The New York herald., 1921-01-27
Unmoved by Fear of Repub-
licans That His Program
Means Reelection Of
Hylan.
REPLY TO La GUARDIA
Governor Asserts Further
That the Subway Issue Is
Not One of Fares or
y of Politics.
REPLY TO LA GUARDIA
QUESTION OF OPERATION
Commission Must Be Men of
Courage and Highest Bus
mess Ability for Impor-
tant Duty.


tant Duty.
ssscsol Despatch to THE New YORK HnaALD.
Now York Herald Bureau.
Albany, Jan. rs.
Gov. Miller is not keeping an eye on
the Mayoralty campaign in New York,
as he seeks permanent solution Of the
citys subway problem. He made 1t
clear to-day he is putting into actual
practice his theory that the whole
transit subject must be lifted out of
politics if it is to be dealt with ade-
quately.
The Governors big view of the sit
uation was made evident when he was
asked to comment on the statement
made last night in New York by f.
II. La Guardia, Republican President
of the Board Of Aldermen, that II the
policy as outlined Is carried out "the
Mayoralty election VIII be handed to
Mr.. Hylan on a silver platter" When
La Guardia's statement was read to
him the Governor smiled and reflected
a full minute before answering. Then
he said:
II do not care 70 comment on the
ebullitlons of those gentlemen who are
doing that which I believe should not
be done-tha. Is, play politics with this
traction question. am not concerned
abo,,; the Dfayoralty election In New
York next autumn. I should not IKE to
consider politics in connection with the
transit situation. We are not consider
ing what the political consequences OF
the policy may be. The thing is'to find
the right solution
yot Problem Of Fares.
Again the Governor emphasized that
the transit problem not only Is not po-
Iitical but that essentially It is not
problem of fares, either five or eight
cen. fares. The logical thing to expect
Is that there would be no need for rais-
Jag fares IL the transit systems were
operated III 4 thoroughly businesshke
and .conomical manner. The Governor
commented.
Il am not good a. prophesying, but l
would expect that under unified sys-
tenn under proper control and manage
ment the fare might ultimately be less
than five cents, rather than more,' the
Governor said. But I wish to say
again that this Is not fare question.
Tho problem is to provide proper and
adequate needs for the entire city and
provide 1t under one system. operated
at q minimum OF cost"
In his message to the Legislature out
lining his transit policy the Governor
stated that he wanted to get big, able
men to serve on his reorganized public
service commission-men who would be
big enough to deal fearlessly with the
whole subject regardless OF conse-
ouences. IIe was asked to-day to iden-
tify the type OF man he had in mind
for the job.
Seeks Man OF Courage.
II have not undertaken yet to find the
man because am waiting to see IL the
Legislature adopts my recommenda-
tons" the Governor said. II would not
say that the man have in mind must
be a lawyer. business man or engineer
or member of any profession. l care
moro about the man than about his
calling. What do want Is men OF
courage. No man without great courage
could be expected to deal with such
question az this"
would you want to know the politics
Of the man you picked for this joo?
was asked.
Most certainly not" the Governor
said with decided emphasis.
The Governors attention was called
TO n paragraph IN his message inter-
preted variously. some maintaining that
tho proposal meant that the traction
companies themselves might have au-
thorty 10 fix fares.
such an Interpretation Is entirely
wrong" the Governor said. Tho city
must be party 70 the change, but the
regulatory power would be vested IN the
commission. The transit commission has
made plane and terms and the Board of
Estimate has given Its approval. The
city officials would know II they studied
the case and had the facts before them
that the Board OF Estimate never had
or exercised more than a power of ap-
provai. The trouble is they don't know
the facts
Excitement Subsidies.
Excitement over the traction issue
subsided somewhat to-day when the New
York members OF the Legislature began
leaving for the over Sunday recess.
They will meet next week TO work out
their unity plan of standing together
against any scheme which looks toward
a higher fare. That is regarded as the
question which will be uppermost in the
next city election, and politicians regard
II as suicidal to stand for a higher fare
policy. The New York delegation has
not taken formal action on the Gov
ernor's recommendations but it's opposi-
ton Ia expected.
Tho Tammany minority Is preparing
Conf>~wed on Ntwth Pogo.