New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-01-18
MANY TRANSIT IDEAS.
HEARING BY COMBUSTION.
.Net- and CoLer Furnish Ginger, but
.4Uoid Each Other.

-ew transit lines should be built operated and
leased found expression yesterday at hearing
hy the Public Service Commission to get sug-
Eestions to legislation for the development of
rapid transit
Most Of the speakers favored a constitutional
amendment exempting bond issues of certain self
supporting departments of the city government
from affecting the debt limit There was some
disposition that the city's resources were
Tar greater than Controller Metz says
The Controller who sitting with the COM
rnissioners, denied with some spirit an intlmauon
~ julius Henry Cohen. representing the Silzens
I-rlion that the Controller was not taking the
public into his confidence. and should issue
balance sheet showing exactly the assets ana
Liabilities Of the civ
There was general expression of commence IN
the integrity, Judgment and devotion of the COM
mission TO the public interests. and many OF the
speakers suggested that the rapid transit act De SO
amended that the commission be given tne ais
c-etion the length of time for which any
particular franchise should be granted Win
reasonable restrictions.
The opinion has become prevalent among some
that the terms Of the Elsherg bill, permitting the
granting Of a franchise for only twenty years
with the privilege of renewal for like term are
not likely TO attract bids for such franchises ana
that longer term should be given It was THIS
Point on which most of the discussion hinged
This is a hearing purely questions OF amend s
-7ents 10 The law said Chairman WILCOX we
assume that this great city needs ITS transit 4
rillties developed in all directions SO To-Day v"
not Z
route
Mr. ELSBERGS OPINION
r. ca-.+o- E-srere who introduced the amend
,rer+s % The rand transit which have caus9o
50 much discussion. said the man loea VI TIC
trainers Of the was 10 give the CITY Po'Ni
70 separate the contracts for construction ana op-
serstion and TO shorten the term OF the franchse'
I admit he said that the question of the debt
limit seems vastly more important now than u
did then The question is Can We get private CAPT
sal 20 go into these enterprises with tie snort term
franchise? l believe the city should be connneo
70 municipal construction. because the people voted
for il at q referendum in 1874
I believe II IS safe to vest power IN the com
mission 10 let contracts for longer terms than
twenty years as 1 believe neither this nor any
ether commission would let them for minute
longer than necessary give the bidder fair DEAL
81 DO not think It necessary 10 change the law
regarding extensions additions"
Borough President CoIer OF Brooklyn. formerly
City Controller started by saying he believed
he knew more about the financial affairs Of the
city than any member OF the present city govern
raent- Have you heard one word from the Mayor
~ the Controller about the assets of New York;?
Re asked. q believe this city is the greatest and
-he richest On the face of the earth. When you
want 70 borrow money from the bank you don't
say Won are broke. You present 2 list OF your
assets This commission and the Governor ought
- take I'd the fact that this city property
enough 70 pay its debt three times believe
re could put in subvays in many directions now
-rlthout II costing the taxpayers penny freSi-
dent shouts Of the Interborough told the other
day he was wondering whether the Brooklyn tunnel
would pay the operating expenses NO" Ihe crush
n il is almost as great al the bridge.
I rhink without violating any confidence may
now say that August Belmont al first did not intend
&c build the present subway. To John E Mcdonald Is
due the credit Of the bid He deposited = check
Nth ne for s25oo0o, drawn August Belmont.
Tro days later Mr.. Belmont called and asked II
he whole thing could not be called of. Yet they
made more money that subway than had been
made On any one thing in years.
as era-s between Controller Metz and Borough
President Golfer have been Of frequent occurrence
litter ran around the room w1en the former
rzrne II back door and took q seat or The plat
form while Mr.. Coler ras talking The latter
zror7,ej for moment 10 regret that the Controller
could not have heard the first part Of his remarks
When -te Borough President done Chairman
wilcox called On the Controller. There are only
t4o things you can do said the Controller you
IN either repeal the 5lsberg act or else get
Constitutional amendment eZempting certain classes
If bonds from the debt limit
= Edward Swanstrorn. former Borough Presi-
e-- Of BROOKLYN representing the Citizens central
committee said he favored extension Of the
franchise term 70 thirtyve years. with twenty
ne year extension, or perhaps, he SAID Il Toulo
T.. het1er 70 leave 10 the discretion OF the PUBIC
Service Commission just the length Of the fran
chise.
- don't favor z constitutional amendment eZ-
e-rpr.rc certain classes Of bonds from the dehI
r-nl-." ne SAID. There may be day when We
All have = business administration with business
non n, business principles. but in the remote
future Until then We shall have, as now, pollti-
g. adml-istratIcn.
COHEN-METZ TILT
II ro,e7 Of the Citizens Union paid his re-
x-eors % TIE Controller thus: With all the re-
erecr THE community may have for the Controiier
Il sid 1t should be allowed 70 take his bare
element REGARDING ths nearness OF the city TO the
D. lul-t. We should have some SORT o. oaiaH01
,re1- q assets ard liabilities
T r.+z- 10 the Controllers report Indignantly
.r.orrg5 the Controller from the platform ne
c--v Eas no assets 50 fa- this subject Is con-
cc~aed There * only 2 debt limit
Inc Bureau OF Municipal Research IS trying 20
- zo-ss facts along this line continued Nj
,rrcl. calmly.
They don't need 70 get ii fumed the Con
-rlue- They have already got II
Give 81 70 Us: We want it, came from the crowd
- ~ rsck Of the room. which seemed delighted
= -he slap directed al the Controller
THIS zort OF talk makes me sick" nnuttereo the
'ort-oIler
7 thought not" the Controller broke in
Calvin Tonlkins on behalf Of the Municipal Art
egcsery. spoke in favor Of tndeteTminate iran
mise grant He argued that city transit should De
monopoly under municipal control. and contenoeo
THAT the argur1ent that the city had not SUFFICIENT
funds and could not obtain them for the constfuc
ton Il municipal sUbways was fictitious
Henry c Wright secretary Of the City Cluo' fof
t1at organization said that private capital shono
~ allowed 70 build subways where better results
could be obtained that rights should be let 10
bidders Offering the best advantages Leases
Ehould terminate the end of fifty years the CITY
reserving the right take the property at the
erd q Ten wears On two years notice and on rea-
souable payment.
J. Asrinan Hodge representing a committee OF