The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-02-02
MLLER'S TRANSIT
PLAN NDORSED BY
BROOKLYN BODY
Time for Practical Action,
Declares Chamber OF
Commerce.
END HAY ARGUMENT
Proper Service to Public
Seen in Programme of
Governor.
END HAY ARGUMENT
LA GUARDIA Is PROBLEM
Place on Hylan Ticket Fore
cast i'm Opposition to Trac-
ton Solution.

The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce
fell into line yesterday with other
similar organizations with an UNI
qualified Endorsement of Gov. Millers
programme for solving the city's tran
sit problems. 1t stated in a declara-
ton, issued through Herman A. Metz
Democrat and chairman OF its transit
committee. that it was no time ito
argue over the hazy and indefinite
border line between home rule and the
States exercise Of the police power"
There is much speculation over the
political possibilities suggested by the
position of f. II. La Guardia. President
of the Board of Aldermen. who by his
stand on the Miller message has been
working himself out of sympathy with
Republican leaders. He has been told
as much in vigorous language. An
editorial in the New York American
of William Randolph Hearst yester-
day morning headed La Guardia. Real
Leader" was taken as intended to
keep La Guardia fighting. Not only
that. but there was a subtle sugges-
ton. some politicians thought, that
Mr. Hearst might find a place on the
Hylan ticket for La Guardia If the
Republican party should turn him
down.
In 1903 Tammany astonished the town
by putting on it's ticket for Comptroller
and President of the Board of Aldermen
two men who had served in those places
in an anti-Tammany administration.
They were Edward NJ. Grout and Charles
V. Fornes.
President La Guardia would not COM
ment on the possibility. but he said:
81 have absolute confidence in my
party, that it will change the Miller plan
so as to make it workable, fair and ap-
plicable to New York city conditions
AS a matter of fact, Mr.. Miller Is not
FOR the Miller plan. He is going TO sup
plement. amend and change his own
plan. OF that / am sure"
Samuel S. Koenig refused to discuss
the position of President La Guardla-
II have seen no disposition on the parf
of our Republican legislators to De-
come assistants to Tammany Hail. ne
said
The Board of Governors of the Brook
lyn Chamber of Commerce were unani-
nous in the preparation OF the indorse-
ment of the Miller plan for presentation
20 the organization. Mr.. Metz, chairman
Of the board, is a former Democratic
COMPTROLLER of the city. The "intolerabie
transit conditions are recited and tne
situation is held to be so critical that
immediate action Is needed
The statement continues
.'In presenting his programme. how
ever. the Governor discusses several
questions Of policy necessarily inVoiveu
therein, such as the extent OF the ponce
mower of the State in relation TO puDnc
utility relations; the history OF rapio
transit legislation; the relation OF state
regulation TO municipal home rule. and
,bo nuasi-iudicial character of the Public
service Commission. While the public
discussion has centred about these ques-
tions of policy, especially the question OF
home rule, they are not. in our opinion,
matters which at this critical time should
he permitted to becloud the Important
issue involved in finding a practical solu-
ton Of the transit problem.
1--WE believe that the members OF the
Rrooklyn Chamber of Commerce are gen.
orally in favor of home rule In municipal
affairs but New York city Is concerned
AZ this time with finding an immediate
solution 20 the present intolerable transit
condition. The local authorities have
failed to find a way out. Three years OF
Ruthless effort and obstructive criticism
have resulted I'm no solution. Neither the
CITY nor the transit companies has pre-
sented a constructive programme or
& shown "a real desire to solve the problem.
They are both standing obstinately on
their legal rights while the travelling
public suffers.
ct Is no time in on, opinion, 20 argue
over the hazy and indefinite border line
between local home rule and the states
exercise Of the police power. II is time
10 turn 10 some authority which can
offer some practical way out OF our difil-
cultics before conditions become more
chaotic
In our opinion the Governor has sug-
gested q programme which. under. eX-
isting conditions, will most effectively
restore stability TO the transit systems
and most quickly give the public the
service which II needs and has the right
TO demand"
Calling attention TO the fact that the
Governor proposes nothing specific as a
rate OF fare. the statement goes on to
say: THE false cry of an eight cent
fare Is merely an attempt TO lead the
piblic away from tho real Issue at this
critical time. The issue Is not ques-
ton 81 an eight cent fare. or any rate
Of fare. but choice between order am
chaos IA the transit situation"
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