New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-18
Higher Rate Would Cause
Further Congestion i'm
Housing; Program Will
Be Made Known Aug. Is
Improvement of
Lines Is Planned
$1,000, 900 Remission of
Taxes Is Offered as
Solution of Problem

Tentative proposals for the solution
of the city's transportation problems,
along lines suggested by Governor Mil
Ter in his message to the Legislature
last winter, will be made public by the
new transit commission about August
is. The plan, as drawn up, provides
FOR the retention, at least for the pres
ent, of a ive-cent fare on all lines
throughout the greater city.
Neither George McAneny, Leroy T.
Harkness nor Major General John =.
Organ, members of the commission,
would make any comment yesterday
concerning the proposals, but it was
learned that after several months Of
expert Investigation of the physical and
financial conditions of all elevated, sub
way and surface lines the commission
has decided upon a comprehensive
scheme which may be subject to minor
changes. To expedite it's work the COM
mission has had at its disposal a COM
plete and disinterested survey of the
railroad properties gathered more than
year ago by committee appointed
by the Merchants Association. headed
by Charles E. Hughes, now Secretary of
State.
To Increase Efficiency
Besides the retention of a five-cent
fare, the scheme, it is understood. will
embrace specifications for increasing
the efnclency OF present transportation
facilities and for providing for the
future on scale commensurate with
the clty's growth. Some of the details
Of the plan will be:
Immediate Improvement of old lines,
with view of increasing their capacity
so as to relieve congestion until new
routes can be established.
Projects for new lines to be con-
structed during period of years and
on scale that will enable the CITY to
make up in part for the lack of sufi.
cient construction since 1914.
Gradual unification of surface sys-
tens and abolition of transfers, which
on some lines now require the payment
OF two and three fares for continuous
trips.
Abandonment of some of the surface
lines which are declared to be obsolete
A thorough reorganization of trans
portation finances with view 20
squeezing OUT Warered stock, as de-
manded by Governor Miller, and an
elimination of receiverships with their
expense and Federal court Jurisdictions
as speedily as possible.
Would Cause Congestion
Need for continuing scent fare as
basis for transportation throughout
the city is said to have been impressed
upon the commission from various
sources. Among these the argument
that the city's serious housing problem
demands a low fare has been given
consideration. 1t has been pointed out
that the imposition of higher fare
would serve only to make more intol-
erabie districts now congested. Since
the beginning of the war, it was ar
gued, no new lines have been extended
TO sparsely settled sections except
tnose begun or contracted for before
tne war. To ask property owners to
6ulld homes in sections in reach only
by lO-cent or even an Scent fare
would be to ask them to take too great
a hazard, it was declared. because the
tendency of people would be to move
nearer to their work, so that, if pos
sibie, they could walk and avoid pay
ing any fare.
zone system for charging accord
ing to distance was likewise discour
aged for the reason that passengers
naturally would choose to live within u
minimum fare zone. Altogether the
proposal to increase fares as means
Of giving transportation lines more
1unds with which to carry on new prof.
ects was found to involve so many OBJ
leetlons that, it is understood, the
commission has definitely decided that
lor the present at least no higher fares
are to be permitted.
AS an offset to withholding from the
transportation companies the privilege
OF higher fares as means of rehabili
tating their finances, another scheme
mas been proposed. Already the com
panies have announced contemplated
ieductions in wages to go into effect
ON, on or before the first of the year that
shai WI save them S3,5oo,oo0 annually in
;nelf operating expenses. In addition
u Is planned 60 reduce their expenses
oy remission of their taxes, amount
ing to about s7,ooo,ooO year, making
(contnued on page three)