New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-04
TIE MAYORS MESSAGE.

Mayors first message cannot reasonably
no expected to possess much value as contrbu-
tion TO the general knowledge Of municipal con-
ditions. but II may throw some fresh light on
the new incumbents character and purposes
and Is therefore awaited with considerable IN
terest. In the message which he sent to the
Municipal Assembly yesterday Mayor Van
Wick renews the excellent professions which
he had already made. assuring the community
that absolute fidelity in the performance OF his
duties will be exacted from everybody appoint
ed TO a public Office and admonishing the AS
sembly 10 behave Itself In such manner as TO
recommend the policy Of home rule to the peo-
ple and the Legislature. or course there IS
nothing novel In this. for Tammany has never
been shy about making promises, and the sit
uatlon remains just what IL was. Sober-mnd-
ed and respectable citizens hope for the best
and continue TO expect considerably less than
that
There Is however one important matter as
TO which the Mayors message does apparently
disclose the disposition Of the new government
1t is in favor Of rapid transit, but against the
only plan by which rapid transit can be Sc
cured 1t will not cooperate with the Commits
sion. but antagonize it, That at least Is
natural Interpretation Of the Mayors exceed
ingly solemn view Of the cty's financial con-
dition and its constitutional ability to incur adj
ditional Indebtedness, his disparaging refer
ences to the Commissions labors and his eX-
pectaton of protracted litigation. In the mean
time he urgently recommends 1.-The best use pos
"sible OF such of our present facilities as by
Improvement and extension, can De MADE
available at a fixed and definite time for some
"relief In the direction Of the popular demand
With good deal Of what the Mayor says on
this subject are In cordial sympathy lie
wants TO have the elevated railroad service bet
tered by the substitution of electricity FOR loco
motives. by increase IN the number OF eX-
press trains and their continued operation, ana
by an extension Of existing routes TO the ferries
and through sparsey settled localities, even
though temporary loss results 10 the corpora
ton whose greed" or indifference" has hither-
10 prevented such improvements. He demands
also that the surface lines Shall be similarly
held I'D 10 4 better performance OF their Obliga-
lions the cty's interest nj every point being
rigdly maintained. These proposals Indicate
lust appreciation Of what the transportation
companies owe TO the city which has given them
immense privileges and we like their tone. But
when the Mayor tells the Municipal Assembly
that It should compel them TO carry out his pro-
gramme In all respects he seems TO us 10 at
tribute to 1t more power than 1t possesses; I'M
less. indeed he assumes that their desire TO OBJ
tain new advantages will induce them to ac
cept new conditions which could not be other
wise enforced
II that Is Mayor Van Wyck's suppostion,
hope Il Is well founded And whether or not It
Is possible TO make the transportation COM
panies. and especially the Manhattan, do their
whole duty, there is no doubt that the city has
ample power to insist upon some improvements
along the line which the Mayor suggests Nor
is there any doubt that they would be well
worth having; but. nevertheless, 1t is impossible
that any such extension of existing lines as the
city would or ought TO tolerate could settle the
transportation problem. The "imperious neces
slty" which the Appellate Division conceded to
exist, and TO which the daily experience Of
vast population continually testihes. can be met
only by comprehensive system Of underground
roads How effectually it Is possible for the
new administration to block the plans Of the