Year: 1864

The Dfmculties With tho Omntb as and
City Railroad Compa niss.


One OF the first duties which should occupy
the attention Of the Legislature when it meets
is the endeavor to effect fair adjustment OF the


matters in dispute between the public and the
proprietors of our city conveyances There is
no point Of greater interest to the population
OF q great city than the multiplication and
cheapening of the facilities of travel. When
they find them curtailed by the greediness or
mismanagement of the companies enjoying
privileges by their favor, it is natural that they
should become restive. At the same time they
are not unreasonable. Convince them that there
is real necessity for the demands made upon
them, and they will cheerfully assent to them.
They can be convinced but not bullied into
compliance with tax thus levied.


The city railroad companies unfortunately
forgot this fact when they undertook to force
us to pay the additional cent which has given
rise to so much trouble Had they started by
doing what we originally recommended, and to
which they have been at last driven, there
would not have been murmur raised against
it. The public would have paid cheerfully the
eighth of a cent imposed by the Internal Reve-
nue. law from the general disposition that
prevails to shoulder manfully the national bur-
dens. The attempt under this pretence to levy
I additional profits ON the public, or to make
them pay for the results OF mismauagement,
The community are determined to firmly resist
any increase in the fares of the city railroads
which is not proved to be necessary. The
statement published by the president of one of
the lines yesterday makes out no case to justify
the action Of the companies. It's arguments are
met by the fact that the stock OF one of them is at
something like two hundred and forty, and is
not to be met with in the market. 1t is said
that this is owing to good management. II it be
so, SO much the more reason for not taxing the
public for the bad management on other lines.
But there is this to be urged in addition: that
the question Of large profits is one Of certainty,
sooner or later, with all these lines Let them
be ever so ill managed, the increase OF popula-
ton is sure to bring with it increase of patron
age. Besides, it must be taken into account
that the companies have paid the city nothing
for their charters, and that they can well afford
to wait the period of probation which most en-
terprises of the kind have to pass through.


We think it all the more necessary to lay
stress upon these points from the fact that we
understand it is the intention of the city CON-
panies to 60 before the next Legislature for
authority to make general increase in their
fares. OF course . strong lobby interest
lsckol - x1c


Let US impress upon our city representatives
the fact that nothing will be more calculated
to damage their popularity with their constitu-
ents than disposition to favor any augmenta-
ton of the already extravagant profits earned
by some of the lines. At the same time we
believe that it will do good to ventilate the
subject by committee Of inquiry. If it has
no other result it will open the eyes Of people
to the injustice Of making grants Of such
valuable privileges without securing the city
some direct benefit from them.


If a committee Of this kind be appointed we
trust that the profits and conduct of the stage
and ferry companies will also be made a sub
ject Of investigation. More arbitrary and lille
gal acts are being daily perpetrated by the
employees Of both these interests than would be
tolerated by any other community. Open
swindling, abuse OF passengers and rufiianly
assaults, by drivers and ferry hands, are
among the facts that we have daily to
chronicle. This state of things must be put an
end to, if we do not wish to earn for New York
the title of being the worst regulated city in
the world. Will the Legislature do its duty in
providing the proper remedies The opening
up Of competition to all classes Of public con-
veyances. the passage of stringent acts entail
ing for mismanagement the forfeiture of privi-
leges, when privileges are necessary, and
more thorough subordinaton Of railway con-
ductors, hack drivers and ferry hands to the
Jurisdiction of the city authorities, are among
those that may be indicated as indispensable.


VIOLATION OF THE PosT OFFICE LAws.-We
see that the list of letters is published in an
obscure city journal by direction of the new