New-York tribune., 1911-01-12
What Platforms Declared.

Taking I'D the first of his seven points,
the Mayor said opposition to the inter-
borough proposition on the ground thae
marty platforms declared for city builS
and city controlled subways was miss
leading. because under the law there
could be no other kind. He said:
They sav they oppose the proposition OK
,ha InterSorough Company that the clty
build certain extensions OF the plessht 80
way U quote) because ttT hidI'uii hinc,io, ~
the members Of this board was against
monopoly and in favor or city oullI anu
City-conIrolled subways. , -,
This refers 10 the political platforms "
tho last city election. These platforms did
favor city-built and city-conuohed suo
ways, In language more or less he'n.tS, L.a,
The drafters of them seemed 10 nave peeL,
Ilnder tue delusion that some other Nnd OF
subways could be built under the sections
of the statute which Apply 10 thr ouI.uins
~ the city subways. But that IS nor 80;
The statute is beyond dispute ise sats
sections provide only for the ouudlhg OF
citv subvays by the city through tle fuo-
lie Service Commission. There Is no olHer
wav 10 build them Though platform max
ers did not know this. we snouId ho' oe
astray In respect Of II.
,Ths present offer OF the InterborQueh IS
not that IL be permitted 10 bulo subways,
but that the city build Suo"ags, ana 10 ehe
out the scant credit and tunds oi the GU.
n offers TO pay 10 the city in the course or
construction all capital necessary III excess
OF S53 900 900 10 be contributed by tne 'llyi
all told. The city builds the sIowayS ano
owns them from the start. There is no
other way. II is too bad 10 see contrary
notion. and that we purpose 10 follow II,
rut in the minds OF the people VINO 90 not
examine the matter for themselves, dha an.
unconsciouslv, IL may be- depend wholly
Sor tbeir irspiration or information upon
The false notion, long abroad and indus;
triously disseminated, that private capltai
or private capitalist who was often
named built the present SUBWAY IN Man
haitian and The Bronx has not ytt oeen
wholly driven out Of mems minds ~ took
a few of us several years 20 dlsSipate IL
70 some extent Not one dollar OF private
canitaI went into the construction OF inc
said subway The city put every dollar
into II Nor did II loan the capital To
buiId il as is sometimes loosely said.
Built and Owns Subway.
On the contrary. II built the subway and
owned IL from the moment OF completion
and leased II for operation. II loaned no
money or credit to any one 10 build II. Inc
nnietake was made OF giving too long L
lease OF IL when built. That we are no"
striving 10 rectfy by having the seVen'!
five-year term and renewal scalen no"n 70
forty-nine years or less. When the exten-
Sion under the East River and over INTO
prnokIyn was built some years afterward
coponetition and conditions were such that
30 ,ha 100000 OF capital used the CITY
nut 4, only e 1l00p0, the company putting
T. tho balance And vet, for such Is mo
80 s,a,ute the city was the builder with these
SrnJs and not the company, and the city
n,'nsd The subway from the start the very
come as though II put In all or the captal.
o. regret TO have 10 recut TO thlnSs SO
,vndomental but | do IL only thdt no one
sSaU be misled, II | can prevent IL. VI
comrse my said associates do NOT mean 70
, noislead and none of US VIII De mlsled' PUT
Mai about others? All | say IS thst
ny said associates have not made thls
natter clear and that their report as \
ubole tends TO make people oeileNe INA :
,ha offer OF the Interborough IN 10 pul,,
Sor itself and thereby get some oNnetsnlp
or control which II would not % o%tntt WIS, WISE !,
Says Whereas It's offer is that the city build
49, Tho statute II could not make any
otber kind OF offer. because there Is no law
| for II. ,-.... 49,, = .tnL
| 10, Sund ont of earnings. and the pronts or
| alton are 10 be divided equally between
ne CITY and the company.
Can't Be independent.
The second point OF the Mayor was
that II was mere quibbiing TO say that
two systems operated by the same or
allied companies could be independent.
He wrote:
The r.nort of my associates substantially