New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-10-12
A FAPCE: AND SOMETHING MORE

"It was n roaring farce" That was the Oh
vious and general comment upon the proceedings
nj the Controllers office on Wednesday. Inc
franchise for the mucllnccdcd street railroads
beyond the Harlem was offered for sale. Inc
bidding was not in definite sums. but in per
ccntages Of the receipts Of the roads after they
should be built At first there was some reason
able bidding. Of g. 4 and ) per cent Then the
contest was narrowed down to two competitors,
who seemed to become utterly reckless. one or
them bid 100 per cent. or the entire rcceipts OF
the roads That was preposierous on the race
Of IT, But that was merely "the first dropping
before the mighty shower Thencefor'h Dds
advanced by leaps and bounds until some 6,97o
per cent was offered That IS to say, for the
privilege Of building and operating the roads
men deliberately offered to pay to the city not
merely every cent they ever should receive from
them. but nearly seventy times the gross re-
ceipts. And the bid was received and recorded
with all the preternatural soemnlty OF par
boiled owl roaring farce, indeed.
The bidders were not, Of course, in earnest;
though under bonds OF $4,000 TO fulfil their
bids They had no idea their bids would be
seriously accepted. Or, II they were they had
no idea Of ever fulfilling them. 1t would be i'm
possible for them to do So They probably had
some notion that by such bidding they might
secure the franchise Then they would build
and operate the roads and pay the city not
cent II the city tried to hold them to their
agreement they would trust to having the lat
fer annullcd by the courts on some technicallty.
Having gained what they wanted, they would
have the means by which they gained it de-
clared fraudulent. or at least invalid. Having
"bluffed" their rivals, they would "bunco' the
CITY, That was their little game. That IS their
notion Of business when the public is party
TO the bargain. Doubtless they consider 1t very
smart as well as very funny. That IS just about
what might be expected Of that austere political
purst. the Hon. Blue Eyed Billy" Sheehan, who
seems 10 have been the prime mover In the whole
performance.
But was It so intensely humorous, after all!
In any reputable private business transaction
a man who made an offer he had no idea OF full
filling would not be reclkoned wit lie would
be reckoned either fool or a knave. His bogus
bids would be regarded either with derision or
with contempt. and he would himself be de-
barred from any further dealings with honest
men. Such "A scene as that of Wednesday in
the Controllers office could never occur In the
Stock Exchange or in the Produce Exchange
or at trade sale Of drygoOds. The very thought
Of it is absurd 1t is only when men are dealing
with the public and with public interests that
they venture upon such work. Toward one man
they observe good faith Toward million. or
thcIr representatives. they play fast and loose at
Will That is the true view Of this episode. tie
trur Interpretation Of IT, That makes II seem
not - much Il roaring farce IA piece OF cheap
and scurvy knavishncSs, characteristic eN-
ample Of that dcbauchery Of public affairs when
has plundcrcd and demorlzed this city, ana
made its public works ami its very government
4 bvworl and Kissing 10 the world.