New-York tribune., 1899-05-06
SENATOR FORD'S RAPID TRANSIT VIEWS

SENATOR FORD'S RAPID TRANSIT VIEWS.
As Senator Ford is aware. The Tribune bears
hin, No ill-wilI. but on the contrary, cordially
recognizes the excellent work which he did dur
inq the legislative session recently ended, espe-
cio1lv in connection with the Franchise Tax bill
which he introduced and skfully supported.
In return we hope that he will bear us no Ill
will If we say that his manner Of talking about
rapid transit affairs in general and the Commls-
sion in particular does him little credit Senator
Ford naturally has high opinion Of the amend
ments to the Rapid Transit act, inasmuch as he
proposed them. and he is not alone in the belle1
That they are intrinsically valuable, though the
rrevalent feeling among those most competent
TO Judge is that. so far as they have any practi-
cal effect. they are likely to prove injurious
rather than beneficial. However, on that point
we have no fault TO find with the Senator lie
is fully entitled TO hold and express whatever
views please him. and we hope the event Will
Justify his supposition that the prospects for
rapid transit have been improved by his lnter-
vention.
But when he speaks contemptuouSly or the
Commissioners who have labored with great IN
telligence and fidelity to carry out the under
taking which was imposed upon them ny law
and the popular vote, and who are not in the
slightest degree TO blame for the delays when
this community depores, Senator Ford makes
mistake which the community is disposed to re-
buke and which he has reason TO regret. lie
thinks. or says, that the Commissioners ought 10
resign. in the interest of the enterprise whch ne
assumes they are incompetent to conduct ACTON
being what the people want above all things.
We agree that the people want action, but II is
somewhat difficult TO perceive how they could
get Il through the resignation OF the Commls-
sioners inasmuch as under the law three OF
them are members Of the Commission by reason
of Offices which they hold and cannot very well
lay down, while the rest appoint their own sue
cessors But possibly the Senator did not stop
to consider the consequences of his proposition
and will withdraw it for repairs now that his
attention has been called to the matter. In that
case no particular injury TO his reputation Will
result from It. as certainly none will be done TO
the Commission whether he withdraws 1t or not
But a more serious question for Mr.. Ford 10
consider is whether he can afford to keep on
making statements which imply that the Rapid
Transit Commissioners were desirous of giving
10 a private corporation perpetual franchise
for underground roads Unless he is phenome-
|
special familiarity, he knows that the Commits
sion has never desired to let n private corpora
ton have the underground franchise on any
terms, has earnestly insisted from the first that
the city could not afford to reject the plan OF
municipal ownership, has latterly been more
hopeful than ever before that the city would
| carry out the original scheme for which the
people voted, and asked for full authority from
the Legislature in order that 1t might he better
enabled to bring about that result This is not
! a mere deduction from observation OF what was
| going on. 1t has been declared over and over
! again by the Commissioners themselves in the
! most positive manner, and, so far as we know
| Senator Ford IS the only citizen of New-York
State who even pretends to be incredulous
! Strangely enough, he appears to have convic
| ton 10 the contrary. He ought for his own SAKE
to let that conviction simmer down 10 doubt
| and then get rid of 1t altogether.