New-York tribune., 1921-03-13
2 Associations
Ask Changes in
Traction Plan
Realty Owners Petition for
Hearing on knight-Adler
Bill; City Club Files Cen
eral Protest at ALBANY
See Self-Rule Menaced
Governors Proposal Upheld
by Citizens Transit Com
mittee as Curative

Two representative civic bodies wen.
on record yesterday in favor of modifi-
cation OF Governor Miller's program
Of traction legislation. They were the
Real Estate Owners Protective Asso-
citation, which petitioned the Governor
to hold hearing on the Knight-Adler
bill In its amended form, and the City
Club, which, while agreeing with the
Executive that an investigation look
ing toward unification of the transit
system was desirable, declared itself
fstly opposed to the plan that would
substitute the humble right Of petit
ton for such self government as the
city now enjoys"
The Citizens Transit Committee, on
the other hand, sent to every member
OF the Legislature a letter urging sup
port of the Governors proposal on the
ground that its consummation would
break the deadlock" between "munic-
ipal inactivity" and corporate mis-
management
John P. O'Brien, Corporation Coun~
sci, added his petition to that of the
Real Estate Owners Protective Asso-
citation, asking hearing on the amend
ed bill. Mr.. O'Brien addressed his re-
quest to State Senator John Knight.
More Deliberation Asked
The Real Estate Owners Protective
Association in its communication to the
Governor stated that the "extraordi
nary and sweeping nature of the con-
tempiated legislation" justified further
scrutiny, discussion and adequate CON
slderation of the bill in its amended
form" ~
The petition to the Governor con-
tinued:
Moved by. no partisan spirit but
animated rather by regard for the in
terest OF the state generally and the
welfare of the City of New York par
ticularly; impressed by the gravity Of
the proposition to vest in the hands of
few men unprecedented and plenary
powers vltally affecting our community
IN lts relation TO all-important prob
ems OF transit. lighting and telephone
service; apprehensivc of the serious
consequences that may flow from the
prInciple that this great municipality
may be denied a deciding voice in the
decision of questions concerning its
own transportation system, means of
communication and even its own docks
and port facilities. and mindful. more
over OF your personal expressions that
no Legislation # the character pro-
posed should =, enacted into law with
out the peQyae of state and city having
ample OPT 1tunity to acouaint them
selves fully with all its details, this as
sociation earnestly trusts that its re-
quest for a public hearing at this time
may commend itself to your favorable
consideration, and believes that action
on your part in the direction indicated
VIII not only serve to clarity difficult
situation, but will also have a marked
effect upon public confidence"
City Club Gives Basis
The City Club based its objections 10
the Adler knight bill on these grounds:
The proposed transit commission
could TX value on existing traction
lines, the city having no recourse
against its rulings.
1t could take title for the city to
any transit properties at the valuation
IT set no matter how excessive such
valuation might be.
BY such taking of title the commits
sion could and almost invariably
would" waive payment of franchise
taxes and other state taxes aggregating
more than $7,000,000 a year.
The commission could compel the
Board of Estimate to appropriate
forthwith any sums for expenses ex-
cept the salaries of the commissioners.
their secretary and counsel.
It could function in place Of tho !