New-York tribune., 1896-12-10
FRANCHISES AND RETENTES.

The Sinking Fund Commission. as Indicated by
the proceedings at yesterdays meeting. Is just
~ disposed to obtain in the interest of the city
fair equivalent for the ferry franchises which
have generally paid an inadequate return 10 the
public treasury. Ii is proper 10 say that under
the present administration this wise policy mas
been pretty uniformly pursued There certainly
has been marked improvements in this respect
as compared with former periods. when careless
and corrupt bestowal Of lucrative privileges was
the rule How vast the losr which New-lork
has suffered in this way has been probably no
body can now accurately compute. but there Is
little risk in asserting that the cost OF govern
ment might have been almost wholly betrayed
by the returns from the multifariOus franchises
which have been given away or cheaply grant
ed There ought to be from this time forward
unceasing effort on the part Of everybody con
nected with the management Of the public Dusi'
ness TO increase the ctys revenue from TINS
source so shamefuy wasted in the past. There
have been enormous sacrifices which can never
be made good but there IS still much to be
gained by vigilance and sagacity.
The action of the Board Of Aldermen on Tues
dav in the matter of the fuel gas franchise Is
perfect illustration of the way IN which the citys
interests ought not 10 be administered No proof
has been submitted that the accepted recon-
pcnse is adequate. and ii is actually less than
rival company offered. The general belief. in
fact. is that the privileges thus strangely be-
slowed are worth millions of dollars. Moreover,
there IS grave doubt whether the Aldermen had
any legal power 10 make the award. the Cor
poration Counsel holding that they had not 1t
was in all respects an extraordinary proceeding.
and it is no wonder that inquislive citizens are
already asking how 50 doubtful scheme hap
pened to be so strongly supported II IS an in
terestng and almost amusing commentary on
the affair that the Aldermen AT the same meet
ing adopted resolution to investigate the gen
eral subject of gas supply. with reference TO the
question Of municipal ownership and distiibn-
ton If SO little is known on this subject that
an official study of it is desirable how absurd
it seems simultaneously to authorize private
company to SET about n kindred enterprise OF
enormous magnitude. II all the Aldermen
thought it was important 10 ascertain what the
cost of supplying New-Yorl with illuminating
Gas ought to be- how could tweniy-six Of them
on the very same day think that 1t was their
official duty TO grant the privilege of ripping up
fifteen hundred miles of streets 10 pnrveyors OF
fuel gas under conditions which. to say the
least. are OF extremely uouDlIul advantage 10
the city:
II is expected that Mayor Strong will interpose
his Veto and that the resolution granting the
franchise will be promptly passed again by the
requisite majority. But that will not settle the
ease 1t Is sure TO be taken into the courts, for
the Corporation Counsel will advise the Com
missioner Of Public Works 10 refuse permit
for the beginning Of operations. Nobody can see
further into the future than that. but II is just
possible that there may be legal proceedings Of
a different sort. II would be a curious crcum
stance if Alderman OlcOt. who voted against
the granting of the franchise on Tuesday. and
whose chance of appointment to the vacant Dis
craftsmanship Is now thought TO be good,
should be compelled TO initiate such proceed
ugs