New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-24
GIVING AWAY CITY FRANCHISES.

Foreigners who visit America have often COM
mented with wonder upon the patience Of the
American people in submitting to imposltions OF
all sorts. 1t is probable that the impressions OF
these students Of American life have been
gained chiefly in this city, which they have
looked upon with reason as the representative
community of the New World. In some parts
of the United States people have livelier tenn
pers than those characteristic Of the residents
of Manhattan Island, and are swfter to resent
encroachments upon their rights. 1t would seem
incredible. if 1t were not matter Of daily ex-
perence that the men and women Of great
city could endure so calmly and with so little
outcry the manner in which the citizens Of this
metropolis are treated when they try to travel
from one part of the town TO another. For many
a year NEWCOMERS smiled with cheerful phil
Osophy over the failure of the Street Cleaning
Department TO keep the streets reasonably clear
of refuse. Some twenty years or SO ago street
cleaning was a part Of the work OF the Police
Department, and for time Alexander 5. Will
Jams, since celebrated as IN extensive investor
and Spectator in real estate IN Japan, was at
the head Of the Street Cleaning Bureau Of the
Police Department. In his testimony before the
Lexow Committee Captain Williams sought to
convey the impression that he had found opera
tions in japanese real estate highly profitable.
However that may have been, some reason ap-
peared TO exist for a suspicion that Williams
found his eXtravagant neglect OF the real estate
in New-York streets extremely lucrative. Any
way, this city endured for many years, with
meekness and patience which JOB IN his furthest
achievement Of humility never approached, the
existence Of guagmires and morasses In It's prin-
cipal thoroughfares although large amounts OF
public money were mislaid or wasted by the
officials who were paid to keep the streets clean
Colonel Warlng has made 1t clear that the
public places Of this town can be swept diligent-
" and faithfully, and every honest man says
he has worked wonders here. Is there Colonel
Waring who can bring about a reform IN the
transportation lines Of this metropolis as strik-
ing and as gratifying as that which Is now ap-
plauded in the cleansing Of our roadways! 1t
was a prodigal lot Of unfaithful representatives
of the taxpayers who allowed the elevated roads
and the surface car companies to take possession
Of our highways without making provision that
the companies to whom the occupation OF the ave-
nues and roads was given should furnish salts
factory service in return No company seeking the
privilege Of Transporting passengers should ever
have received any grant except with stringent
conditions that all its work should be carefully
supervised and regulated by the municipal au-
tborities and that its charter should be revoked
promptly if it did not do its duty to the public
1t was shameful betrayal Of public interests
when the elevated roads, the Third avenue line
the cable companies the "Huckleberry' gang
and all the combinations which have laid hold
upon the available spaces were permitted to Sc
cure privileges Of enormous value without any
ADEQUATE provision for a proper return to the
community both in money for the municipal
treasury and in satisfactory service for our
citizens The rights Of the people were not prop
erly protected when these valuable franchises
were given away. The result is that the Gle
waited roads, the cable companies, the Third
avenue line and all the transportation com
panies within the city limits act as If they owned
the town and could do as they liked. Almost
every one of them affronts NEWCOMERS daily
by violating both public and private rights. Al
most every one Of them is undisguisedly defiant
Of public sentiment. Almost every one Of them
packs its cars in an inexcusable manner. Al
most every one OF them deserves Indictment by
the Grand Jury.
Some members Of the present city government
NAV possibly be too lavish in granting privileges
TO TRANSFORMATION lines which ought not to be
granted Some may possibly seem inclined to
show too much generosity in their bounty to cor
poratlons at the expense Of the rights OF the ctl-
zens of New-York. Have care gentlemen.
These corporations have already encroached too
far upon the rights of the people There will be
nlentv Of trouble ahead for any officials who
may show a disposition TO be unfaithful to their
trusts And the people Of New-York are in no
bumor for tolerating illegal grants TO corpora
tiops which have made such poor Use Of the
privileges which they have already secured from
unfalthful representatives Of the taxpayers.