New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-05
TAMMANY AND RAPID TRANSIT.

While pralSing MT. CrOkeTS ueNo'oh W TIC
Tammany platform on which, with Mr.. Plats
assistance, he elected his candidates to office
last November we recently ventured to express
regret that he had inadvertently neglected to
reaffirm it's declarations on the subject Of rapid
transit Mr. Croker evidently considered the
point we'll taken, for the next day the JOINT
caucus committee Of Democratic Senators and
Assemblymen issued an address to the public
demanding, among other things "a prompt and
practicable system Of rapid transit for Greater
"New-York. provided through a competent and
impartial Commission" Inasmuch as the
Democratic members Of the Legislature had
never entertained the idea Of attempting to
carry out the pledges Of the Tammany plat
form until Mr. Croker instructed them TO 90
So It may fairly be assumed that they would
never have thought Of adding single speciflca-
ton to his programme without his direct COM
mand. II follows, therefore. that MT Croker IS
In favor of a prompt and practicable system
Of rapid transit provided by competent and
impartial Commission.
If this were all the knowledge possessed by
the public concerning the matter there might
be considerable doubt as to the kind OF rapid
transit which Mr. Croker has In mind, but the
platform which he insists shall be carried out
to the letter was quite clear on that point IT
said: 1--WE condemn the dilatory policy Of the
present city administration in matters relat-
ling to rapid transit, and we especially con-
"demn the recent action Of the Park Board in
refusing Its necessary approval TO the plans
"of the Rapid Transit Commission" The only
logical conclusion therefore Is that Mr.. Croker
not only wants rapid transit by underground
roads in accordance with the plans approved
by the Appellate Division. but considers the
present Commission competent and impartial"
and well qualified to conduct the enterprise;
for otherwise he would not have cnjOined upon
the faithful the absolute necessity" Of living
up to the letter Of the platform"
On this view Of the matter Mr.. Croker's de-
liberate advocacy Of underground roads and
reassertion OF his confidence In the Rapid Tran
sit Commission are exceedingly encouraging.
For many years Tammany has been the de-
voted though sometimes ill-rewarded, ally OF
the Manhattan Company In its persistent and
hitherto successful efforts to delude and OPP
press the people Of NewYork. Whenever there
has seemed to be chance OF their escaping
from It's bondage Tammany has come to It's
relief. 1t blocked the operations Of one Com
mission completely by its influence over some
of the members, and since the last election 1t
has done everything that was possible to dis
credit and embarrass the present Commission.
As recompcnse for this unfatering support
tips on Manhattan stock have frequently been
distributed, but though some Of those who have
rejoiccd Wall Street by gambling on inside in
formation may have made n good thing out OF
ii most Of them have been shorn. Truly poor
return for services extending over a decade.
IT, rs appears TO be the fact, Mr.. Croker is now
ready to provide n sweet revenge he may sue
coed In d!sspatng the gloom which long con-
temptation Of rich spells dangling Just beyond
its reach has cast over Tammany Hall. The
appearance of Mayor Van Wyck at the next
meeting Of the Rapid Transit Commission, of
which he Is member, would be accepted as
a guarantee Of good faith.
OF course, all these indications Of an official
change Of heart With reference to the greatest
of municipal necessities may be misleading,
and we Shall not blame anybody who takes It
for granted that they are. But in that case
1t will be perfectly fair to conclude that the
other pledges Of renewed devotion to the public
welfare which the Tammany Executive Com
mttcc and the Democratic members of the
Legislature have recently proclaimed at Mr..
Cookers instance likewise all rubbish as.
indeed the entire history OF Tammany Hall
forclbly suggests that they must be. On the
whole perhaps II IS just as we'll TO keep
assuming that New-York will never get rapid
transit with Tammany's consent