New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-20
THE GOVERNOR TAXES A HAND.

Nothing could prevent us from congratulate
Ing Mr.. Cookers organ. The Morning Iele-
graph upon its enterprise in securing from
Mr. Croker positive declaration that he Is IN
favor Of the bipartisan rapdtransit commits
sion bill II there had ever been the fain;est
doubt IA the mind Of any citizen that the Dill
was drawn exactly to Mr. Cookers liking, If
not to his express order. In the absence Of any
such doubt we cannot truthfuly shy thar our
contemporaries announcement Is stroke or
genius. Nevertheless, we welcome the publica-
ton. II Is pleasant to hear Mr.. Croker de-
nouncing the Rapid Transit Commission as "A
rank failure" evidently with a confident eX-
pcctatiOn of It's removal By the enactment OF
the Ellsworth bill. 1t is satisfaction also to
read in The Telegraph" that the Commits
slon's day is Short" the appointment of "a
practical Commission being "A certainty"
These ulterances are agreeable, for the reason
that they make their authors ridiculous. Pleas
ure derived from the modification Of others Is
not often credi.nblc 10 those who feel II, but
in this instance, we think. nobody need lie
ashamed of laughing at Mr. Croker and his
paper They were SO cocksure and compliment.
The matter had all been arranged. The Legis-
ature had received It's orders through tho au-
The bill had been mounted on ball-bearlngs,
and would breal; III" record amid hilarious teers
at the mpotcnt opposition of the Chamber OF
Commerce, the Citizens Union and other lud
crous aggrcgations of imbccilos.
1t was lovely programme-on Friday even
ing; but not so lovely on Saturday morning
when the large fact became known thar Gov
ernor Black bad taken hand in the game and
was all ready 10 play his little veto In case OF
necessity. The announcement was auth0ri'n
five. There couldn't be doubt about II. The
moment the r1pi0-trnns. gamblers heard Of II
they knew II must he true 1t was quite cOnsis
tent with their experience on several former &C.
casl0ns. when they We're playing with the same
cards for different stakes They thought with
a pang Of the Board Of Education. the Police
Magistrates and the Judges Of Special Sessions,
all still in office, though marked for destruction
N the beginning Of the session 1t was tough.
hut there was no help for 1t. There was no
use in cursing the Governor. who is uncom-
monty well situated 10 stand eXccrations from
,hat source And so. though "hearts that once
beat high for praise now feel that pulse no
more the unpacklng Of gall will be mostly
done in the scclnson Of the Democratic Club
and adjacent barrooms.
Governor Black has been censured In some
respectable and semi-respectable quarters for
taking an unususl par; In legislation. There
may be justice ia the complaint, but in this
instance he has asserted his dignity in a wholly
crcditahle manner 1t was a piece OF mon
s,rous mpudcnce for Republicans in the Legs-
lature 10 assume that n Republican Governor
would PUT the transportation interests of the
people OF New York committed bv them TO a
Commission Of able and dsintcrested men, I'M
der the control of Tammany Hall And mas
much as that degraded opinion Of his character
had been conceived and proclaimed. It was not
only his privilege but n duty that he owed
himself to make those who had taken such a
liberty contemplate