New-York tribune., 1911-01-14
BUILD THE SUBWAYS NOW
A Taxpayer Wants Members Of Esti'
mate Board to Get Together.

To the Editor OF the Tribune.
Sir: Could 7. through the aid Of your
valuable paper. interest some kindly in
clined gentlemen to form society for the
prevention Of cruelty 10 taxpayers? Poor
taxpayer! The cruetics inflicted upon him
Of late ought to appeal strongly TO those OF
kind heart
During the last administration, when the
question of subways came up for consid-
Grafton. tho then Controller, Herman \.
Metz, cmphatically declared that the city
was too poor 10 build subways, and as
result he was mobbed and stoned FOR run
ming down the fair name of the "city's
credit" and what does the present admin
istrat'on do In order 10 show the outside
world that the "citys credit" Is good? It
boosts the valuation Of real property at
the expense of the poor taxpayer Ia a
ahulous amount-to over nine hundred
million dollars. Not that the city has been
cheated or that the taxpayer has not paid
enough taxes on tho property he owned
God knows that he always paid far I'm ex-
cess for the services he received in return
but. In and behold, the fair name of the
'citv's credit" i9 saved: II can now borrow
eighty million dollars more than Il could
year ago.
And. touchn' on and aprertainin 10 the
Suhwavs, tho question or the hour, all will
concedc that all Of the candidates Of last
year were nominated and elected on plat
form which, among other things. provided
n build subways. More than a year has
passed and not even a sign Of an under
standing of one particular route for a sub
way. Tho gentlemen who compose the hon
orablo BOARD of Estimate. the disbursors
Of the Taxpayers money. oftentmes with
out his consent. instead Of serving the in
torest Of tho people a. large, and for which
the poor taxpayer Is asked 10 foot all Of
ia" bills seem 10 use their position and
power mostly TO aRgrandze their own re-
spective political ambitions.
The whole city IS crying FOR subways
Every representative civic body IS clamor-
ing FOR the adoption or the Interborough
offer: the details Of tho reasons for its
adoption are fully and satisfactorily set
forth IN an open letter and I'm a report Of
the chairman Of that honorable body. But
what matters the interest Of the mere tax
PAYER as measured with opportunities TO go
before the people and "harangue' about
prediction pledges aud O'hcr things. at
best Of very little value to any one? In all
fairness, what does th" average passerby
who helps TO nh up an audience Of a mass
meeting at Cooper Union know about the
intricate details Of the value, cost, means
and routes Of subwavs"
Why don't you gentlemen ot the board
49,
how? But build them, DO not carry the
work ~ the board to the peoples forum
The taxpayers and the people at large are
not as foolish as some Of you gentlemen
take them to be II they find a. some Of
you claim. that their executive and your
chairman isn't MI what he ought 10 be
they know their remedy Don't waste
valuable time. II would bchoove you. gem
ucmen. TO give way 10 the guidance and
advice OF your chairman After all, YOU
will all concode that there Is no earthly
reason for him not 10 wish TO serve the
best interests Of the people at whose in
stance he was called into office. and who
sacrificed position, health and almost life
20 serve them.
Give the poor taxpayer chance Start
tho ban a-Toillng and, once for all agree
10 build subNays. no matter how.
! think the writer. who II one Of the
dovnlrodicn taxpayers. Is expressing the
sentiment ~ tho majority Of the much
abused taxpayers in saying that he feels
safe To intrust his affairs I'm city matters TO
the best Judgment and wisdom ~ your
chairman.
Gentlemen this continuous n.rroruance
of disaEreeIng 20 agree on tho part Or your
honorable board ls n costly expense 10 the
taxpayers and ought n bo stopped
ALFRED \. SHIICKERMAN.
No. 2l6 Montague Street. Brooklyn.