New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-07
THE AnEvDnENTS-PAPID TRANSIT

The four amendments 10 the Constitution
which. having been passed 10y two Legislatures,
are submitted 10 popular vote to-day ought 10
be adopted. The first aboshcs in the several
counties included IN the city Of New York the
Boards Of Supervisors which have been super
fuous since consolidation was Effected It's
adoption would be- conducive 10 simplicity Of
ficiency and economy of administration. and
aside from those who have a selfish personal
interest in the matter it IS scarcely possible to
suppose that more than a handful Of voters
will oppose The amendment The third and
fourth proposed changes in the organic law are
designed TO facilitate the dispatch of legal bust
ness in overworked courts by permitting trans
fer Of cases from one department Of the Ap-
pellate Division TO another and by authorizing
the Governor 20 assign four Supreme Court
Judges to temporary service in the Court Of
Appeals, whose calendar is far I'm arrears and
growing longer. To the serious disadvantage of
ltigantS and especially those Of moderate re-
sources. Bar and bench have Interested them
selves in these amendments. and their adoption
is confidently expected
The second amendment IS in somewhat
different case. grave fears Of it's rejection hav-
ing been expressed by some Of IT'S most earnest
the counties wholly comprised within the boun-
darics Of the city OF Ncw-York 10 contract new
debts. and providing thar their existing in
debtedncss shall not be reckoned in computing
the constitutional limit Of municipal indebted
ness These county debts amount 10 about
$4,000 600 and the passage Of the amendment
would therefore operate 10 Increase 10 that eX-
tent the citys borrowing capacity. This losi-
cal and otherwise desirable restoration II con
dltions existing before the passage Of the Con
solidation act is especially important at this
time. as everybody knows or ought 10 know be-
cause the prompt construction of underground
roads depends upon it.
Tammany Hall. for reasons Of its own which
We hope are sound and sincere. though with
ridiculous professions Of constant devotion 10
the cause Of rapid transit is urging its voters
10 support this second amendment. and 50 far
as is known there Is no direct encouragement
of opposition 70 il IN any part Of the State II
f., nevertheless, a curious and suspicious cir
cumStance that the managers Of the Republican
organization have appeared 20 feel little or no
interest in the amendment and are believed 10
have made no scrylccablc response Whatsoever
"a the request Of the Rapid Transit Commits
siOners and Others that they would cause com.
try voters 20 be assured Of its prOpricty and i'm.
p0rtancc. This seeming indifference. having. II
IS feared. the effect Of hostility is the more
singular owing TO the fact that though there is
10 trace Of politics or partisanShip IN the terms
or intention OF the amendment. twas passed by
two Republican Legislatures with the approval
II not at the direct nsigation of the samelead
who are now apparently regardless Of its fate
Suspicion not only exists Eur has undoubtedly
grown stronger within few days We hone
the circumstances which have produced II are
accidental, but it cannot be denied that the M.
titudc of the Republican organization REQUIRES A
better explanation than has thus far been Of
fered.
II is readily conceivable that there may be