New-York tribune., 1908-02-10
SUBWAY BUILDING.

With the preparation OF its plans FOR the
Lexington avenue subway the Public Service
Commission has done the utmost 1t can to pro-
vide for new traction facilities. If no additlonai
subway is built the fault is with the municipal
administration. which has gone ahead making
provision for all sorts of minor works. involving
expenditure within the next couple of years or
S200O00O00. and failing TO keep in mind the
cltv-s imperative need of additional traction
lines or it is with those ardent friends OF the
people who were SO determined to protect the
city against the exactions Of private capital
that they procured the enactment of laws max
ing construction of subways by private capital
practically impossible. If the proposed LeXing-
ton avenue line is not built. or If there is UNDUE
delay about the construction OF 1t, the pubic
must put the blame where it properly belongs.
The Public Service Commission cannot compel
the city administration TO change its opinion
about the relative Importance TO the city of
adequate traction facilities and of the odds and
ends of ventures to which the city is already
committed by the Board of Estimate and Appor-
tionrnent, nor can it take capital by the neck
and compel 1t to enter field that has been
made unattractive by unwise legislation
Controller Metz is quoted to the effect that the
city has no money to spend on subways. There
are. unfortunately, good reasons for believing
that he does not overstate the case It is prob
ably true. as the Controller says. that If he had
not caused the stopping Of work on S1250O0OOo
worth of contracts last fall the city would soon
be carrying on undertakings involving expendi-
lures in excess of the debt limit At the end
of the year the actual margin of the city's
credit was about S35.000000. and the assess
ments for this year increased this by between
S4o,0o0,Ooo aud S45.00oo00, SO that the appar
ent margin is about SS000OOO0. OF this sum
SJ0.0O0,O00 will be used up by the coming bond
issue and the prosecution of the various enter
prises TO which the city is already committed
viii call for all the remainder. If not more If
the public believes that the subways should be
built with the citys credit let it place the blame
for the lack of city funds to construct them
where il belongs. the city administration.
which has used the citys credit extravagantly
on all sorts of projects. ignoring the need of
traction facilities. although il was aware Of
the practical impossibility under the exist
ing law of building new lines except with city
money. Out of the millions at its command
considerably over S1O0000G00 spent in its
first two years, with plans calling for the eX-
penditure of nearly S20o.000.OO0 more in its
last two-the administration could had il been
SO disposed. have provided for new subways.
Various ways are suggested for the relief of
| the situation in which the administration has
| left the city OF these the quickest seems 10 be
cndnge III tue law so thdt private capltal may
| again enter the field. The Elsberg law has
demonstrated that it is injurious to the city s
/ interest. operating in just the same way have
| similar laws in England, where the restriction
of leases or franchises for public utilities to
twenty years has Invariably checked develop
! ment. Capital insists on longer period to be
sure of its returns. The Elsberg act should be
ST. amended that capital will be attracted by the
opportunities of subway construction No such
! abuses as once formed just ground of COM
plfint against til. privately owned and managed
traction lines result from this policy, for the
/ Public Service Commission has the power and
/ the will TO compel good service from any COM
/ p2ny it authorizes TO build Subways