New-York tribune., 1903-02-25
Rapid TRANSIT AMENDMENTS.

o.u c,-ou. regrets that public atten-
tion. so far as ii has been draWh 10 hiS pio
nosed amendments TO the kappa irahsl' a'''
-. hoo, concentrated on that part of his pro-
or.mma which provides that the present COM
mission sha be legislated out OF existence anu
the Mayor empowered to appoint new colnihi'-
sioners The Controller now explains tiiat he
deems this the least pressing and Important oi
his suggestions, and he considers IL unIoftui''e
that it should have been singled out Tor uiSou'
sion Rnt the fact is not surprising, for the
Controller himself seemed at first to lay iiiost
St,.oss on the question of remodelling the COM
mission. though it may be that he was lio''
literally quoted on that point because 1t pos
sessed greater interest for the general puDhc
than his other proposals. Perhaps also he mas
heap led 10 modify his opinion on further renee
tiop seeing how strongly intrenched the COM
mission is in the confidence of the pubic. AT
all events we are glad to know that he doeS
not think there is urgent need OF such cla1se'
The Controllers two other recommendations
seem TO have much to commend them, ana a'
least deserve to be carefully considered. as
the law now stands, the contractors interest,"
in the subway and its equipment is exempt
from, taxstion the commission having no ulS-
cretion in the matter II that exemption was
necessary inducement to capital years ago, MT
Grout is convinced that 1t ought not 10 ooh
tinue and he would therefore amend the Id"
so that it should not apply to agreements ell,
tered into hereafter. If his contention Is sohllu
ii is clear that the law should be amended Will
ont delay. inasmuch as there is reason to expect
that the commission will be able TO contract De-
fore the next session of the Legislature for large
extensions of the underground system But, "l
course. the commissions deliberate OPINION
Sbou1d first he obtained and respectfully conSld-
cred.
The Controller also thinks that the commls-
sion should have discretionary power to con-
tract for the construction of rapid transit ROADS,
arart from equipment and operation, and 10
provide for municipal operation. These TWO
PROPOSALS are of widely different character anu
the latter involves exceedingly grave considera-
tions AS for the former the law presumahly
provided that franchise should include opera
tion rs we'll as construction for the sake of in
ducinc capital TO embark in the enterprise ana
there seems to be DO essential reason for main
tanning that requirement. especially in view OF
the fact that an original contractor is now per-
mitted TO turn over to another the right ana
duty of operating a road which he has built
One point at which the law may need to be
changed is not mentioned by Mr.. Grout though
Mr.. August Belmont called attention TO it
wear ago in letter to the Rapid Transit Com
mission in which. having the limit of municipal
Indebtedness in mind. he offered 10 find money
for the construction of additional underground
roads without the help of the city's credit
Though that proposition was favorably received
at the time ii has not been brought to the front
of Iate-not we assume, because of any distrust
of Greeks who bear gifts but perhaps be-
cause the debt limit is less troublesome than 1t
was. But if there is any thought of accepting
Mr. Belmont's offer, his suggestion that the
law would have TO be slightly modified deserves
to be considered.