The New York herald., 1920-01-24
HIGHER FARE BAN Is
UPHELD ON APPEAL
CONTINUED from Page One.)

ing and should decide to grant the APP
plication. the order for the increased rate
of fare might become effective as soon
as made and there could not be any stay
OF proceedings thereon until after notice
of the application and hearing and find
ing by the court that great and irrepar-
able damage would otherwise result to the
petitioner and specifying the nature of the
damage
DiscIaims Criticism OF COmnissioner.
I'm reaching our decision we intend no
criticism OF the Commissioner. and we
express no opinion as to whether the
traction corporation should be- relieved
from the provision of the grant in question
or should be held thereto. Those are
questions for the Board of Estimate and
perhaps the Legislature to decide. 1t Is
important that it should be known with
out delay and while the Legislature Is
in session whether 1t is competent for
the Legislature to authorize an increase in
fare in such cases and whether that can
be done without jeopardizing the grant
Doubtless the Legislature would well
come and be guided by an expression OF
opinion by the court on these questions,
and with all parties or classes or parties
in interest represented that might properly
be done, but in view of the fact that the
Court of Appeals has left the points open
we should leave 1t to that court In re-
viewing our order to say whether an
opinion should be more definitely ex
pressed on these points. and then It will
either rest with the Board Of Estimate
exclusively or with II and the Legislature
for such action as II or they may see tit
TO take in the premises, and all parties in
interest will know what confronts them.
Mayor Hylan, In statement declared
that the investigation OF the Interborough
MD IRA CouDanv which has Oc-
cupied the first two hearings of the Board
of Estimate investigation Of the traction
situation, already had proved that the
Interborough's claim of financial embar-
rassment to be without foundation. The
Mayor also said that there would be reve-
lations which would convince the public
that it was still possible for the traction
companies to make money with five
cent fare
1.-The average man who reads the news
papers knows that the Interborough eight
cent fare propaganda has been Knocked
flat in the first round, said the Mayor,
'but there are more revelations to come.
Although but two hearings have been
held, the testimony proves conclusively
that if the Interborough officials had
been operating their lines for the benefit
Of the people and had been profiting only
on the nickels they took in they would
not pe seeking an increased fare now.
their class-those in control of the Inter
borough-make more money out of finan-
cial manipulation of the company's assets
and credits than they do in the legitimate
business of operating the road and giving
the travelling public proper transporta-
ton. / hope the public realizes that de-
spite all this clamor for an eight cent
fare the marlborough stockholders have
already more than doubled their original
", iyfn
their original stock or have sold it for
value.
1.-THE city paid $45, 600 900 for the con-
struction of the subway In the last six
teen years the Interborough has received
s65 900 900, which it has paid out in divi-
dends If the city had operated the sub
way it could, out Of this money, have paid
the s45, 900 600 cost of construction and have
800, 900 600 left over to help reduce taxes.
What has happened at the two hearings
by the Board of Estimate is an eye opener
for the public. I hope that every member
of the Senate and Assembly from this
city regardless of politics, will follow our
investigation closely, so II there is IN
creased fare legislation they can help the
city administration to protect the city S
interests on their own knowledge OF the
situation"
Lewis Nixon. Public Service Commits
SlOneT, ueCldTeO LfidL OIic VI ehc ooi''AoA'S
of the transit problem in New York city
was the extension of rapid transit lines
into the Borough of Queens. He said he
could not understand why fifty thousand
persons in and around Flushing should be
deprived of rapid transit and why the
subway was stopped at Corona and not
continued to Flushing. He said Queens
had a great future. and he believed the
tide of homeseekers and manufacture
would go to that borough, The Commits
sioner said he favored the extension of
the rapid transit line from Alburtis ave-
nue., Corona, to Main street. Flushing.