New-York tribune., 1921-01-28
Opinion Here Is
Split on Miller
Traction Plans
Flexible Fares Assailed by
City Club as Impossible,
but Real Estate Board
Indorses Entire Program
La Cuardia Attacks Idea
SaysItWould Re-electHylan;
Mayors Backers to Open
Campaign in the Schools

Campaign in the Schools
Immediate adoption of a system of
nexible fares for New York is the pur-
nose Of Governor Miller's recent pre-
posais concerning the traction situa
lion, according to report made pub
lie yesterday by the City Club.
The club, which asserts that it's spe-
eial committee of experts has exhaus-
lively studied the flexible fare plan,
declares that the scheme would be "im-
possible" in New York. With thirty
five operating companies and receiver
ships in the city, it says, the transport
stion systems would be thrown out of
Joint" because if it should be found
necessary on basis of cost to charge
or 10 cents on the surface lines and
only cents on the subways the rush
Of passengers to the cheaper transport
alton would leave the lines charging
the higher fares '~worse off,"
\The clubs report, which is signe d
by Henry C.. Wright, chairman; JOHN
P. Fox, Harry G. Friedman, Richard C.
Harrison, Dean Langmuir and Delos F.
Wilson, takes issue with the Governo or S
statement that the water has been
squeezed out of the traction companies
stocks. 1t also charges that the pro-
posals would deprive the city of home
rule.
stand also came from other sources.
Might Reflect Hylan
F. H. La Guardia, President of the
Board of Aldermen, who had previously
declared that the adoption of the Gov
ernor's plans would be tantamount to
handing Mayor Hylan "a certificate of
his reelection on a silver platter"
issued another attack on the Governor
similar to the one given out by the
Mayor himself on Wednesday.
Replying to the charge from Albany
that he was trying to inject politics
into the issue, La Guardia contended
that it is political issue.
That it is the intention of the Hylan
administration to conduct q city-wide
campaign against the Governors pro-
posals became evident yesterday. 1t
was said that members Of the Board
Of Estimate will hold mass meeting
at Cooper Union next Thursday night
The meeting will be under the auspices
OF the Mayors vigilance commit.
tee, of which Francis P. Bent is chair
man. Thereafter, it was said, meet
,ngs Will be held in various school
houses to insist on "home rule" Henry
II. Curran, President of the Borough
OF Manhattan, is expected to partici-
pate.
While protests were being voiced the
Real Estate Board telegraphed the
Governor that it approved of his pro-
posals.
Club Says Plan Is Disguised
The City Clubs report, which was
given out at SIS West Forty fourth
Street by Raymond V. Ingersoll. the
secretar /, characterized the Governors
proposals. as: "the flexible fare, or serv-
lce-at-cost plan under the guise of pub-
lie regulation"
conclusions given in the report are
Governor Miller's proposed transit
commission does not answer the pur.
pose. 10 begin with, it is based upon
the false theory that the problem is
not a local one. Furthermore. while
tne Governor suggests investigation. he
lays his chief emphasis on action. and
there is nothing in his message to indi.
cafe that his proposed commissions in.
quiry would be directed along broad
enough lines to form the basis of an
.oequate transit policy. His idea seems
oe unlfied transportation system
uuuei state control operated on a self
sustaining basis. This over emphasized
the fiscal and state regu alton asnects
OF the traction situation. It does NOT
20 TO the heart Of the problem fron,
nent. oe'eiop-
Inc thirty-fve operating companics
ana receiverships in the citv creata
competitive condition that makes the
nexioie fare plan impossible. For ex.
ample, II fare of eight or ten cents
snou!d De charged on the surface lines
MhiIe the subway fare remained at fivo
senss' sraffic would be thrown from the
,nn sIiiace ilnes to the subways, and tn
who're who're scheme would be thrown out al
!o'nt- The non-paying lines would be
~aae worse OFT BY the very fare in.
easeS destined for their relief. The
saue would be true if the B. R. r. sub.
ways charged one fare and the Inter.
borough another.
Low Fares Spread Population
Even II the transit lines were all
consolidated into a single onerat;oo
anit' the adoption of the flexible fare
seheme would involve issues of pravs
moment. One of these is the Question
" shs SOCIAL Importance of cheap tran.
s,s s The city's policy, as embodied in
~ ne subway contracts, included low
asfes as means of spreading out non.
.,auon and relieving conditions fror
nn'en New York has suffered for mors
. .aan half century. The city has
p'edged hundreds Of millions Of dol.
,as OF public money to the mainte.
asn aahse OF this policy. The flexible fare
,, ,snene would reverse it, and would al.
-" the fares to go up ana up, and up
any point which might be necessar,
maze the transit lines sclf-sustain.
.as, absolutely regardless of the effect
.n. - sne high fares on the community's
g governor Miller states that already
ssser ~ water has been squeezed out of the
scnon ,sscson securities He refers to thei,
-. sfxst value. But the incorporation OF
~ ~ nexibie fare plan into the law OF
~ s asase. relieving the companies Of
ss sss.r franchise obligations and giving
4 c.as s.M .ne right to charge fares ade.
t,sN tsass al al times to yield a full re.
ssa.., m opon the value of their property
vs,asn IN itself restore the franchise
b. ana the companies would agar
r.. ~ position to claim great value
en-. .neir perpetual rights, freed from
an.tuai restrictions.
but the rnns+ -. -, =,