New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-08

The Board OF Aldermen has ADJOURNED uh'ii
August G. The new and revised applications
for the franchise for street railroads In the
Kingsbridge region will therefore not De ac'ru
upon until that or later date. In one I'M
portant respect that IL pity. There ~ ne'u Oh
the immediate construction Of such roads. Every
days delay is hardship and grievance to the
people, and n check upon the growth OF That at
tractive quarter Of the city. The ROADS shoulo
have been built before this. They should now
be in full operation. Certainly some progress
might and probably would have been made upon
them had the Board of Aldermen acted accord
ing to its best light.
Still. the delay Is not without its advantages.
The postpOnement for n month or more VIII AZ
ford time for mature consideration Of systems
and routes and terms. A striking gain has al
ready been made fer the city, in the great dlf-
ference between The terms now offered to 1t and
those offered month ago. The former offer was
accepted by the Aldermen with readiness that
was unseemly II not suspicious Happily. their
action was vetoed, and they were unable, or
deemed 1t not judicious to override the Veto
Now offers are made compared with which tnat
earlier one seems grotesquc. What has caused
the change Is perfectly evident. The emphatic
buslnesslike message, in which the Mayor vetoed
the action of the Aldermen. demonstrated to the
railroad companies that, so far as that officer
had mower TO prevent It, they would not get the
coveted franchise without paying something
like an adequate sum for It, Why the companies
at first made what they knew to be gross!
INADEQUATE offer is Of course, equally evident
If was a simple matter Of business win them 10
get the franchise as cheaply as possible Ihey
,,1co
themselves to be under no moral obligation, 10
offer the city full value for what they wan'eu 10
obtain. nor. indeed, to offer one cent more than
the very lowest sum for which they thought they
could get It,
But lust here comes in what Is after all the
most significant and important consideration vi
the whole case. Why did the companies suppose
that they could get the franchise for so much
less than it was worth? Men do not expect
thus to get drygoods, or land, or houses lhey
generally offer something like the real value OF
the goods they seek to purchase. Why did these
companies pursue, and why do corporations ana
individuals commonly pursue, radically differ
ent course in dealing with the city! The answer
70 this question Is also evident. They nave
been led by past experience, by the habtual con-
duct Of municipal government IN such affairs, TO
reckon such course likely to succeed. 1ney
have been encouraged to look upon the city as a
field 10 be worked for their profit from which
they are to receive all things and to which they
are TO give nothing In return The idea OF con-
sidering the city an equal partner in an equitable
business transaction has become altogether for
egn to their code
Perhaps II may be well TO call attention to the
evident answer to yet another question, OF
no little interest When the Mayor vetoed the
| Adermanic grant, last month, the Aldermen
rather ENORMOUSLY asked him how In the world
they were to do what he required OF them. We
are not aware that he has ever given them an
answer There has been 10 need OF his doing So
The railroad companies themselves have given
the answer, in the most explicit and most Of
fcctive manner. Give all responsible parties to
understand that they have a fair field and No
favor for their competition. and that no bids will
be considered that do not approximate to the
equitable value Of the thing desired, and there
will be no trouble about It. 1t IL perfectly
simple Abolish iobbery and favortlsm and
"boode,' and establish straightforward b'isl
ness system. That Is all And If we were given
10 guessing. we should e,irss that this city s now
a good deal nearer to such a contamination thar
| It has been for many year.