The New York herald., 1921-08-13
CHIDES HYLAE BOARD
FOR TRANSIT DELAYS
McAneMy Insists Action Be
Taken Oh Numerous Con-
tracts for Subways.
81 AWARDS HANG FIRE
Mayors Plan to Throttle
Miller's Commission Is AL
legged Inspiration.
NO RELIEF FOR BAD JAMS
I. r. It. LavOnia Ave. Exten-
sion Blocked Until Autumn,
or Possibly Spring.
NO RELIEF FOR BAD JAMS

George McAneny, chairman of the
Transit Commission, yesterday wrote
to the Board of Estimate asking that
it act upon the thirty-one contracts
affecting uncompleted subway con-
struction recently called to the boards
attention. The board not only adj
journed for the summer without ac-
ton, but Mayor Hylan refused to al
low the chairman's letter to be read In
the open board meeting. and Comptrol-
Ter Craig resented the "effrontery" OF
William Fullen, representative of the
commission. in requesting that The
letter be read.
Chairman McAneny later announced
that ''as one of the immediate conse-
quences of the Board of Estimates
policy of construction it (the Transit
Commission) is obliged to suspend in
definitely the opening of the new La
vonia avenue line beyond Pennsyl-
vania avenue, one of the Interborough
extensions in Brooklyn, and that the
restoration of the surface In Eastern
Parkway in Brooklyn, at present left
in the torn condition in which the con-
tractors finished the subsurface work.
cannot receive attention until late Fall
or possibly until spring. These two
instances are typical of many others
that will prove equally embarrassing"
Important Work Is Delayed.
The chairmans letter called the
boards attention to the fact that work
of the utmost Importance. much of it or
an emergency character, has been held
up or delayed because of failure of ac-
ton in these matters"
1t pointed out also that contrary to
the former policy of the board Of giving
formal approval where award was made
to the lowest bidder with full engineer
ing approval. not single award has
been approved since this commission
came into being. and the board has
given mo intimation of the reason upon
which this drastic action is based"
The attitude of the Board of Estimate.
as is well known. however. is the direct
result of the action of Mayor Hylan in
holding up all rapid transit develop
ment in his zeal to throttle the COM
mission which the Republican Legisla-
ture created to solve the transportation
problem and supplant this Tammany
commission which had failed to do so.
That Is the fight which started spec
tacularly by the hiring of Senator
Hiram w. Johnson to kill the transit
act in the courts. and which SO far has
resulted in his defeat in every court
decision which has been handed down.
Though the Tammany majority of the
Board of Estimate would not go so far
yesterday as to authorize single item
of only $500 for the extension of the
platforms of the Grand Central subway
stations in order to relieve the horrible
rush hour jams at that congested trans
fer point, IL could not resist making
demand upon the commission when
Tammany member found something he
wanted the commission to do for him.
Connolly Gets Request Through.
The board supported the request Of
Maurice L. Connolly, President of the
Borough OF Queens. for an order to di-
rect the New York and Queens County
Railway Company to relocate its tracks
in certain streets in Queens which the
Borough President desires to have re-
graded and repaved.
Comptroller Charles l.. Craig was the
only one who Ought the request. lie
took the position that to make re-
quest of the commission would he TO
recognize it's authority and thus jeopar-
die the city's position in its court fight
Finally, the board directed the Corpora
ration Counsel to stipulate that the city
did not waive it's position and to takc
step to prevent the commission from
presuming upon the city's condesccn-
sion in asking a favor.