The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-01-22
MILLER CONSIDERS
HIGHER CAR FARES
Governor Preparing Message
to Legislature on City
Traction Problems.
VILE REORGANIZE P. S. c.
G. 0. P. Leaders Expect to Out
point Hylan by Eliminating
Issue From Politics.
Special Despatch TO THE NEW YORK HERALD
New York Herald Bureau,
Albany, Jan. 81.

Special Despatch to THE NEW YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
Albany, Jan. 81.
Gov. Miller is ready 70 deal with
New York city's traction problem. He
is understood to have determined upon
a course of action which Is to decide
once and for all whether a higher fare
is to be granted to the transit COM
panies in the metropolitan district.
The Governor is completing to-day
the important message on which he
has been working for weeks, dealing
with every phase of the eight cent
fare. The document will be sent to
the Legislature next Monday night.
Just what specific form the Gov
ernor's recommendations will take is as
yet entirely matter Of guesswork.
But the best guess heard here is that
he may ask the Legislature to reor-
ganize the Public Service Commission
in New York. giving the new body COM
plete and absolute power to make the
most searching investigation ever con-
Quoted into the city's transit situation.
Such n commission might even be
clothed with authority to fix fares on
some sort of a flexible basis. II deemed
essential TO save certain lines from 60
| ing into bankruptcy.
The Governor has stated IN his dis
| cl,sslon of the subject with Legislative
leaders that he proposed to proceed
along "sane and logical lines and tha
Before trying 10 apply remedy h'
would have TO know all the symptom.
Of the disease. Here are some of tn,
things the new commission may try &c
| learn:
To exactly what extent the trac-
/ tion corpora tions are over-capitalizcd.
II is doubtful whether there is any
process of law by which water can
be squeezed out of stocks. 1t may be
possible. however, by showing all Of
the facts, TO compel the corporations
TO make concessions IL they want
favors.
Where there is waste. unfair pref
erentials exorbitant salaries and
manipulation Of accounts to make
operating expenses look big.
Armed with these facts. most OF which
are now known to officials trying tc
tinker with fares. the State would be ir
position TO dictate terms TO the cor
porations. The Governors commission
would know exactly what basis there
was for the Interborough's demand for
an increased fare.
To increase the elevated fare TO eight
cents and leave the subway rate at five
would upset New York, IL is believed.
because il would lead TO boycotting "
the elevated and condition of over
crowding In the subway which would be
intolerab bic.
The Governor is understood TO be anx-
ious 10 keep the question out of politics.
Mayor Hylan is known 20 be grasping
the eight cent issue Just like strap
hanger. The Republican leaders in New
York would like TO lift the subject out
of the next municipal campaign. II is
beliored here that perhaps the Gov
ernor's handling may rob the whole
thing of its political possibilities.
The legislative leaders who have been
trying to deal pieccmeal with the issue
are awaiting the Governors message
before going further. The New York
city Senators and Assemblymen have
called a conference for Tuesday to dis
cuss a plan oil organizing the city dele
CATION TO fight every move toward a
higher fare They want an lnvcstiga-
tion. and. Il Is believed. may get ex-
actly what they demand out of the
Governors recommendations.