New-York tribune., 1919-08-31
E1ylan Starts
Statewide
Fare Fight
gingConspiracy to Get
Legislature to Sanction
Increase, He Calls for
S'Committee of 1000"

Mayor Hylan yesterday launched
statewide organization designed to
pledge candidates for the Assembly at
the coming election to vote aeaSnst in
creased fare legislation in 1920.
1he Mayor announced IS the nucleus
OF the organization committee Of
one thousand, of which his private sec
retary and future son-in-law, John ?.
Slnnott, is secretary. The Mayor named
it the New York City Citizens Commit
tee to Fight the Eight-Cent Fare.
The Mayor began yesterday to enlist
the support of the New York State
Conference of Mayors. He wrote to
Mayor W. r. Stone of Syracuse, presi-
dent of the conference. proposing that
immediate action be taken by the con
ference to insure the formation of COM
mittees Of citizens to cooperate with
Mayor Hylan's committee.
Charges Statewide Plot
In his letter to Mayor Stone, Mayor
Hylan charges that there is state
wide plot on the part Of "the traction
ring to force an increased fare bill
through the next session Of the Legis-
lature.
The traction mep are willing to use
both foul and unfair means to coerce
the Legislature into granting higher
strectcar fares" the Mayor says.
He declares he is convinced that un-
less his proposed organization moves
quickly, "an imposition on the public
will be perpetuated by Legislative act"
The Mayor did not name any one who
is at the head of this alleged plot to
corrupt the Legislature of 1920, and he
denied himself to newspaper men who
wanted to ask him questions. Nor
could Mr.. Sinnott be seen.
Follows Attack on Nixon
copy of the letter to Mayor Stone
by the Mayor" which was addressed
ITO the public" were all that could be
obtained from the Mayors Office in an
sWer to demands for more informa-
ton on the charges he made Friday
against Public Service Commissioner
Nixon. These charges followed Com
missioner Nixon's refusal to rescind
The increased fare order which he
granted the New York and North
Shore Traction Company
Commissioner Nixon said there was
nothing in the increasing of fares re-
lating to the situation in Manhattan
and Brooklyn, or the rest of the city.
and that no precedent could arise from
his order of Thursday, which has
started the latest increased fare i'm
broglio.
Nixon Defends His Action
"On Friday" said Commissioner
Nixon, 81 called particular attention to
the fact that this network of railways
the New York and North Shore system
was cut by the city line. As that
portion of the line outside the CITY
was subject to zone fares, the logical
solution was to apply similar charges
to the lines within the city.
"The system affected is unrelated to
the great traction systems of the rest
Of the city, and, as l said yesterday,
no precedent could arise from the CIV
ing of relief to this independent sys-
/ tenn.
The cars are running, but they
would have been shut down unless this
commission had acted. And the people
of the affected territory, who Joined in
asking for the increase, are satisfied"
Commissioner Nixon said he would
not be drawn into any controversy and
declined to discuss the situation fur
ther.
Mayors Call to Public
Mayor Hylan, shortly after reaching
his Office yesterday, issued his state
ment addressed to the public, which
follows:
ITO the Public-Recent events in
the traction situation in New York
City show conclusively that the
traction ring is going to try to get
the next session of the State Legis-
lature to grant increased streetcar
fares. The officials have openly an
Continued on page three