New-York tribune., 1908-05-24
TRANSIT BILL DEAD
NOT SIGNED BY HUGHES.
Gomez Island FiUe-Cent Fare Bill
Also Not ApproUed.
tBy Telegraph to The Tribune ]

York by offering more attractive contracts TO
private capital, died tonight with the expiration
OF the thirty-day bill period. Governor Hughes
declined give his approval to the measure.
The Governor made no explanation Of his &C
tior this important measure tonight. He
Will have memorandum next week setting
forth his for failing sign the bill.
While the Citizens Union and other civic organ
izations Of New York and the Public Service
Commission for the 1st District advocated the
enactment OF .his measure, there has been ex-
pressed both at legislative hearings and before
the Governor much opposition 10 it, on the
ground that il would tend TO confirm the present
traction monopoly in its control of the New York
City transit situation.
Amendment Of the Elsberg rapid transit law
aid subway building one Of the impor-
tant recommendations made by the Governor at
the beginning of the legislative session and
urged vigorously by him. Coupled with this
was proposition TO relieve the transit situa
ton by eliminating from New York City's debt
limit subway bonds which were self-supporting
This matter, in the form of a constitutional
amendment, passed both houses but cannot be
effective until ii has passed the next Legislature
and been ratified by a popular vote
Other transit measures of considerable In
terest TO New York City failed to become
laws The much discussed Coney Island 5-cent
fare bill died in the ruck of thirtyday bills.
This measure, which fathered by the AS
sernbly Railroads Committee. substitute
for four measures introduced by Tammany
Hall Democrats largely TO gain political favor
with a much incensed constituency, which re-
sented failures TO vote for similar measure in
1867 The bill was somewhat ambiguous since
Il established the scent fare only in case the
Public Service Commission did not sanction
higher rate
In disapproving the so-called Coney Island
bill the Governor in a memorandum salo IN
part:
Il is plainly intended TO affect charges over
existing lines II esta blishes a maximum rate
Of five cents without regard the length Of the
route or the reasonableness of such fare In
other words. il is an arbitrary maximum Nh-
posed by legislative fat.
The attempt to enforce such rate under
such circumstances would be abortiVe. as
II IS idle 70 suppose that the companies can
be compelled 10 reduce their fares to five cents
merely because the Legislature says so.
Whether q scent fare is a fair one depends
upon facts and not upon sentiment desire or
prejudice. Whether the result be agreeaoIe or
disagreeable. il inevitably will be reached only
after the facts have been ascertained ana con-
sidered Justice requires this. and under the
constitution the requirement will be enforced
The proper way to deal with these matters is
70 provide for investigation in which the Whole
slfiec4 can be considered. specious claims sifted
out and result just both to the corporations
and the public arrived at ~,
with regard 70 the Public Service Commission
has this effect. But this is not the case the
bill provides for a fat rate Of . cents unless
the commission consents TO higher rare. IL
does not provide that the confnlsslpn sllalI @
ascertain or fix a just and reasonable rate
that increase shall be allowed beceuse II
is just and reasonable
It is highly important that should have
TRANSPORTATION in our cities at the lowest fair
rates. II is desirable that in New York CITY
there should be low rates from the congested
quarters to the breathing spots in the outlying
districts and by the sea The sure way, and
the only. way, to make real progress in this
direction is through the aScertainment Of the
essential facts and the making of reasonable
rates in accordance with the facts. This bill
is wrong in principle and is not adapted TO
secure the desired result. cannot approve II.
ANOTHER TRANSIT BILL DEAD.
Still another transit measure which died
that permitting the Interhorough to charge
an additional fare over an extension of the
present system 70 be built in the annexed
district" This was designed to bring resi-
dents Of White Plains 70 New York City with
out their present difficulties, and they were
willing to pay the extra fare for the proposed
facilities.
Practically the only vicious political bill which
got 70 the Governor this year was among the
40 left by him TO die This was the Gilchrist
measure providing that the of & candi
date for Office shall appear only once on a
ballot except in the cases of judicial nomina-
lions. Thus the Endorsement of candidate
BY another party or q group of independents
practice recognized salutary in its effect
politics. would he prevented. and the two
dominant parties would have been able to Per-
petuate themselves by the boss methods which
Governor Hughes has denounced so vigorously
II his recent speeches. The Gilchrist measure
vas similar To one introduced last year by AS
senblyman Phillips under the guise OF meeting
Governor Hughes's recommendation for ballot
reform That hill died in the Senate commit
tee
Another measure which failed TO secure the
Governors approval was that Of the Committee
OF Insurance, amending Section % Of the So
called Armstrong insurance law so as 10 in
crease the amount Of money insurance compa-
niez may expend in securing new business
The Governor signed tonight B. r. Robin
sons measure providing that lodging house
keepers in New York City shall make affidavit to
identifications Of voters registered from their
places which identifcations include the
signature Of each man lodger. This of
the election reforms urged 10y the New York
County Republican Committee. William Leary,
Superintendent Of Elections for the metropoli
tan district in his annual report 10 the Gov
ernor made on December 81 last. also strongly
urged the enactment Of this legislation.
In disapprov-ing bill of Senator Cassidy
which purported to clarity the law relating TO
the percentage Of the franchise tax placed by
the state on corporations. Governor Hughes
says in memorandum
While il would be advisable TO clarity the ex-
raised under this bill that might cause serious
erba barrassment
The Governor also dsapproved a bill intro
6uced by Assembyrnan 6. ". Murphy, relating
10 the County Clerk Of Sullivan County. He
says: