New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-25
TBr cFyrRAL PrBLTc MUST HELP.

1t is apparently true as Mr.. Lehmaier, speak
sng for the Transit Reform Committee Of One
Hundred declares. that an impressive demon
stration Of public feeling is necessary 10 prevent
the massage Of the street railroad grab bills.
The fact that they were favoraby reported TO
the Assembly on Wednesday while the Senate
committee was unsympathetically listening 20
arguments against them is significant Of the
temper Of the legislature. Albany correspond
ents and the representatives OF civic organiza-
lions opposing the hills agree that an the indi-
cations point TO their passage. and the company
! sn whose interest they are frankly advocated
must feel that Mr.. Cravath. OF counsel. is an
exceedingly valuable man. year ago bills Of
similar character were barely defeated at the
last moment but they were so thoroughly dis
credited and public qualification al their defeat
was so marked that the present attitude OF the
legislature is a convincing proof that tremen-
dous pressure has been applied in opposition 10
popular sentiment. IN one respect, the com
pany has changed its methods for the better.
Last year it attempted TO disguise its hand, and
for q time a mystery hung about the bills for
which its secret agents were working This
year Il has come out into the open and acknowl-
edged some OF the objects which IL hopes 10 &C
z complish- That is a more reputable way Of do
ing things, but Il docs not make the bills them
selves inuinscally less Objectionable.
We observe that Mr.. Cravath IS repeating his
assertion that the multiplication Of suits arts
ING out OF the comp0nys refusal 20 give trans
fers at certain points is scandal0us. The truth
IS that the description. rs ne means Il. comes
nowhere near Citing ana il is childish TO com
plain OF conditions Tor the existence OF which
the company is wholly responsible Nor IS any.
body outside the ranks OF ''the marines" likely
20 be impressed Icy the compauy's plea that q
transfer az Sixth-ave and Twenty-third-st. fol
example. means a hideous congestion and prob
ably riot in the Eeighborhood. AS a matter
of fact, nothing or the sort has occurred there
since the company was forced 70 change ii,
policy. II has failed 10 collect great mans
extra fares but the only complaints are IN
own. and there IS no disposition on tho part Of
the public 10 increase its revenues. either by
letting tho Railroad Commission deterr,,ia
where Transfers shall be given or leaving 10 IN,
Attorney General the question Of moving 10 re
cover penalties.
Perhaps the most dangerous possibilities ar,
those which are contained in the so-caIled relo
cation BILL which would in the opinion OF com
potent lawyers. enable the company to chang,
its tracks from one street 70 another and TIM
acquire a virtually new franchise in perpetuitv
Mr. Cravatl asserts that the company has n,
intention OF scizing Eln-st-. which IL confessed
" covets, by means OF this bill but he does no
guarantee that the company. having DO cor
pornte conscience. viii not change its corDoraf
mind. He sars TINT the relocation bin is pr
nsarily" Intended 10 allow rae removal of track
1 sroIn Amsterdam ave without forfeiture o. ia