The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-06-21
NIXON AND DELANEY
CLASH OYER FARES
Increases on Lines in City
Sharply Opposed by Transit
.t.s =. Member.
P. s. G. AID URGES RAISE
Financial Condition Of Com
panies Makes Change I'm
perative, He Says.

There Is d sharp break between Lewis
Nixon, Public Service Commissioners,
and John II. Delaney. Transit Construc-
ton Commissioner. over the question Of
raising fares on the transit lines of New
York city. The latter. who has whip
hand in the rapid transit lines because
the dual contracts. subway and elevated,
cannot be altered without his consent, Is
opposed to increases Commissioner
Nixon believes the financial condition Of
the companies makes an increase imper-
ative and that It should be given. al
though. he adds. that the corporations
should give some concession In return.
Under the law he has nothing TO do with
Increased rates, but has been working
strenuously since he took once to bring
about some agreement between the COM
panies and the city.
The differences between the two Com
missioners were revealed at the lunch
con Of the Queens Chamber Of Com
merce at the Commodore Hotel yester-
day. Commissioner Nixon. speaking
hrst. devoted his entire address to the
fare problem.
'T think that there is q chance now to
consider this proposition In a spirit Of
concession, toward the other SIDE" he
said. There has always been an idea
that no concessions could possibly be
made In respect to a reduction in fare.
My idea. is that we should arrive at a
condition that will take transit securi-
ties out Of speculation and the transit
problem out of politics."
Commissioner Nixon suggested that
the transit companies should make some
concessions themselves. First. he be-
heved, they should agree to have the
interest on the city's subway bonds
come out Of the income OF the lines
prior to. the preferentiais, which 10 not
the case now. This. he said. ought to
take the city's bonds out Of tho debt
limit. He would have the companies
agree then to give up their permanent
franchises on the, surface lines in favor
OF lndeterminats franchises. Then. he
continued. the increase in fare should
be accompanied by a provision that Il
should be reduced when operating costs
went down. His idea 10 for flexible
fare. which could be adjusted from
time to time to meet costs. This he
declared. would make transit securities
a. sta bic. ~ Government bonds.
Commissioned Delaney did not seem to
be In An altogether pleasant frame 4
mind when he got up to speak.
As usual at such functions as this"
he remarked. the first speaker gen
orally imposes on some of those who
follow tho necessity Of saying some
thing they did not intend to talk about. ,
IT am not in favor of an advance In
fares, and I want to make that Just as
emphatic as can make It I am not
In favor Of an advance In fares because
there has been nothing submitted to the
administration. either the Mayor or the
Comptroller. or myself. and ] am per-
fectiy familiar with all that was submit
ted to tbs Observation-Disclosures indicates
that any advance In fares Is necessary
All of the discussion that has taken
place is predicated entirely upon the
mere assertion Of the railroad company
that It was not making enough money
and that is all and absolutely all that
there IL behind the discussion.
II quite agree with Commissioner Nix
on that II a proper basis was laid for
q discussion there are many con-
cessions that ought to be given to the
city in return for any concessions given
to the company. but I maintain that the
mere assertions of the officers OF a rail-
road company, unbacked by any data
or any proof that this increase OF rev.
enue 10 necessary to continue the oper-
alton OF the lines. are not sufficient rea-
son to warrant the administrative officers
Of this city giving their consent to i'm
posing upon tho people OF this city a
greater financial burden for tho purpose
Of increasing merely the income of the
present stockholders of these railroad
companies" . .,.