The New York herald., 1921-01-26
CRAIG BACKS FIGHT
AGAINST NIILLER'S
TRANSIT REMEDY
Comptroller Suggests Sub
stitute to Protect All In
nOcent Investors.
WOULD END CONTRACTS
Delaney Also Opposes Any
State Control or Plan for
Higher Fares.
FAVORS UNIFIED SYSTEM
Mayors Non-Partisan Vigi-
lance Committee Getting
Ready for Action.
FAv0Rs UNIFIED SYSTEM

Gov. Mnlers proposal to'sfvv JuTisdic-
tion over New York city's transit prob
lens to a new State commission will be
fought by every resource at the COM
mand of the city administration. as will
also any attempt to obtain an increased
fare or to abrogate the dual contracts
between the city and the transit COM
panies. That was made clear yesterday
by the Transit Construction Commis-
sioner and representatives of the Board
of Estimate. the two municipal authori-
ties which would be stripped OF transit
power under the Governors plan.
A fight against abrogation of the con-
tracts. under which a five cent fare is
guaranteed. will not stop short of the
United States Supreme Court. IL neces-
sary, it was indicated. The Public Ser
vice Commission. third object of the
Governors attack, was silent
Meanwhile Democrats in particular
are laying their plans to use all possible
pressure on the legislators in efforts to
throttle the Governors plan. 1t was
stated the Mayors Non-Partisan Wig
lance Committee of which Francis p.
Bent, director of the Board of Estimate,
is chairman, and which was very active
81 year ago in traction matters, is pre-
pairing a campaign to marshal legisla-
tors against Gov. Miller's programme.
John III. Delaney, Transit Construc-
tion Commissioner. whose office the
Governors plans would abolish. issued
a statement I'm which he denied most OF
the Governors statements and cited the
record of his own department in support
of his denials. Mr.. Delaney said in
part:
mo Board of Estimate and Appor-
tionment worthy of respect will consent
to be merely appropriation puppets at
the command of an allen authority"
Craig Opposes MiIIer's Plan.
Nearly all the members of the Board
of Estimate were in Albany yesterday
conferring with the Governor on Mayor
Hylan's request for Legislative author
ity for the city to buy and operate
buses. Comptroller Charles L. Craig,
not having mended his quarrel with the
board. remained behind and issued a
statement, in which he characterized
Gov. Mflers plan as "a step backward
Of fifty years'' and predicted:
f. "Any attempt to strip the city of New
I York OF its rights under the present
t.rapfd transit contracts Is sure TO meet
! with disappointment. The courts may
be relied upon to protect the city in its
contract rights with the Interborough
ana the B. r. r. upon the faith of
which $500, 100000 of public moneys
have been supplied for their benefit"
Both the Comptroller and the Transit
Construction Commissioner advanced
suggestions for remedying the transit
situation as substitutes for the Gov
ernor's plan.
After reciting that more than half a
century ago the "city OF New York was
ravaged by the Legislature" in tho
grant of perpetual franchises and rights
to occupy streets to Charles w. Durant
Jacob Sharp. Peter p. Sweeny and
others the Comptroller said that Gov.
Nriller's suggestion that the foundation
should now be laid for municipal opera
tion some time in the remote future
means that for another half century the
people OF New York city will be fair
game for stock jobbery and manipula-
ton"
COMPTROLLER suwgests Remedy.
The Comptroller then prescribed the
following remedy:
'',rhe remedy for existing conditions
IL not to perpetuate the control Of Bel
mont Berwind and Brady. with an in
creased fare. but to terminate each and
| every contract that the rapid transit
companies now hold to operate lines
! that are the property OF the city OF
New York. Upon the termination OF
/ such contracts every innocent investor
whose money has gone into the property
/ and Injured to the benefit of the city
\ OF New York may receive full recon-
pence therefor. Out of the revenues
that may thereafter be derived by the
/ city from it's municipality owned and
operated lines all the extensions that
may be required may be provided"
Commissioner Delaney proposed that
anybody having jurisdiction over transit
Z matters should be none other than a citv
body. either appointed by the Mayor oc
elective preferably elective. 'It seems
TO me-" he said. that an amendment to
the city charter transferring all this
power to a local agency should be at
once introduced and adopted by the Leg
islature."
Mr.. Delaney denied the Governors
charge OF drifting policy" and cited
last years record of transit construction.
He said there Is no lack of facilities !:
only a lack of service. He also denied
that the city Is so near its debt limit
that II cannot undertake needed i'm
provements. and declared that the city
is able now to issue S100.000.000 in
bonds for improvements without ex-
hausting its borrowing capacity. Neither
Is Il true, the Commissioner contended,
that the water has been squeezed out
OF rapid transit securities. He agreed
that the transit system should be uni
fled and have a uniform fare.
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