New-York tribune., 1919-01-09
n. \. Trade Board
Protests Against
Change in P. S. c.
Proposal of One-Man Head
Called Return to Policy
of l0O7-Abolishment of
Marginal r. r.. Opposed

Governor Smiths plan to replace the
present system of Public Service Com
mission supervision Of transit problems
OF New York by a one-man commission
Tor the state was attacked by the New
York Board Of Trade and Transporta-
ton in a resolution adopted at meet
ing yesterday.
Another resolution adopted at the
same meeting expressed the boards
disapproval of the move of Mayor Hy-
Ian and the Board of Estimate and Ap-
portionment. in repeating the reserva-
ton for the construction of the Brook
lyn Marginal Railway. two weeks ago.
The resolution adopted opposing the
proposition to abolish the Public Ser
vice Commission of the 1st District fol-
lows:
"WHEREAs, The Public Service Com
mission of the 1st District with juris-
diction limited to greater New York,
and the Public Service Commission Of
the I'd District, with juris sdiction out
side greater New York, were created in
1907 to take the place of the State
Railroad Commission, then existing at
Albany, with jurisdiction over the en-
tire state, including greater New York;
and
"WHEREAS, The commission with
jurisdiction in greater New York eX
ciusively was then deemed to be neces-
sary. because the transit problems of
the City of New York were vital, insist
ent and many, but were not receiving
from the Railroad Commission at AL
bany the attention that their impor-
tance demanded, and it was manifestly
impossible and impracticable for
commission located in Albany to keep
in touch with, study and understand
the transit requirements in New York
City in the way that the interests of
the public we're entitled to: and
"WHEREAS. The Public Service Com
missions law was enacted when the de-
mand therefor became irresistible, af-
ter similar bills had been urged for
four consecutive years under the lead
ership of the New York Board of Trade
and transportation, supported by some
forty-fve other organizations located
throughout the several boroughs Of
this city; and
"WHEREAS. Transit problems in
greater New York are now even more
vital, more insstent and larger in num-
Der than in 1907, while the railroad
trains operating in greater New York
and the number OF passengers carried
have increased enormously within the
last eleven years; therefore,
"RESOLVED, That, in our opinion,
the Public Service Commissions law
cannot be much changed either as to
the provisions fixing the form of the
commission or its duties, without seri-
Gus danger of diminishing instead Of
increasing efficiency, because it has
been evolved from the experience and
study of years and made to meet as
nearly as possible the requirements of
conditions; and be it further
"RESOLVED, That the vast transit IA
cilities and operations in greater New
York at this time are so vital to the
public welfare that they require the
exclusive attention of Il commission
without other duties elsewhere, and we
are much opposed to the proposition to
abolish the Public Service Commission
| of the 1st District or to transfer its
powers and duties to another commits
sion which has any other problems to
consider than those arising in greater
{ New York"
! Plea for Marginal Railway
! The resolution pettoning the. reser-
vation Of $9,500,000 for the construc-
tion of the Brooklyn Marginal Railway
has been forwarded to the Board Of
Estimate and ApDortionment and to
Mayor Hylan. 1t says in part:
"RESOLVED, That in our opinion the
announcement Of the repeal Of tho rem
ervation heretofore made may be in
terpreted as an abandonment Of the en-
tire project-to the detriment Of bust
ness and the city itself-~which aban-
donment appears to be contrary to the
attitude Of his honor the Mayor, as ex-
pressed at the meeting above referred
TO, and that such Interpretation can be
avoided by the immediate declaration
by the Board Of Estimate and Appor-
tionment Of it's purpose to at once fur
Their consider this very important prof.
ect on it's merits.
/ "RESOLVED, That in view of the
! situation created by the repeal Of the
reservation for Brooklyn Marginal
5 Railway, we very earnestly petition the
Board Of Estimate and Apportionment
TO restore such reservation at once, and
that 80 much thereof as shall be neces-
sary shall be definitely set apart for a
! Brooklyn Marginal Railway as here
after TO be constructed and that the
proper committee Of the Board Of Es-
innate and Apportionrhent be instructed
10 report plans for construction and
operation without delay"