the orGahiHa-
1ion Every guarantee in The Chamber or Com
,norre bill of honesty. efficiency and economy
in the execution of the great and Indispensable
undertaking which it proposes lnevilaDi!
arorlses the jealousy and enmity or the local
authorities They cannot tolerate the thought
of n rapd-transit system which has not paid
an enormous tribute to Tammany
The opposition Of the Mayor. representing the
motives and purposes which are constantly III
war with the public welfare ought therefore
TO arouse intensity and consolidate puDhc opih-
ion in support OF the bill. His so-called arGu-
,ncnts ogalnst II have been answered in detall,
and there is nothing left of his attack except me
spirit which inspired II. The consutuu"haHN
of the bill has been established by conclusive
preccdents The feasibility OF the plan which
il contcmplatcS, SO far rs problems or cohS'ruc-
tion are concerned, is not questioned py eA-
pcrts It's financial basis is sound. IL amply
secures public and private rights IL compciS
the employment Of the highest SIKH ana inc
exercise Of the closest economy In the WORK Oh
construction. and assures 10 the CITY ue pos
session in the near future of 4 great Transports
ton system which will not have cost II a dol-
lar. The public welfare impcrativcly demands
such TRANSPORTATION facilities as thls measure
alone affords n reasonable prospect OF supply
Ing Public opinion has already been chiS'cd
TO n remarkable extent In favor or the uhucr'ah-
Ing, and the Legislature HdS ~ pi''h ""'' ~
perform Why should any Republican III ei'her
branch. or any other member who Is not owned
bv Tammany. hesitate to render the peopl" OF
This city service Of the first importance! Ih'rc
is no occasion to ask what Governor Flower
thinks about the matter. He will either sign
thc bill. If the chance is given him, or incur Il
pcnaltv which he has the best of reasons Tor
wishing 10 avoid.
Among the indications Of popular sentiment
on this subject we heartily welcome MT STEM
wav's emphatic declaration that he is "heart
and soul in favor Of the Chamber Of Commerce
raDId-transit plan" As president or the as
credited Commission which has accomplished
absolutely nothing during the last three years
while constantly on the verge. as the com
muntv has believed, Of committing some great
outrage Mr. Stcinway has certainly disappolht |
ed public expectations. 1t is unfortunate mat
he has neglected many opportunities l" as
close his hostility 10 the schemes OF the ram /
many Manhattan combination which has stead /
ilv controlled ma jority Of his colleagues Du'
II is most agreeable 10 find him now. where his
fc1ow.citlzens have always thought that he be-
lonccd. on the side Of a rational, straghtfor- |
ward disntcrcstcd movement in furihcrance !
Of the common welfare
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