New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-23
TIE HAyORS TURN.

The letter sent to Mayor van W!ch y! ~
Rop,d Transit Commission Is reasonapie ia sun
stance and discreet In tone. Ihere Is no'
word I'm it which ought to onend the hio'' sue
cept,blc opponent OF the Commission III" "
undertaking. II must be obvious to even 'ne
devoted adberents of Tammany that men VIM
have been directed by the Legislature ana the
people TO perform al important task' anu ""V
have now reached point where munic'p"i
action IL indispensable to further progress. are
warranted In asking to have the attituue vi INC
municipal administration defined mat IL "ia'
the Commission asks Of the Mayor, More IMAM
wear ago form Of contract was supnii''eu
10 the Corporation Counsel. as the law requires
but ne has never given the slghtest ln.lnha
t,on Of his opinions concerning 1t. nor indeed,
Is II known that he has ever given IL mo-
mcnts attention. II the form Of contract Is
satisfactory to the ctys legal ADVISER 'he oolii
missIon desires to be so informed If In his
Judgment il Is defective ne Is reques'eu "
point out the defects. So long as he takes no
action respecting 1t the commission "o'A -
necessarily at a standstl
or course. II was well understood for the pest
mart OF a year that the Corporation Counsels
legal possession Of the form OF CONTRACT was
convenient means OF blocking an enterprise
which the city government was unwlihhg 10
have the Rapid Transit Commission carry out
and few months ago no reply would have peeh
expected TO such inquiries as nave just pee"
addressed 10 the Mayor. But there mas oeeh
Of late some reason to surmise that ch"nse
Of disposition and intentions had occurred ~
will be remembered that at the end OF harcn'
soon after the Metropolitan oher hau peeh
made. and while the proposed amendments u
the rand Transit act were under dlscussloh'
Controller Coler Unexpectedly announced 'ha'
he was heartily In favor OF the plan Oh hu
nlcpal construction Of underground ROADS, ana
emphatically declared his belief that 'he ciy
would he able to spend $10OOO.OO0 year ior
that nurpose after the separation or city ana
county debts had been agreed TO by the people
Mere striking still. as a sign or a new DISPOSE
ton on the part of the municipal government
WAS the Mayors declaration TO the same erect
Inst week. when he told delegation OF cltlzens
that he confidently expected to see rapid-tran-
s,t tunneIs In process of construction on mu-
nlcipal account before the end OF his term
If is 70 be borne in mind. however, that
though Mr. Coler has lately seemed to be more
fayorably disposed toward his colleagues OF the
Ron,d Transit Commission. the Mayor has never
been heard to say good word FOR them' anu
has attended only single one or their meet
ines. that being. rather curiously the meeting
NJ which the proposals Of the Metropolitan
managers were received. 1t still remains uh-
certain therefore, how much and what the
Navor means by his recent declaration in ravor
of underground roads built by the city. IL
has been suspected that he hoped to find way
Of sldetracklng the present Commission ana
bringing the undertaking completely under 'he
control of Tammany As we have pointed out
however and as the Commission again REMINDS
him. the East River Tunnel bill. upon when
no has seemed to look hopefully, Is probably
,pcopablc Of being utilized for rapid-transit pur-
noses in the boroughs of Manhattan and Inc
Bronx. and with Republican Governor at Al
bAnv for at least eighteen months to come IL
f. not likely that the Commission can he re-
constructed 10 suit the views Of Tammany.
II IS evident therefore. that more light on the
situation is needed and the Mayor is reasonably
and respectfully requested to furnish It. IT ne
resnonds with statement relating to the form
OF contract and an expression Of his views re-
garding the municipalities present and prospec-
five capacity TO build underground roads. the
Commissions object will have been accom-
nlished II he makes no reply, or an evasive
one. something will still have been gained IN
the way of information as to his attitude III
the slang Of the period at is up to- the Mayor.