New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-12
THE MANHATTAN PEOPLE AND OTHERS

THE MANHATTAN PEOPLE AND OTHERS.
Various propositions OF more or less definite
character looking to an enlargement of the priv
ileges enjoyed by the Manhattan Company have
been made In the course Of the last ten years,
but they have not led to any important extern
sion Of its lines or improvement Of It's service.
The discussion has lately been revived at hear
ings before the Mayor and in the newspapers,
and we are glad of it, for the subject Is extreme
" interesting from more than one point of view
to multitude of persons. The attitude OF the
Manhattan managers toward this matter has
uniformly been unsatisfactory and at times Pc
culiar. Though they have doubtless always been
willing to accept concessions from the city on
their own terms. based upon the theory mat
they were comforting a favor upon the people
in operating their roads at all, they have never
definitely sgnied desire to develop their
property in accordance with just estimate or
their public obligations. 1t Is perfectly safe to
say that this corporation Is exceedingly unpop-
ular Oh account of its consistent record or IN
difference to the general comfort and welfare
1t has always produced the impression that 1t
was doing as little as possible in return for what
it had obtained from the city. And this appar-
emily deliberate policy has been especially exas-
perating for the reason that 1t has seemed very
foolish as well as unbecomlng. different the
DRY Of management would have been profitable
as well as respectable. 1t cannot possibly have
been judicous. for example TO afilict hundreds
Of thousands Of passengers daily all these years
with inferior lights in the cars, when other
transportation companies were giving their
patrons entire satisfaction in that regard.
But though the community does not owe the
Manhattan Company goodwill, 1t owes itself
reasonable view of proposals concerning elevated
railroad extensions. former Rapid Transit
Commission made the company certain definite
Offers which We're declined. The present Com
mission, we understand is not averse to grant
Of new privileges under conditions which would
presumably accomplish large results without
undue sacrifice of public and private rights.
That we think IS a suitable attitude for the
people to assume with reference to this matter
natural feeling of dislike for the company
which has done far less for the general con-
venience than 1t ought 10 have done should not
prevent the community from consulting Its own
interests At present the Manhattan people are
obviously planning to Increase their dwlndlng
revenues through the acquisition OF additional
privileges, but 1t Is safe to say that the terms
which they may be prepared to propose are not
terms which the city can afford to accept No
doubt they would like to appropriate the trafhc
Of the Brooklyn Bridge without expense to them
selves, to monopOlze Battery Park and to make
their own choice Of streets for the expansion or
their system. Mr. Russell Sage has just given
characteristic expression to his views on this
general subject, explaining the enormous obll-
cations under which the Manhattan Company
has placed the city Of New-York, and his dis
position to accept an acknowledgment thereof
in the form Of new and gratuitous concessions.
But Mr.. Sage's opinions In this matter do not
coincide with those to which majority OF his
fellow-citizens persIstently adhere.
There Is another consideration In this case
which, If it should come to be thoroughly I'M
derstood, might be expected to induce more
modest frame Of mind in the Manhattan man
ayers. There was belief amounting 10 con-
viction on the part Of citizens who closely fol-
lowed the protracted and futile proceedings OF
the old Rapid Transit Commission that the
Manhattan Company was the chief obstacle In
the way Of progress during all that time. Over
the present Commission the elevated railroad
people have never exercised a similar influence,
but there Is considerable reason to believe,
nevertheless, that they have been working Sc
cretly and industriousy during the last year;
that they supported the contest before the SUI
preme Court Commissioners; that they are be-
hind the appeal now pending on constitutional
grounds and that their zeal is not wholly I'M
related to the circumstance that the amendments
to the Rapid Transit law which were recently
reported In both branches Of the Legislature
have suddenly been recommitted in one branch
and are about to be recommtted In the other.
Now the people Of New-York by large ma
jority deliberately voted in favor OF the under
taking which the Rapid Transit Commission is
faithfully endeavOring to execute, and they are
not in a mood to be baked by a corporation
which would like to enjoy a permanent mo-
nopoly but which has never been able to meet
the requirements OF the city, nor willing to do
its full duty. We commend this fact to the
careful attention OF the Manhattan Company
and Of the Legislature.