New-York tribune., 1896-06-21
WASTING TIME.
to come.

y u.os nrohohly not a hospitable Impulse
,,oro u.bich led Governor Morton to invite the
Greater New-York Commissioners to zine WIN
him on Friday evening. Time Is passing rap'u
ly. n considerable part of the originally sc"n'
allowance has already been exhausted ana ap-
solutely nothing has been done. IL "ouiu pc
surprising if the Governor did not leei soiicl'ou'
about the matter and anxious 10 nave 'ic
Commission get to work without ionser u'
law. for a large measure OF responsibility ioi
the result of its labors rests upon MN. Inc
bill not only could not have been passed over
his veto. but It could not have been passed AT
all. so close was the vote, II he had ever HUI
Gated the slightest disapproval or 1t. Ana 'Ha'
is not the whole Of the case. Inc Dill WIS
passed over the municipal vetoes on April -
but il did not receive the Governors signature
until May II. and the Commissioners were not
npponted for four weeks Thereafter during
mos: of this time. it is true, Mr. Morton was
busily occupied with other executive tasks. pu'
II seems TO us that not a single one or them
was so important as this consolidation Dusi-
ness.
However. what Is past cannot be remedied,
though it may properly be remembered as an
instance of unfortunate delay under circuin-
stances which made prompt action especially
desirable If the Commission were now rehd!
TO begin It's labOrs, actuated by determined
purpose to proceed with the utmost regularity
and diligence the prospect might soon DeSlh 10
clear But there seems to be no such encour-
aging outlook Mr. Green's sickness Is mis-
fortune for which nobody is TO blame, but II Is
certainly high time that the doubt as to Con
| troller Fitch's eligibility was removed. lie was
| appointed twelve days ago, and if any progress
| has been made toward n solution OF the seri-
| Gus question which his appointment involved
| the Controller himself does not seem 10 De
| aware of the fact At all events, he declined
| to attend the Governors dinner rather than
exercise, however informally, an Office the ac-
centance of which might ultimately be held 10
| have vacated the one which he desires TO re
| tain II would be interesting to know how
long this condition Of uncertainty Will last Tor
the organization Of the Commission Is apparent
" 10 be deferred until the question relating
TO the Controller has been answered. Valuable
as his services would be. 1t will have to be ad-
mitted that his appointment was mistake
unless some way OF settling this controversy
can be found without much more delay.
or course some sort Of a charter can be
! knocked together easily enough within the
seven months still remaining, although nearly
one-half OF the period will be ill-suited to the
work But we suppose that nobody wants q
great undertaking, which has been badly mis-
managed in its earlier stages, to be still further
discredlted. 1t may be that the whole opera
ton will be brought TO n halt next winter by
some one OF the many obstacles which are stu
In the way. and if there were a certainty or It's
coming TO that end IN case the charter were not
generally satisfactory. the present condition oi
affairs might be viewed with much compla
cency But the various communities concerned
cannot afford TO be subjected 10 such FISK
Inasmuch as 1t is impossible to forecast what
will occur next winter and II Is at least con
ceivable that charter OF abuses might be- ac
cepted by Legislature and Governor SUI
. to be chosen, the only safe course Is to demand
. that the Commission go to work at the earnes
possible moment and thereafter furnish a con
= slant example Of industry and care for the pub
lie welfare. We not imputing deliberate
unfaithfulness TO anybody, hut 1t Is proper u
say that more Jealous spirit would become
those who have charge Of momentous Interests