New-York tribune., 1921-03-22
Mayor Leads
Aids to ALBANY
For Bus Fight
La Cuardia and Borough
Presidents in Group That
Will Attend Hearing ON
Bill in Capitol To-day
Hylan Hits s'Propagandists'
Denies Stories City Has No
Remedy for Traction Evil;
Points to His Jitney Plan

Mayor Hylan, f. II. La Guardia,
President Of the Board Of Aldermen;
Borough Presidents Riegelmann, of
Brooklyn; Bruckner, of the Bronx;
Connolly, of Queens, and Van Name, of
Richmond. will atted the legislative
committee meeting to-day in Albany
on the Mayors bus bill. Mayor Hylan
in statement issued last night de-
clared that the people had been misled
by "the increased fare propagandists,"
who claimed that those who were op-
posed to an increased fare had no plan
or remedy to meet or cure the exist
ing transit evil.
This statement is absolutely un-
true as far as it refers to the CIV
administration" said The Mayor. "The
city administration has time and again
told the traction corporations that if
they cannot operate the subways
profitably at a ive-cent are they
should turn the subways back to the
city. The city is prepared to operate
the subways in the interest OF the peo-
pie at fve-cert fare. The private
operators have scoffed at any sugrcs-
tlon to return the city-owned subways
10 the people for municipal operation,
and the reason is that the subways are
making money. The best proof of this
is that for the year ended June 90,
1920, the lnterborough Company earned
above all operating expenses, taxes
and fixed charges the sum of
The Mayor declared the plan of thcs
city was to supplement the municipal
operation of the city-owned subways
with city-wide motor bus service.
he said. with all the emphasis pos
sible," that if the courts would modify
or vacate the injunctions restraining
the city from operating bus lines and
the Legislature would pass the enabling
legislation the Board of Estimate
would appropriate $10,00O,OO0 for the
purchase and operation of municipal
busses, and before the end of this year
thousands of busses would be placed
IN operation and great numbers of ad-
ditlonal ones would be in course of
construction for early service.
The city-owned subways and ele-
vated extensions carry more than two
thirds of the passengers in this city,
continued the Mayor. "The remaining
one-third of the passenger traffic is dis
tributed among the surface and ele-
waited lines. Notwithstanding state
ments to the contrary, the traffic on
these privately owned lines is steadily
dwindling. In the majority of cases
the surface lines are paralleled by city
owned rapid transit routes, and having
outlived their usefulness should no
longer be permitted to obstruct the
streets. With the elimination of the
surface lines where not needed the
tracks can be ripped up from the
streets and the movement of vehicular
traffic greatly facilitated, with resulting
saving of hundreds Of thousands Of
dollars in the quick dispatch of mer-
chandise.
"The gasoline propelled bus with
pneumatic tired wheels is furnishing
a new method of transportation which
has many apparent advantages and
added possibilities of enjoyment and
recreation not within the compass of
the existing transit lines. An efficient
bus service at a five-cent fare with
transfer privileges can be successfully
operated as municipal undertaking,
as past experience demonstrates"