New-York tribune., 1919-05-14
Democratic Aldermen Kill
Resolution Asking What
Consequences City Will
Suffer From His Policy
Why Shelve Ownership?
Unions Say Hylan Seeks to
Disrupt Them; Money for
Sewage Fight Is Voted

The principal features Of the weekly
meeting of the Board Of Aldermen, held
yesterday, were:
\ Big labor organizations charged
Mayor Hylan with seeking to dis
rupt their unions and characterized his
actions as "un-American."
> An expert declared that the waters
touching New York City may con-
sist almost entirely of sewage in four
years if Jersey towns are permitted
tc add their 4O0,0o0000 gallons daily
to Jew York City's 9Oo,oO0,o0o gallons
of wage.
. Tammany saved Mayor Hylan from
- answering embarrassing questions
on the traction situation.
Quinn Arraigns the Mayor
The attempt TO obtain information
from the Mayor on the streetcar
problem was made by Alderman Will
lam F. Quinn, Republican.
"Since Mayor Hylan has been elect
ed" said Alderman Quinn, "the transit
situation in this city has grown worse
and worse, until we have several com
panies either in the hands of receivers
or bankrupt. The Mayor received the
votes of thousands who listened to his
municipal ownership talk. But he has
failed to act, except to enter into secret
conferences with traction magnates.
Perhaps he, like those who voted for
him on the municipal ownership
pledge, has thought better of it since
seeing the way the telegraph and tele-
phone lines and the railroads have
been operated under government con-
tral. Perhaps it is possible that a
seven or eight cent fare may be neces-
sary in this city.
"The roads have offered proposals in
public, only to have Mayor Hylan ap-
pear as an obstructionist. In fact,
he seems to have nothing but destruc-
ton and obstruction in his makeup
when it comes to the matter of street
railways. He never has a constructive
objection.
Resolution Asks Questions
~ therefore move the following reso-
luton:
"Whereas. The street railway SER
vice in the City of New York has be-
come demoralized during the admin
istration of Mayor Hylan to a degree
without parallel in thu history of our
city and to the disadvantage of all of
our citizens ind taxpayers; and
Whereas, Secret conferences have
been held between Mayor Hylan and
the traction interests; and
"kesosved. That his honor the
Mayor be, and he is hereby, requested
20 submit answers to the following
questions at the netx meeting of this
board:
"1. Do you expect to get five
cent fare without charge for trans
fers on our various surface lines
privately owned and operated, and if
so, how, when and by what legal
process or contract and on what
basis OF cost?
What Will the Cost Be7
"2. Now that the New York Rail-
ways Company is in the hands of
receiver, will not the right to oper-
ate eventually revert to the various
lines, 50 that each company will be
able to charge hve-cent fare? How
many such companies are there in
Manhattan and what may their
charges be?
"3. What is the present liability of
the city in amount, if any, to the
company operating the city subway
under the guarantee arrangement?
~. Do you believe, all things con-
sidered, that the city should now un-
dertake to own and operate our