New-York tribune., 1919-07-08
Nixon Orders
TwO-Cent Fee
For Transfers
Continued from page 1

property restored to them because Of
the inability of the New York Railways
Company to pay rentals.
Judge Mayer, when he adjourned the
case couple of weeks ago, said that If
the company could not show its ability
to pay the rental, he would order the
lines restored to the owners.
Receiver Hedges said last night he
hoped Judge Mayer would not do this,
as he believed the public would suffer
by a disintegration of the company
which is made up Of twenty-five street
surface lines operating in Manhattan.
II certainly shall fight any attempt at
disintegration of the company" said
Mr.. Hedges.
Mayor Attacks Smith
Mayor Hylan in his statement, which
follows, took fling at Governor Smith
and the Legislature for raising the pay
Of the school teachers:
II am opposed to aholishing trans
fers in any part Of the city, as that
will mean an increase in fare and will
place an additional burden on the peo-
pie. am also opposed to public Of
ficials who favor it. Many people pur-
chase homes in different sections of the
city on the representation and with the
distinct understanding that they can get
to and from their homes for scent
fare, and they should not be denied
this privilege.
"These transit corporations have
been permitted to use valuable privi-
leges, and over $2O0,0OO,0oO of the citys
money has been spent to construct the
lines which these corporations are now
operating, and yet they complain that
they are not making money. 1t is time
that public officials, both admnistra-
tive and judicial, understood that the
people have some rights.
Blames Reform Organizations
"The last session of the Legislature
was requested to pass legislation which
would give the municipality the right
to take over and operate our public
utilities, but this legislation was not
passed. A bill was presented which had
the approval of the Conference of
Mayors, which was in the interest of
the transit corporations. | opposed this
bill, as it's object was to saddle the
City OF New York with the property
of the transit corporations at an
exorbitant price, thereby placing a
further burden upon the people and
bringing about higher taxation.
"The corporations do not want the
City Of New York to take over and
operate the transit lines unless they
get an exorbtant price for their equip
ment and franchise rights. This leg
islation was defeated and the reform
organizations favored mandatory leg
islation which was passed and placed
upon the statute books, which will
place a burden upon the people
to the extent of from sio,000,0O0 to
20,000,000, thereby increasing the tax
rate from 20 to 25 poinas.
"The purpose of this mandatory leg
islation is to add additional burdens on
the city so that it cannot take over
the transit lines, as there will be no
available funds for such purpose"
Nixon Reviews Testimony
In his decision last night Commits
sioner Nixon reviewed the testimony
which has been gievn in the course of
four hearings in the last two weeks,
and says:
"The commission is thoroughly con-
vinced that in spite of the great i'm
provements in operating conditions
since the beginning of the year the
company is not now earning and is not
likely to earn fair return on it's in