New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-07-28
Business Men
Of Brooklyn
Fight Bus Plan
Mayor Hylan's Proposal of
Corporation Under City
Control Is Opposed by
Chamber of Commerce
Will Complicate Transit
Resolution To Be Read to
Estimate Board To-day
to Offset New Scheme

TIE Brooklyn Chamber Of Commerce
went on record yesterday as being op-
posed to Mayor Hylan's plan for q
eity-wide system Of buses operated
BY corporation under municipal con-
troll The Chambers committee on To-
cal transit adopted an unfavorable re-
port which will be read to-day when
the Board of Estimate meets to con-
slider the bus question.
The committees report declares that
eity-wide bus system will serve only
to complicate transit difficulties, tket
it will revive the old spirit of compe-
tition. which was discarded when pub
lie utilities were made subject to state
regulation, and that adequate and eff
Gent bus service is impossible on a
scent fare. Herman A. Metz is chair
man of the transit committee.
The report reads in part:
"The present transportation situa-
ton is menace not only to the City
Of New York, but to the transportation
systems throughout the country, and it
is incumbent upon the city and the
companies to find, if possible, an early
and constructive solution of the
problem.
Buses Will Complicate Trouble
But citywide bus system, in our
opinion, Will not solve our serious
transit difficulties. 1t will only tend
70 complicate them and make them
more difficult. While the motor bus
has, We believe, sufficiently proven its
worth in urban transportation to JUS
tify the conclusion that it is here to
stay. its usefulness will not be found as
separate and independent system, but
rather as feeder to existing trolley
and rapid transit lines
Gust when we are beginning fully
to recognize the monopoly character
of local transit service and to subject
il to public regulation for the purpose
OF making this public utility a service
established for public convenience and
welfare under the guidance and control
Of public officials. the city admins
tration proposes that we reverse that
policy and return to the policy of cut
throat competition, leaving each utility
to be speculative enterprise whose
obligations to the public are dictated
by the chance Of financial profit
Will Disorganize Service
"A city-wide bus system established
as separate competitive enterprise
will only tend TO further disorganize
the transportation service and will re
suit only in added discomfort and in
convenience TO the travelling public.
"The Mayor believes that q city wide
bus system can be successfully
operated and made to pay on a five
cent fare. He bases his conclusions
on the rather limited and scattered
experience of the City of New York in
its brief and stormy period of bus
competition.
an our opinion the experience of
this city hardly justihes the Mayors
conclusions. The experience has not
been for a sufficiently long time to
furnish any reliable data as to the
actual cost of operation and the extent
Of depreciation. The bus lines have
been taking the cream of the service
from the trolley lines without handling
the less profitable business which the
trolley lines have been compelled to
receive"