The New York herald., 1921-01-19
CITY LEGISLATORS
MASSING TO FIGHT
EIGHT CENT FARE
Brooklyn Delegation Or
ganizes Revolt Against B.
r. L. Receivership.
GOV. MILLER WILL ACT
Prepares Special Message to
Announce His Stand
on Issue
MAY BE NEW COMMISSION
Present Temper Of Legislature
Considered Hostile to High
er Traction Rate.
MAY BE NEW COMMISSION
Special Despatch to THE New YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
lAaar luss

Albany, Jan. Is.
The Brooklyn delegation in the
Legislature precipitated the eight cent
fare and traction issue to-day by or
ganizing an open revolt against the
receivership management of the
Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company
They called on all the representatives
from the metropolitan district to join
them in massed attack to force quick
consideration Of New York's bad tran
sit problems.
With the opponents and advocates
OF higher fares on the scene the Legis-
lature is waiting for Gov. Miller to
outline his stand on the issue. 1t is
understood that the Governor is pre-
pairing q specia. message dealing with
the whole subject. Until his position
is made known She transit bills will
not be presented.
The fight is started much earlier than
was expected as tho result of the sharp
offensive made by the Brooklyn men.
and evidently is to be even more bitterly
opening the way for higher fares were
defeated in the Assembly.
Hostile TO Higher Fare.
The present temper of the two houses.
as far as can be Judged, is hostile to an
eight cent fare. The corporations are
better organized this year than last {:
their active propaganda. Garfield on all
summer. has had considerable influence.
but the opposition. also appears to have
been cemented. 1t is believed here that
! Gov. Miller will address the Legislature
\ on the subject next Monday, and 1t Is
] reported that he nsy recommend, p new
/ transit commission for New York city
to deal only with the transit situation.
! The Governors idea is understood to
| be that such commission should be
relieved OF consideration OF all other
| questions, such as lighting rates. The
| leaders would not be surprised IL he goes
! to the extent Of recommending that the
| Legislature take away from the Board
of Estimate OF New York city some OF
| its authority over transit.
The~e is a growing belief here that the
way out of the whole municipal railroad
troubles will be for tho legislators to
give to the Governor power TO reorganize
/ the Public Service Commission with full
/ authority 70 determine by investigation
exactly where increases in fares are nee
! essary to save transit lines and with the
| power TO make such increases.
The Brooklyn men called conference
| this forenoon, which was attended by
! the Republican and Socialist Senators
| and Assemblymen. The Democratic
members were not present but said they
| would have attended had they been
notified in time. Senator Simpson was
elected chairman of the conference and
Assemblyman Moore secretary.
Would End Receivership.
"The continuance of the receivership
of the y. r. T. is a disgrace and should
be brought to an end Senator Bur
lineame said. "The intolerable conduct
! of the receiver was made possible by
the indulgence of Federal Judge. who
acts entirely in sympathy with existing
affairs. We propose to ask the Legisla-
| ture to petition Congress to pass law
ma king Il impossible for Federal Judge
! 70 act in such manner as has Julius
| Nayer in connection with the Brooklyn
receivership.
! "Either the Brooklyn company should
pass through bankruptcy or II should be
operated with some degree of considera-
ton for the public. We are unanimously
4 in favor Of the five cent fare and the
restoration of transfer privileges"
The New York city delegation. twenty
two senators and sixty-two Assembly
mon. will be asked to join In this move
rnent and to oppose all attempts TO pass
the eight cent fare bills. The delegates
| from this conference will confer with
Mayors OF the states cities.
AZ n first step in blocking a higher
fare the New York delegation Is ex-
pected 70 ask the Legislature to investi-
! gate traction conditions in the metropo-
lis The purpose Of this will be TO de-
termine whether lines that have beer
cut off were actually operated at loss
as the receivers declare. or were shut
down merely 70 increase revenues or
other lines
Assmblyman yenks announced to-day
that he would talk 90 Gov. Miller before
Introducing the several measures now
being prepared The bills will closely re-
sennble those which were defeated last
year in the Assembly. getting sixty
votes. seven less than necessary TO pass
They were not introduced in the Senate
Mr. jerks said some Legislators who
had opposed the bills last year would
| favor them this year with minor amend
ments. Mr. jerks added. however. that
the main features OF the bills would be
Continued on Fourth Page.