New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-18
SC. Fare, Home
Rule, Platform
OF La Guardia
Return Transit Control to
City, Enforce Contracts.
His Pledge in Seeking
Republican Nomination
Demands Direct Primary
Upstate Dictation Fought;
Economy by Merger of
Departments Suggested

DepdI tlAASutS suggested
Home rule. a fve-cent fare, repeal
Of the Miller traction laws, reestablish-
nent of the direct primary by repeal
;ns the repeal of the direct primary
law by the last Legislature and reor-
canization of the city government to-
ward economy. are the chief features
o; the platform of F. H. La Guardia
President of the Board of Aldermen.
candidate for the Republican nomina-
ton for Mayor, respectfully submitted
for the consideration of the voters of
greater New York" yesterday.
Major La Guardia declares that his
study of conditions and facts relative
to rapid transit has convinced him of
"the possibility OF asserting and guar
sateeing a fve-cent fare on all rapid
transit lines Less politics and more
business management, more interest in
traction and less in stock speculation
no reeeivsrships and less special legis-
ation. will put traction on its feet in
this city, the platform announces.
Asks Seat for Every Pupil
Referring to the school system prob
lem, Major La Guardia declares for ga
seat for every child" and says that the
more speedy construction oi schools
and the replacement of antiquated, un-
sanitary, dilapidated schools by mod
ern, up-to-date. safe buildings, can be
brought about by the reorganization of
the construction system
Under the head of Reorganization
Of the City Government" or a business
management for business city, the
Adermanic President recommends the
Consolidation of various departments
and suggests Mayors cabinet as a
real board of real advisers, made up of
the heads of the departments, APP
pointed for their special fitness for the
work.
Water supply. other public utilities,
port development, terminal markets,
disposition of garbage and rubbish,
snow removal, rents and taxes, re-
ducton of the last named to "a funda-
mental aim" of his administration, if
nominated and elected, are other mat
tiers discussed in the La Guardia plat
form.
Home rule should be an actually and
not a fiction, Major La Guardia de-
clares.
"The tendency on the part of pro-
yincial legislators and upstate bosses
to attempt to usurp control of public
utilities IN the greater city and to cur
tail autonomy of government, calls for
unified action OF defense upon the part
Of the officers of the city government
lature," he saws. New York City is
commonwealth in itself Further en-
croachments upon home rule should be
prevented and rights arbitrarily taken
away restored. The candidate for
Mayor should be pledged with all legis-
lative candidates, defensively and Of
fensively, to the promotion of those
principles, by forming a city confer
enee. The conference should be COM
posed of all members of the Assembly,
SO pledged, and the members of the
Board of Estimate and Apportionment.
Weekly meetings should be held dur
ing the time the state Legislature is in
session and all measures affecting New
York City publicly and frankly dis
cussed with view to obtaining united
action for the best interest of the city.
Home Rule in Transit Contracts
The right should be restored to the
Board of Estimate of the city gov
eminent to decide what contract it
shall make OF modify with corporations
seeking to serve the people in the
transit business. Existing contracts
Only the local authorities should have
the right to change, modify enforce or
reseind such contracts. To take that
right away from the peoples represen-
tatives, as it has been taken, is to take
away the right of self-government from
the city, to rob it of it's autonomous
existence
Litigation to determine the validity
and constitutionalty of the \traction
law will take many years. The real
eXpediti9us American way to change
such an unfair, vicious law, is to bring
about its immediate repeal"
Referring to traction fares Major La
Guardia says:
MY study of conditions and facts
concerning rapid transit in the city
mas convinced me of the possibility of
asserting and guaranteeing fve-cent
iare on all rapid transit lines. With
the return of control of its own rapid
transit property to the City of New
YORK, traction companies should be and
could be compelled to live up to the
requirements of existing contracts
The temporary financial plight of
me traction companies, on account of
me business hardships incidental to
war economic conditions, is a direct
result OF policy of giving dividend
business principle of saving for rainy
day.
hXlsNng contracts provide for eff
vent comfortable and safe service If
uaeeon companies contend that they
cannot give such service under existing
ssohdltlons, the way will be shown how
" can be done. In the event that an
operating company refuses to follow
Me way indicated in order to give
ffapid, safe and comfortable service at
i've cent fare, the contract should be
erminated under the recapturing
sause OF existing contracts and new
arrangements made with responsible
VNompetenl, able operators, willing to
Ss up TO the terms of the contract
sna give the high degree of efficient
ss;stVice required. The best transporta
. ,vn experts in the country should be
seted as advisers to the city govern
~e yet IN traction problems.
surface lines should be required to
ssa sts themselves with proper up-to-
re ase equipment and to render efficient,
'ap'd and comfortable service.
Calls Poor Service Sabotage
oou me present sabotage of the traction
;Sumpanies by constant grumbling, the
;ns s of political strife and Civ
nls s the public poor service, bad SEIZED
hs' crowdlpg conditions, should not
bns: :olerated Less politics and more
tness management, more interest in
NO and less in stock speculation,
~ feceiverships and less special legis-
The 0n Will put traction on its feet in
he