New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-06
MONUMENTAL "HOLD Up"

Tammany heads of departments VINO are
exceedingly exasperated because the Mumcipai
Assembly refuses 10 vote for various pohu
issues would he glad TO have the puphc I'M
derstand that their indignation is based on
hiph moral considerations, and especially OH d
keen sense Of official responsibility Tor the WEI
fare of the city. There are, as we nave saiu
ronootedIv certain municipal obligations long
mast due which ought 10 be paid without lur-
ther DELAY not only because II Is dlsreputaDe
thing TO leave just debts unsettled, but Also
hocouse an extravagant interest charge Is run
ming against the city. In respect 10 these items
there can he no doubt as to what decency ana
economy require, and if mandamus proceed
inqs can he effectually employed TO compel
action on the part of the Municipal Assembly
the publc is altogether likely 10 approve their
use.
Rut these are not the only proposed Dohu
issues which Tammany officials feel concerned
about and would he rejoiced to force the Mu-
nicpal Assembly TO Apr we. indeed we haN'
no doubt that Mr. Moss is right In declaring
that there are various other enterprises III
which members Of the city government 'ake
far deeper and more personal interest-such'
for example as the street paving JOB, Tor Whl'h
Commissioner Heating wants S2ODno lhey
accordingly think that IL Is gross outrage OH
the mart of the Assembly to withhold us con-
sent 10 the necessary contraction of dent Tor
this purpose and not improhably nave hoped
nc Mr. Moss suggests. that judicial discipline
in one case would operate TO give them Tree
hand in other cases. But without passing on
the merits Of their complaint that the aSSelhpi!
Is obstinately and sefshly and disrcputably
holding up important public improvements
NAV not he inappropriate TO allude to another
conspicuous hold up for which the Mayor
and some Of his closest advisers nave loDe peeh
RESPONSIBLE and from which they have unques-
tIonably derived great satisfaction.
For more than sixteen months-since April .
1895 10 be exact-the Counsel 10 the corpora
ton has had In his possession the form OF con-
tract prepared by the Rapid Transit ComihiS-
sion for the construction of an underground
railroad II was submitted 10 him in accord
ance with the law but the law never intended
that he should put it in pigeon-hole ana re-
fuse 10 take any action concerning It HIS
authority I'm respect to the form OF contract
was bestowed upon him in order that he might
nrotect the interests Of the city by pointing
out technical defects II any existed, not tha'
be might betray its interests by blocking an
undertaking which an immense majority OF
RI. voters had deliberately approved NJ pop
MAR election. Least of all was II supposed that
tho citv's legal adviser would insoenty decline
IN nav the slightest heed 10 earnest and re-
spectful requests that he would give the mat
fer his attention The Corporation Counsel has
not been asked to approve the form Of con
tract. He has merely been asked 10 say
whether or not he considers II properly drawn
! ond IN noint ont defects If he discovers any.
| For sixteen months he has maintained absolute
silence on the subject. having been sustained
in that course by Mayor Van Wyck, who with
similar contempt for the Commission OF which
he is OK officio member, has not even had the
! decency to acknowledge the receipt of a letter
from its president asking him in the most re-
! spectful terms TO express his opinion OF the
rapid transit project and the cty's probable
! financial ability to carry II out in the near
! future.
This II appears TO us. is a hold up In com
harrison with which the offence alleged by the
Tammany administration against the Municipal
Assembly is of small proportions and impor-
lance The Mayor and his advisers are hold
Ing NJ the whole city OF Ncw-lork, whose
will was declared five years ago by majority
of more than three 10 one Of the voters. ana
whose demand for relief has been constantly
growing more insistcnt. We do not know
whether or not the courts could he successfully
invoked TO compel the Counsel 10 the Corpora
ton TO report upon the form Of contract Tor
underground roads which he has been Obstl-
natelv and nsolently holding up for sixteen
| nonths Int we are convinced that a multitude
Of citizens would Ike TO see such a legal proc
css begun.