The New York herald., 1921-03-04
TRANSIT VICTORY
TOBE CLMCHED BY
VOTEON MARCH 23
With Public Hearings Fin
ished. Only Legislative
Routine Remains.
CAUCUS Is NOT NEEDED
Gov. Miller Asserts Craig'S
Ancient Charter Point
is Just Partly GOOd.
TRACTION NOT AFFECTED
Hylan Cotcric Is Expected to
Continue to Fight, but Its
Boasts Are Discounted.
CAUCUS Is NOT NEEDED
TRACTION NOT AFFECTED
Special Despatch 70 THE New YORK Herald.
New York Herald Bureau.
Albany. March 3.

Special Despatch 10 THE New YORK HERAI D.
New York Herald Bureau.
Albany. March 3.
The Legislature is ready 10 speed up
action on the transit bill. The pro-
gramme is to bring out all Of the
amendments to the measure next
week. report it out OF committees the
week following and go to vote about
March %.
The hearing yesterday at which
Mayor Hylan and the New York adj
ministration registered protest against
the measure practically finished public
discussion. There will be no more
hearings The dozen amendments
proposed will be discussed in commit
tees, and then the document in final
form will go TO the floors Of the two
houses.
Whether the bill lis to be made a
party measure through caucus has
not been finally determined. The dis
position is not TO use the party ma
jority power 10 pass the bill and the
leaders believe 1t will not be necessary
TO do so.
Not BossinE the Legislature.
".As the party leader in the State
would you insist upon a caucus in the
Legislature II necessary to pass the
bill?" Gov. Miller was asked to-day. He
decried the suggestion that he was party
leader. He Is not trying to boss the
Legislature. he said.
II would not hesitate to make the bill
a party measure If II were necessary
but that is a matter for the people on
the third floor Cmeaning the Legislative
floor in the Capito) TO decide for them
selves. ! do not anticipate that IL will
be necessary to bind any one by caucus
action"
The foes OF the transit reform bill are
going to fight to the last minute. They
say they viii startle the Governor when
the vote is counted But the claims OF
the opposition are discounted by the ma
jority leaders, who declare they know
their strength and arc sure the boast OF
the minority cannot be sustained.
The Governor was asked to-day about
the point raised by Comptroller Craig
that old charters which antedate the
State give New York city vested rights
which the State cannot take away. The
Governor was familiar with those char
ters and was not surprised by the claim.
He said the city will preserve all its
charter rights. but that those rights re-
late to land and water. and not to
transit.
Upstate Provisions to stay.
There is no intention Of amending the
bill by striking out its application to up
State cities. as has been suggested by
some Of the upstate opponents Tho
majority leader OF the Senate said such
a proposal In his opinion. would not be
needed by the Legislature.
The cities have gotten into a hope
less muddle through municipal exercise
OF the powers delegated TO the State for
regulating transit" Senator LuslS said.
"T'he situation has become 30 bad that
the State is compelled to step in and
withdraw that transfer OF power and
see that IL is exercised in the interest
Of the public. Contracts will be made
between the State and corporations in
stead OF between cities and corpora
tons
Two years ago voted to give power
70 Gov Smith to reorganize the Transit
Commission in New York because the
situation had become so bad that some
thing had to be done See what good
Il did. There has been no Improvement.
There can be no Improvement unless the
commission has the power to force ac-
tion."
The committee Of the Senate and
Assembly will meet probably Tuesday
TO take up the amendments and Il IL
expected the bill will be reprinted late
in the week.