New-York tribune., 1921-03-03
Asserts Bill Is Not the In.
~ strument of Corporations;
9'A Denounces Some Foes of
Plan as Public Enemies
Says They Stir Distemper
Tells Delegation Systems
Are Now Facing Junk
Heap or Auction Block
F~m a ssao Correspondent


York rapid transit tangle Is neithe,
violation Of the principle Of home
rule nor an instrument created BY
corporation interests was made to-day
by Governor Miller TO a large delega
tion Of New Yorkers who called upor
him in the executive chamber to as.
sure him Of their support.
Governor Miller said it was impera.
tive to take immediate action to rem
sedy the transportation situation in the
greater city or the traction companies
might find themselves in the SCRAP
heap or on the auction block. He
characterized as public enemies those
who are attempting to take advantage
of causes which prevent people from
thinking straight and trying to add to
the distemper in the public mind"
The delegation, which numbered
about 200 men and women, was headed
by Martin SAKE, former State Tax Com
missioner, and Alfred E. Marling
chairman of the executive committee
of the New York City Transit Com
mission. Mr.. Marling assured Governor
Miller that the people of New York
will cheerfully pay for the cost of
good service.
Delegation Pledges Support
eve are now paying two or three
fares" he said, "and have poor service.
We are here to support you in the
worthy efforts you are putting forth
to bring relief to the thousands of our
long suffering and indignant citizens.
And hon ~
the gubernatorial chair there is one
who evidently is accustomed to do his
own thinking and his own speaking and
we cheerfully and gladly pledge to you
our support"
Governor Miller smiled b,oati'y and
nodded right and left as he step ped
forward to reply. He thanked the dele
CATION for its assurance of support and
said he appreciated the aid promised
him in his desire to serve the public
interest.
81 recognize he said, chat no meas
lire can succeed which does not have
the right public support. Now, public
opinion is curious thing. Ultim ately
itssis pretty certain to be right. But the
reason for that certainty is that people
ike you have the courage to stand out
tor time even against what appears
to be perhaps the popular view.
Public Distemper Fomented
"Unfortunately, in these days there
are not only people, but causes, which
tend to distemper the public mind;
there are causes which tend to prevent
people thinking straight, and, unfortu-
nateiy, there are too many people with
se4hsh ambitions of one kind or an
other who take advantage of those
causes to try to add to the dstemper
iff the public mind. And, in my view,
people who do that are public enemies -
ahe Governor then reviewed the
transportation problem in New York
City. Conditions, he said, are con-
stantly growing worse. He said it was
imperative that the foundation be laid
at once to rehabilitate and revamp the
transit system and to provide for
needed future development.
ut seemed to me that no time was
to sbe lost" he continued; that it had
been allowed to drift until it had
reached almost an acute stage Ger
tainly, it has reached stage involv-
ing not merely the comfort. but the
health and the morals of the City of
New York. 1t seemed to me that it
ought to be advisable to have transit
facilities in the city of New York SO
that women could travel without being
subjected to the indignities to which
they are now bjected, and of course,
your transit problem is tied up with
your other problems"
at was perfectly obvious, of course,
that the problem had been allowed to
drift. The fact is, and say it, weigh
ing my words, that it has not been dealt
with it. The fact Is that it has been
allowed to become football of politics
and has been allowed to drift to it's
present condition. Now, of course, it
was perfectly obvious that if solu-
tion was to be had responsibility must
be centered somewhere.
No Faith in Estimate Board
II say that wholly regardless of the
personnel of that body. 1t was per-
fectly Obvious to me that no one hav-
ing sense of responsibility could
think for a moment of turning the
transit problem with all it involved,
comfort. the well-being of the people
of the city of New York and Of the
State of New York for that matter, as
we'll as for the future development of
the city, that it was not possible to
contemplate turning the solution of
that problem over to the Board of Est-
mate of the city of New York.
"But wholly apart from that, the
problem involved the exercise Of the
have never been delegated to the city
that is state power. 1t is not q city
power. 1t never has been a city power.
"And there is no provision either in
the constitution or In any statute un-
der which it has ever been delegated.
'It is said that it is violation of
home rule to propose to exercise regu-
latory powers of the state to compel
if you please, the corporations engaged
In the public service to make the nee
essary concessions to put that serv-
ice upon a proper basis Now, If any
body charges that Is a violation Of home
rule, that Is an issue am prepared to
accept.
''Those who oppose this solution arc
now what they have been for three
years. mere obstructionistA And
suggest that in measure franpht With
such consequences to the public. the
people who are opposing some concrete
measure of relief are at least called
upon TO bring forward a substitute
And that has not been done.
ut is said by some people who on
pose this measure that it is a corno-
ration measure. That Is tho fanilia,
cry of the class Of people to whom
/ have referred as public enemies. The
corporations have had no hand In the
framing of this measure and thew will
have no hand In the administration of
It. They will be dealt with honestly
and fairly, precisely as It IS i'm the
}at tA~ ok - l..