New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-28
TIE SIMPLE ISSUE.

The people of the city of NewYork want the
PENNSYLVANIA Railroad tunnel, and they want it
without any ifs. butts or ands. There is not the
slightest doubt about that fact. The press ana
all other organs of public opinion are practically
unanimous for the acceptance OF the proposed
contract The improvement is of such great
and manifest benefit TO the city that the duty
of the aldermen is beyond question. 1t will
mean the centring here of vast commerce
which tends to drift elsewhere owing to the
present inconvenience and inadequacy OF our
transportation facilities. 1t will mean the de-
velopment of new home areas to relieve the
unsanitary congestion of our population. 1t
will mean the removal for through passenger
traffic of the barriers of the North and East
rivers. which now seriously interfere with busl-
ness and comfort. 1t will mean great in
crease in the value of taxable property in the
city It will mean the expenditure of millions
of dollars here for labor of construction ana
permanent employment for thousands on nut
ure railroad operation. Labor will beneht the
tradesmen who supply labors wants, the real
estate owners who rent houses or shops, busl-
ness men of every kind who are interested IN
ministering TO the local population or in closer
relations with the rest of the country will bene-
fit largely from this enterprise. And only one
obstacle stands in the way of its completion
W e 90 not pretend 10 guess the nIOllNSo an
mating the band which has been holding up
this great work in defiance of the all but nnani-
nous wish of their constituents Nor are their
motives particularly important. Whether they
are standing out for a bride as there has been
some reason to suspect, or are trying 10 play
petty game of politics, are the victims OF
mere stupid Wrongheadedness will make little
difference in the condemnation which VIII be
visited upon them if they defeat this project.
They will be marked men. No excuses VIII
avail them. No pleas about wanting this or
that modification of the terms, about being for
the Improvement but against the particular ar
rangement for receiving it, will count The
main issue is joined 1t is case OF tunnel or
no tunnel. The last concession has been made.
the time for dickering is past able and honora-
bic men whose judgment NewYork trusts have
considered all the questions involved. listened
TO all objections TO various features Of the grant
and have modified the terms wherever possible
TO meet them Every competent authority
agrees that the city is making a fair bargain
and that all its rights are amply protected. The
high officials whose reputation is at stake, who
would be held responsible for any failure TO
protect the city. are satisfied. Only band OF
petty oficeholders. dressed in a little brief au-
thority, presume to hold up the work on ac-
count of tri6es.s They have had their solemn
warning The Pennsylvania Railroad has been
perfectly straightforward from the beginning,
said what it could and what it could not do.
and shown a readiness TO conform TO all reason
able requirements. Now ii gives notice that If
it is not allowed to carry out its plan soon it
will abandon altogether the enterprise the util-
ity of which even the obstructionists confess.
Those OF them who are honest must see by
this time that they cannot make their personal
views prevail. Those of them who may be seek
ing bride must realize that none will be paid
Those who are playing politics must understand
that they have all the reputation that is TO be
made by standing in the name of labor for
terms which cannot be obtained, and that good
politics now dictates regard for the will Of the
vast majority of voters, who imperatively de-
mand the tunnel Whatever reason the alder
men may have had for holding off and dickerng
hitherto, the question now is narrowed down TO
simple acceptance or rejection, not Of a particu
lar plan for the tunnel, but of the tunnel itself
Are they going 10 promote NETWORKS interests
or betray them: