New-York tribune., 1894-04-22
RAPID TRANSIT HOPES FADING

RAPID TRANSIT HOPES FADING.
The rapid-iranst question is now in such a
condition before the Legislature that there is
grave reason TO fear that it will either not be
settled nj all M this session or settled 10 the
disadvantage Of the people Of New York. Both
the Chamber of Commerce bill and the Butts
Lexow bill have been favorably reported to the
Senate by the Railroad Committee. and Will
come I'D for special consideration next Tuesday.
Neither of them is in its original form. The
Chamber of Commerce bill has been inrinsical-
" injured by amendments striking out the
names Of the Commissioners and providing that
thc voters of New-York shall decide M the next
election whether or not rapid-transit roads shall
be built with public money. The ButtS-LcNow
bill has been improved by amendments provid-
ing that the Commission shall consist of two
Republicans and two Democrats, and striking
ont thc clause which gave the Manhattan Com
panv n complete monopoly of elevated railroad
privileges below One-hundred-and-twcnty ninth
ST. Nobody cares to predict what the senate
will do with these two measures thus commend
ed to its favor obviously 1t cannot pass po'h
of them. and in view of the complications when
their Joint appearance is likely to create ana
Of the shorncSS of the time left for action II IS
extremely dOubtfIl if either can be put through
both branches of the Legislature.
1t cannot be denied that the ButtS-LcNow pll
which in its original form WAS exactly suited
10 tho purposes of the Tammany- Manhattan
combination. has been Sbilfully used as cuD
10 beat out the life of the Chamber of Commerce
hill which in its original form was exactly SUIT
cd 10 the purposes of the people Under plblic
exposure and condemnation the Butis-LcNoW
bill has been so modified as 10 lose lis most
offensive feature but it is still dangerous
measure. which far less securely guards the IN
terests Of the municipality and thc welfare of
the Deople than the Chamber of Commerce bill
At present its worst provision Is that "hich
imposcS on the Commission the du'Y ol con-
structing the rapid-transt roads IN case 'he
pcople decide that the city shall furnish the
money The bcstOwal Of this enormous power
upon Commission 10 be named by laihihah!
Mayor would open the way for JON of colossal
PROPORTIONS and enable Mr. Gilroy 10 verify his
prediction that an adequate system OF local
TRANSFORMATION would cost Sl0oOoo"Oo. II II
contained no other Objectionable provision. 'hlS
one alone would utterly condemn II. Indeed,
while that feature remains, II seems II us
waste Of time TO discuss its other provisions
1t IS lust at this point that the immcasurable
supcriorty Of the Chamber Of Commerce DlI
even in It's latest form. appears. For by re-
ouiring that any railroads 10 be paid for by the
city shall be built equipped, maintained ana
operated by person. firm or corporation con
tracing 10 pay interest on the bonds and an
additional percentage TO cXtinguSh III" prin-
cipal. that bill supplies the strongest concrN-
able guarantee of skill and economy in IN"
execution of the work. Under that arrange
mont private enterprise in order 10 protect II
self must protect the public welfare. There IS
not n single valid argument left against Inc
Chamber of Commerce bill. One after another
tho nrctonccS put forward by its opponents. Tor
whom NavOr Gilroy has rashly volunteered 4"
sneak. have been demolished by Mr.. Hewitt
with the happicst combination of grace ana
dexterjtv. II is indeed possible that some sin
core advocates Of genuine rapid transit. who
believe that private capital can be induced 10
nrovido an INDISPENSABLE necessity. stll suppose
that the Chamber Of Commerce bill. If enacted
voud prevent that solution Of the problem
But this is their error. The bill simply enables
the city to employ its own resources to obtain
what IL so greatly needs. In case the Commits
sion obtains no acceptable offer from indiyidualS
So far from discouraging private capital from
tend in operation to bring capitalists to the
point Of bidding promptly for the franchise, pro
yidcd that they are now. as Mayor Gilroy in
sists, in mood to invest their money III 'hat
way. For SO soon as the bill became law they
would understand that they could not hesitate
long without losing their chance altogether.
Local opposition TO the only hopeful ana ra-
tional project for supplying New-York with the
TRANSPORTATION facilities which 1t must have or
continue to suffer incalcuabc injury simply
means that the Tammany-Manhattan specu-
lators see in this project no chance Of personal
and partv advantage. But this, in the view OF
the people, IS the strongest argument III favor
Of the measure We still entertain hope that
their view may prevail at Albany, and that, In
spite OF the opposition project and all other
nor,ls the Chamber Of Commerce bill may be
sent TO the Governor in a form retaining most
II not all Of the admirable features which the
,,eople gratefully recognized when it was sent
10 the Legislature.