New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-07-02
Municipal Ownership a
Public Utilities Anon,
Platform Proposal.
Document Reflects
Style of Hear,
Grabs" and Betrayal. q
the People" POINTED Ont
in Heavy Type

Tammany wants to be progr,,,,..
at least for the purposes Of the eor,,,
municipal campaign. Whether the ri,,,
is looking for game among "A.
struggling Bull Moose, who hays =.
returned TO the Republican fold :.
whether the organization desires 70 ~
dictate an early surrender 10 ev.,,
thing advocated by Mr.. Hearst in los'
government, were questions that los,l
political leaders were trying to ansvs,
yesterday after reading the "platfors
proposals. eminating from the N,
York County Democratic Committe.
The document in question .ss ,.,,
by the County Committee. wbo,
executive members are also memb.,
of the inner councils Of Tammm,
Hall, to County Clerk William !
Schneider, chairman of the Democr,t,
Fusion Committee of 40, which. I'M
at present, % endeavoring 10 formula.
a platform in opposition 70 Republic,,
Mitchell Fusion ideas. Just below y,
caption, in large type and uncensorS
in the Tammany proposals that n,
stand for the prososition that the en-,
is for the people" the followrs
startling announcement. all in IAN,
type and underscored, is made
specifically we are in favor Of u,
municipal ownership and operation 4
all public utilities, including tractia
gas, electricity and the telephone.r
"The present city adminis,rs,is,
was elected on pledges that the Elm
government would be conducted on on,
gressive lines" the statement open
ain the interest of the citizens si
whole and not of special priyilen
These pledges have been forgotten n
ignored, and the Fusion adminis.u
ton has steadily pursued a course q
obsequious difference 70 the publ
utility corporations and predatory su
privilege seeking business. We han
seen a frank surrender Of a majorr
of the Board of Estimate, and con
spicuously of the Mayor and the CO.,
troller to the public service copon
tons"
"Betrayals" Pointed Out
The committee calls attention Il
several "betrayals of the people" "
the present administration.
The "betrayals OF the people" an
neatly classified. first. under the hea
of uniform favoritism" shown to h,
public utility corporations, OF Wild
the following are conspicuous To-
stances:
1. The West Side Eleventh Aveuu
franchise grab.
2 The sitting of the project for u
independent bus line, in the nteuf
of the present company. which isl
subsidiary of the Interborough, On.
which enjoys a monopoly described b
Mayor Gaynor's administration as n
tolerablep
8. The settlement upon terms hhl
favorable TO the corporations and us.
rifcial of the city's interest OF fns.
chise tax cases.
4. Complete failure TO pursue III
scandals revealed in lnterborout
financing by the recent investigates
by the joint committee of the stsn
Legislature.
8. The marked favoritism TO the Hw
York Telephone Company in the has
ding Of the cases against the Empta
City Subway Company for the city,
share in the latter's profits.
6. The delays and confusion reisk
ing from the intermeddling Of III
Fusion administration in the pendia
case against the Edison Electric Con.
pany for a reduction of electric lIsti
charges.
Real Estate "Grabs"
The second group Is under the tEf
of "the recurring appearance In van
Gus real estate transactions Of PARTS
known TO be on terms Of intimacy VII
the Fusion administration, who, ~
vored by advance information, Ism
made large profits for themselves b
transactions with the city" !. 10
cludes the following:
/. Neponset Park at Rockswsy. =.
2. South Brooklyn Marginal Railfcsa
classification yard.
3. The acquisition Of Dreamland
4. The Staten Island garbage ~
struction plant.
8. The various Jamaica Bay leases
6. The Rockaway fort acquisition fa
the United States government.
7. Plum Island.
The third betrayal" consists Of:
THE abdication by the city govern
ment OF its functions and duties win
reference 70 the administration Of tn
Department Of Education. TO the Bod
efeller Foundation. and with refernt
to the Charities Department and Ctfh
Welfare Bureau, or Widows Pensi's
Bureau, in favor Of the group OF pr
vate institutions, popularity known
the charity trust"