The New York herald., 1921-06-10
COALITION LEADERS
DIFFER ON sc. FARE
At Organization Meeting the
Speakers Disagree Regard
ing Traction Issue.

Traction and the five cent fare" as
an issue in the coming municipal cam
paign loomed up as a rock on which
the so-called independents in the coun-
ellis Of the Coalition Committee might
split at the organization of it's City
Committee at the Pennsylvania Hotel
last night. Suggestions for the plat
form on which the municipal campaign
should be fought. presented to Joseph
NJ Price, chairman, showed a wide
divergence of opinion whether the trac-
ton question should be an issue. Some
thought Gov. Miller In appointing the
Traction Commission had done only
what was necessary In view Of the in
competence of the Hylan administra-
ton" Others favored steering clear OF
the Miller attitude, If not actually con-
demning the violation Of home rule.
The City Committee. composed OF
delegates from each Of the boroughs
elected the following officers: Joseph M.
Price, chairman Mrs. Charles l.. Tiffany
and DIR. Antonio Stella of Manhattan;
Miss Elizabeth B. Collier and Thomas f.
Hickey Of Brooklyn, Mrs. d. Appleton
Palmer and Olin ]. Stephens or The
Bronx, Miss Eliza Macdonald and Byron
r. Newton of Queens and Mrs. Norman
s. Walker and DR.. Frederick Coonley OF
Richmond. vice-chairmen; Robert Moses.
secretary, and William G. WILCOX.
treasurer.
Gustav w. Thompson Of Brooklyn, in
presenting his views Of platform said
in general, "The incompetence and in
decency of the Hylan administration
were the issues, but their greatest DEM
| onstration had been in the handling OF
the traction problem, which had been
put back ten years. While nominally
true, the boast of Mayor Hylan that
he had retained a five-cent fare was
practically unqualifedly false We are
getting less than one-half what we did
| four years ago in the way of service
| transfers and other details.
| NJ l. Ernst and Mr.. Moses offered q
| condensation of the Hylan admins
tration fJr ''its attempts to obscure the
real camoeign issues and to draw pub
| lie attene5on away from its own In
competence and nv administration"
THE Hylan-Tammany administration
wishes to deceive the public into beiev-
ing that 1t is the only group opposed to
higher traction fares and to extortion-
ate telephone. gas and electricity rates.
their resolution read. This is not
and cannot be an issue in the coming
| municipal campaign. The coalition
| committee Is opposed to higher traction
| fares. We shall expect the nominees tc
pledge themselves to demand an amend.
ment to the transit law SO that no plar
of settlement can be adopted without
| the consent OF the elected Board OF
| Estimate"
'T charge that Mayor Hylan's dishon
esty of statement, his lack OF plan to set
| tie the traction question, is directly re-
sponsible for the situation in which tho
city now finds itself in having this prob
| lem taken from the Board of Estimate.
| said Mr.. Price. Personally, / am op
posed to the action OF the Legislature In
taking the power away from the city
| The city should have more power, no
| less. Mayor Hylan was not the origina
tor or discoverer of the five cent fare
any more than he was the originator Of
the play streets on which he allows hi:
name to be placed on standards"