Short Editorials (No Headlines) June 14, 1895

New York, 1895

The decision of the General Term of the Supreme Court, Third Department, regarding the paralleling of existing railroads, while not the first of the kind, is both important and interesting. It is important in that it sustains the refusal of the State Railroad Commission to permit the construction of a new railroad which would simply parallel an existing railroad. It is doubly interesting because of the enactment this year in Chapter 513, Laws of 1895, of an amendment to the very section of the railroad law involved, section 59, striking out the words "This shall not apply to street surface railroads," and thus bringing all surface lines in the State within the scope of the decision against the paralleling of old roads. Does not this knock out the Long Island Electric Railroad Company?



The Brooklyn Times has showered praise upon Commissioner Cooley because of the splendid school buildings in his district and their fine equipment. But, bless you, all that credit belongs to ex-Commissioner Merrill, for he built all those fine school houses, and did more to advance the cause of education in this territory than all the officers who had preceded him for fifty years. We detract nothing from Mr. Cooley's merit in asking for justice for Mr. Merrill. And, by the way, School Commissioner Clair is making a record that calls for commendation over in the First district, but the Times will not say so because Mr. Clair is a Democrat. Every man should be judged out of his works and not for his politics.



The Island, Senator Childs' nursling, has become a full fledged Republican newspaper. It will be edited by Monroe S. Wood, a very bright, progressive and courageous journalist. The Republicans had to have a party paper on which they could rely, the Standard having become corrupt, and having disgusted all decent people by its malice, waywardness and unreliability.



"Old Hen" Reeves of the Greenport Watchman has come off his nest with a brood of misconceptions about the Jamaica normal school. If he will but look at the supplemental supply bill he will feel like hiding himself in his musty nest again. That's where the additional $50,000 is tucked away.



Governor McCormick's resignation as a local commissioner of the normal school should not be accepted at this time when his services have become especially valuable and the work ahead of the commission is so important. Of course Mr. McCormick has good reasons for wanting to be freed from this responsibility, but he is patriotic enough to forego his personal desires in a matter so important to the public well being.



According to the Hempstead Inquirer George Wallace worked the Albany lobby racket at the expense of that town until he got a chance to transfer the game to the county, but he is not likely to be as successful in working the county as he was in working the town.



The village trustees have passed a resolution requesting the Supervisors to take control of and maintain as county roads certain streets within the village. Three years ago the trustees had a special law passed to prohibit the Supervisors or any other body from doing this very thing.



The Republicans of the Third district cannot do better than nominate Charles L. Phipps for Assemblyman. He would be certain of election, and we go bail that he would make a faithful representative.



The village should not part with the old school site on Herriman avenue and running through to Union avenue. This property is needed for public purposes. The old school building could be transformed into an admirable village hall at comparatively small expense, with a meeting room for the trustees, committee rooms, clerk's room, and police court. A better site for a public building cannot be had, except at heavy expense, and in time so much of the laud as now may seem superfluous will be required for public uses. If more money is necessary for the equipment of the new schools the people should give it rather than sell this valuable property to raise it.



Whew! The Long Island City Herald accuses Boss Youngs of "base disloyalty" to his party. That's tough on Billy — and he 3,000 miles away.

—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, June 14, 1895, p. 4.