New-York tribune., 1921-02-26

tanned by The city to fight Governor
Miiler's proposed traction legislation,
confirmed the announcement and him
self gave the title to the Serial" The
editorial rooms where the Copy" is to
be prepared are to be in the Corpora
tion Counsel's suite on the sixteenth
floor Of the Municipal Building.
The Senator said that, at the sue-
gestion Of Ar. O'Brien, it had been de-
cided to give out daily chapter"
dealing with the various features of
the Governors pending traction bills.
The first chapter is to be handed out
a. $3.50 O'Clock this afternoon.
'It might be we'll called The Trac-
tion Tragedy" SAID the Senator. "We
thought that, as there are so many
ramifcations to these pernicious bills
the best way to acquaint the public
with the facts would be to give out
Gaily short chapter dealing with some
particular phase Of the bills. First
we viii state the detail of a given
provision and then brief comment
showing what the corporate interests
are trying to fasten on the people. In
this way, day By day, the whole con-
tents of the proposed legislation may
be put before the public. | say whole
contents but / question whether it is
possible for anybody to digest them"
1t is expected that the daily output
Of Chapters" will continue until the
Senator departs for Albany next Tues
day night. On Wednesday he is to
appear there at public hearing on the
pending bills. He will depart imme-
diateiy after the hearing to attend the
inauguration of President-elect Har-
ding.
In reference to the argument which
he is to make at Albany, the Senator
was asked, Are you going to oppose
the Miller traction program on the
ground that it means an eight-cent
fare or on the ground that it is un
constitutional?"
Il will oppose it on both grounds"
if this legislation is adopted, will be
put to very grave and permanent
disadvantages"
Charges that the Mayor violated a
city ordinance in retaining Senator
Johnson were made yesterday by Alder
man Bruce NJ. Falconer. Mr. Falconer
said that Section l of Article l of
Chapter 16, of the Code of Ordinances
prohibits the employment of any one
not resident of the state unless there
is produced evidence in writing that
the services 10 De performed cannot be
we'll done by any citizen and actual resi-
dent of the State of New York who is
available"
"The appointment of Senator John
son." said Alderman Falconer, "wou.d
be violation of law, unless the May
and the Corporation Counsel had fl
secured or furnished the necessary evi-
dence in writing that there was nc
lawyer available VINO lived in Ne"
York State who was qualified to do tn
work that Senator Johnson is doing.
If Mayor Hylan and Corporation Coun-
sci O'Brien have any such written evi-
dence, which certainly must be manu-
featured unless there is no good lawyer
in New York State who is willing to
take their point Of view of the case,
then their action would certainly con
stitute violation Of the sacred prin-
often enunciated.
This ordnance was adopted by the
Board of Aldermen as being in fur
therance of the principle Of home rule;
but even this ordinance did not require
the lawyer or other person employed
to be a citizen and resident of New
York City, but only of New York State;
and yet Senator Johnson. who resides
in California, three thousand miles
from New York City, comes here 70
fight lew providing for the appoint
ment Of commission whose jurisdic-
tion affects the city only, and nothing
outside OF it, and whose membership
will be composed Of three residents II
the city,