New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-02
Fusion Platform Makes AmencanSm the Issue
By BRIGGS

and within the financial resources Of
the city.
The narrow borrowing margin
which to-day is the chief bar to the
municipalization of public services in
the result of the Tammany dishon-
esty, profigacy and extravaganza IN
the past, which dissipated the Dor
rowing power of the city. Fusion has
had the courage to conserve this Dor
rowing power even at the cost OF
temporarily higher budgets. The
longest stride toward municipal own
ership was taken by the present city
administration when it adopted the
pay-as-you-go policy, which by put
ting an end to borrowing for non
productive improvements, Will grad
ually produce margin OF credit SUI
ficient to allow the city to acquire
the most vital OF its public utilities.
Municipal Home Rule
Advocated by Fusion
Fusion stands for complete mu-
nicipal home rule. Fusion believes
that the people of New York City
should have the right 10 make and
amend their city charter, that legls-
latiye interferences with local affairs
should end, that the city should have
Justice equally with the rest OF the
state at the hands of the state Legs
lature in the matter OF taxation and
in the expenditure of state funds.
Fusion will continue to press the
state for home rule legislation.
Fusion is committed to the com
prehensive development of the Port
of New York. In the last four years
il has added more dockage than any
other previous administration.
An essential detail of such de-
velopment is the relocation of the
New York Central Railroad along the
West Side of the Borough of Man
haitian. For the sake of the city's
food supply, for the sake of its
manufacturing supremacy, and for
the protection of its citizens on the
public highways, solution must be
found and found without delay.
Fusion will cooperate with the
Public Service Commission TO find
such a solution, and failing. to ex-
ercise effective compulsion on the
company.
Fusion believes In the most liberal
degree of borough autonomy consis-
tent with effective organization and
serviceable government. Most of the
city departments should have in each
borough capable representatives with
sufficient authority to deal with local
questions for the convenience of the
citizens OF the borough. In determ-
ming questions of economy adequate
weight should be given TO any ex-
pense or inconvenience caused TO
citizens of other boroughs by being
compelled TO visit or communicate
with officers located only in the Bor-
ough of Manhattan.
The alternative offered to the vot-
ers is a return to Tammany misrule.
Against this We vehemently protest.
Tammany in successive administra-
tons brought the city TO the verge
OF financial ruin, debauched the po-
lice force, permitted and even eX-
plotted vice and crime, neglected the
welfare and comfort of citizens, sub
stituted favoritism for service, and
in an abandon of greed and evil prac-
tees so outraged the public con-
science that it was driven from
power in normally Democratic city.
With the record of the Fusion ad
ministration as the test Of our prom
Uses for future service and progress
and with the record of Tammany as
warning to voters, we commit with
confidence the cause of good govern
ment and the Fusion candidates TO
the common sense and patriotism
of the people of New York.