New-York tribune., 1919-02-06
Parsons Asked
To Build City's
New Subways
Governor Cables Him to In
quire if He Will Accept
if Legislature Passes Act
Mayor Hylan Is Opposed
Wants Power to Name COM
missioner if Proposed
Measure Becomes a Law
Staff Correspondence

Staff Correspondence
ALBANY, Feb. 5.-Governor Smith
wants William Barclay Parsons, builder
of the original subway in New York
City, now major general with the
American Expeditionary Forces in
France, to complete the unfnis he'd
sections Of the dual subway system
General Parsons asking him if he will
undertake the task.
General Parsons has had charge Of
of tia building of railroads for the
American troops, running from the
French coast to the first line trenches.
In order to enable the Governor to
have control over the construction,
which represents one-quarter OF the en-
tire subway system, the Legislature
has been asked by the Governor to pass
a bill creating a rapid transit commits
sioner. The salary of the proposed rapid
transit commi ssioner will be $4,000 an
nually. According to friends of the
Governor, if General Parsons accepts
the post, it will be at large personal
loss to himself.
At his disposal the rapid transit
commissioner would have the letting
of So0,000,000 of contracts and nu-
mcrous wcll-payins jobs
Mayor Hylan Objects
The Governor was told that Mayor
llylan objects to tho bill of Senator
James A. Foley providing for single
headed Public Service Commission in
New York, which would exercise all
Its present functions with tho cxcep-
,ion of construction, which would be
transferred to q rapid transit commits
sioner. In any event. it is the pres
ent intention Of the Republican lead
ers to give Governor Smith lcgisla-
ton so that he may appoint Parsons
or some other eminent engineer, re-
gardless Of Mayor Ilylan's objections.
Mayor Hylan objects to a Rapid
Transit Commissioner being appointed
by the Governor. He has toll,
Senator Foley, it is said, that the
Mayor should have the power of an
pointing the Rapid Transit Commits
sioner. He holds that the Rapid Tran
sit Commissioner is purely a local Of
fetal of the City Of New York. deal
ing solely with city matters. and as
such should be appointed by the Mayor
and subject TO removal by him.
A compromise bin may be offered to
remove all likelihood of clash be-
tween the Governor and tine Mayor.
A measure that is now being dis
cussed is TO create Public Service
Commission consisting Of three com
missioners. each to have salary Of
$4,000 a year, and have one of them
known as the Commissioner Of Transit
Construction.
The other two commissioners would
have charge OF the regulatory and ad-
mlnistrativc features Of the Public
Service Commissions law The Transit
Construction Commissioners would have
charge of the construction work
There was a hearing to-day before
the Senate Committee on Public Ser
vice on Senator Folcy's bill. Objection
was made to it by the Citizens Union.
Its spokes man, Walter Arndt, quoted
from message written by Charles I.
Hughes, when Governor, to the effect
that one commission should DISCHARGE
all the functions as otherwise thcr,
would be 9 division Of responsibility
ana conhlct Of authority.
Some Points Of Objection
Goyclnor Hughes abolished the old
kapld Trans;t Commission, Transferring
It's powers and duties to the present
Public Service Commission.
senator George f. Thompson's bill.
aboilshlng both Public Service commits
SONS and Substituting single headed
COMMISSION OF seven for the entire
state, was objected to by the Citizens
Union on the ground that New York
City should have commission of it's
own.
Mr. Arndt said the solution of the
present problem was for Governor
smith to appoint commissioners to the
three vacancies now existing in the
commission.
Senator Charles L. Russell, who rep
resents Mayor iylan's district, asked
shat the committee defer action until
the Mayor could be heard
''The Mayor told me the other day
mat he would like to appear lon these
bills either before he goes to Palm
Beach or after his return" said Sena-
tor Russell
Senator Thompson, the chairman,
said no action would be taken imme-
diately, and that the Mayor could ap-
pear before the committee next week.
" Wednesday, If he so desired.