New-York tribune., 1921-10-10
Says Commissions pIar
Is First Constructive
Step Offered TO End
IntoIerablc Condition.
Fayors Amending
Law Creating Board
HyIan Merely Talks
While People Walk, AS
serts Coalition Nominee


Henry II. Curran made public an
nouncement last night Of his stand
on the local transit issue, his state
ment being the first he has given ous
an This issue since the preliminary
report OF the Transit Commission
was published. He announced fatty
that be was for permanent fives
cent fare. and that under no circum-
stances should an increase in farg
be permitted.
In New York niol-el is enough
SAID Mr. Cucran.
He said that the traction problems
was one in which the ultimate de-
cision must rest with the citizenry
Of New York through It's Board o.
Estimate
He said that he was for testing the
law creating the Transit Commits.
sion and for amending it at the mex
session OF the Legislature
The report OF the Transit Com
mission, he said, even though it wa
admittedly q preliminary one, was
not a document to be brushed aside
simply because the reader might no
be in sympathy with the Legislation
which called the commission in.
being
Regardless og opinion eoncernins
hat legislation, he said. the repor
which the commission had issued wa
The first constructive step toward th-
improvement Of intolerable conditions
Holds Out Definite Hope
IL held out definite hope. ne said. o.
certain improvements which every on
had long desired-"the revocation q
perpetual franchises, the setting aside
OF underlying leases, the squeezing on
Of all the water, the cancellation OF
preterentla.s. the Coordination Of the
different units OF Transportation int
harmonious and serviceable whole.
the restoration of universal transfers.
the taxing OF the city's Investment our
of the deDt Limit 50 that we can spend
that money for schools and playgronnda
ana moro subways, tne consnnmatiof
OF municipal ownership OF all the lines
Mayor Hylan, he said, has no.
helped to solve this problem lie hss
merely declared IN favor Of a 5-cer-
fare"
He recalled that while Mayor Hyian
mad been talking the public had bees
walking He reminded the people Q
the testimony OF tho late Theodore :.
Shonts concerning Mayor Hylan's oifer
to the lnterhoroueh to permit gever-
cent fare on the subwass. This plan
II vas testified, emanatod IRON William
Randolph Hearsts Boston legal repre-
sentative. Mr.. MacFarland. who
brought about ten-cent fare in Rostor.
He SAID that more people we're usins-
the cars each day and that more
nickels must pour IN the rate Of in
crease in receipts being greater than
any Increases in expenditures"
Curran Statement
Mr.. Currans statement follows IN
full:
There is something more than poll.
ties ~ the necessity Of trying 90 REM
edy our local transportation troubles,
We may expect nothing from the trae
tion companies. They have steadily re
fused 10 MAKE any pr1position hevora
the reiterated demand for an increased
fare. Nor do We get an helo from
the present Board Of tstimate No.
one unbiased, constructive suggestion
for relief mas come from them. ~
though the Mayor has taken full politi-
cal advantage Of the city's suffering
Whether OF not we approve the law
that created the Transit Commission.
the report Of that commission is the
first rractica attempt to help that has
yet been made For that reason. If for
no other the report should be seri.
ousIy and carefully studied.
Final Word Is Peoples
when I became member Of N,
Board OF Estimate and Apportionmen.
nearly two years ago knew thaf
proper transit was vital and pressing
need Of the city, and + put III a greai
many days and nights Of hard studs
o. the whole subject believed then
and believe now, that
I. The people Of the city as repre-
sented in tne Board of Estimate ara
Apportionment, should nave fms
voice IN The solution Of New York
traction problem.
"Z. y 5-cent fare Is sufficient. aas
under no Clrcum tances should any in
crease n fare he permitted
/ have never changed my pos.tca
IN either Of these two particulars.
am Tor testing the validity of th
transit 'aw and for amending 4 rex
winter 70 give back 10 opr local govern
ment the power that it took away fror
Us. Contracts made in good faith be
tween rhe city and private tractios
companies mast not be changed Nlth
out the cty's consent
Il am for the scent fare. | believe
IN i. As long as l am Mayor / shai.
Ifvnf. sr1nrr + qNrr,rj o--t