The New York herald., 1921-01-31
OPPOSITION rs AMUSED
Republicans Believe He
Hopes to Get Upstate Sup
port From Their Party.
CITY CLUB FOR HIS BILL
Tammany to Make Bold Stroke
at Meeting Of Legislators
Here To-day.

Senator James j. Walker, minority
leader of the State Senate. who has
called a meeting of all New York MEM
bers of the Legislature in the Alder
manic Chamber to-day to decide upon a
course of opposition to Gov. Miller's pro-
posed solution Of the transit situation.
said yesterday that he has found means
by which he hopes the Democrats will be
able to encompass the defeat of the Gov
ernor's plans.
What that course is he refused to re-
veal. but Republicans, who were more
amused than alarmed at the suggestion.
were OF the. opinion that the Democratic
Senator is pinning his hopes on gaining
sufficient support from upstate Repub-
licans to block the Governors measure
I in the Senate. where the Republican ma
,ority Is less pronounced than in the AS
sembly.
Senator Walker said that his own
measure. known as the Perrnissive Mu-
nicipaI Ownership bill. reintroduced from
last year. will be pushed as counter
measure to the Governors programme.
He admitted frankly, though. that he is
not nearly so hopeful Of success for his
bills as he professed to be of defeat for
Gov. Miller's plans, because defea. in
one house would suffice to put an end
to the Governors bills. while success in
both houses would be necessary to enact
the municipal ownership bill.
Republican Faith Unshaken.
The overwhelming Republican ma
jority in the Assembly alone, Repub-
licans said, would be enough to stop the
Democratic measures. They were un-
shaken in their faith in the Senate, in
the light of the decidedly friendly dispo-
sition in the last several days Of New
York Republican Legislators toward the
| Governors transit solution.
Beginning with the meeting in the
Adermanic chamber to-day, Tammany
will make bold stroke this week not
only to upset the Governor but to lay
favorable ground on whatever of an in
creased fares basis may be found in the
Miller programme, TO capture the May
orally honors In the coming municipal
| election.
Senator Walkers statement regarding
| the municipal, ownership bill was taken
! rs revealing the basis on which the
Democrats will seek upstate support in
Albany against any proposal for State
I commission with jurisdiction over transit
affairs. The City Club of New York,
which several days ago assalled the
Governors plan. came out yesterday in
Z support Oh the W1lheT Dill.
The appeal which the Democrats see
in that measure for UP State legislators
IS that II gives every municipality com
plete and definite authority to undertake
municipal ownership and operation OF
any or all public utilities which require
special franchises In the public streets
A municipality could either establish Its
own utilities OF could buy or condemn
existing utilities on the basis of a valu-
alton fixed by the Public Service Com
mission.
Facilities for Financing.
Broad facilities for financing con-
struction or purchase is provided through
| bond issues within the debt limit on
outside. secured either by the property
or it's operating revenues. The Public
! Service Commission would have yirtu-
ally no authority over local utilities. ex-
cept with respect TO accounting and re-
ports and to operation of a municipality
outside OF its own corporate boundaries
In the view OF the City Club. this
measure would unite the hands of al
the cities and put them into legal and
financial position where they can, II
necessary. rely upon the fundamental
principle OF public Initiative and self
help in the solution of their utility prob
| lem "
The executive council of the State
Federation OF Labor announced yester-
day that II has circularized every union
man and woman In the State and aisn
all members of the Legislature asking
them to seek the defeat of any proposal
looking TO an increase OF fares. Special
pressure. Il was indicated, Will be
brought to Bear on upstate legislators.
The Democratic Legislators of Manhat-
! Now os.I hA ~olI ~ T-s.,
many Hall will hold their conference al
noon. The Brooklyn and Queens Demo-
Gratis are expected to hold conference
| In Brooklyn this morning. after which
| they will send representatives TO .he
meeting in City Hail. These two meet
ings are depended upon to crystallize the
thought of New York city's Democratic
representatives in Albany on the transit
question. and that capitalization Is ax-
pected TO bear quite as strongly on the
production of thunder for Mayor Hylan's
five cent fare propaganda as on a solu-
tion to the transit problem
This Is the frst Of innumerable pub
! lie meetings which are to be held this
week on the subject OF transit legisla-
tion. many Of which have for their OBJ
ject frankly the creation of public senti-
ment behind the Mayor. Perhaps the
largest meeting OF that character nas
been announced for tomorrow night In
Cooper Union under the auspices OF the
Mayors Nom Partisan Vigilance Com
mittee, of which Francis r. Bent, q
Tammany wheelhorse. is chairman.
The City Parliament of Community
Councils will begin a. campaign against
the Governors measures with meeting
! I'm the Aldermanic chamber tomorrow
ght, the principal speakers being r. H.
La Guardia, President of the Board OF
| Aldermen Henry III. Curran, President
| OF the Borough OF Manhattan, and
Alderman Edward J. Neary of Queens
That IL TO be followed by community
council meetings through the city and a
| protest parade.
| The subject will be discussed pro and
con at Town Hall. 1t3 West Forty
! third street, Wednesday evening. with
Job r.. Hedges. receiver for the New
| York Railways Company. and Oliver G.
| Semple, upholding the Governor. and
| Mr.. Curran and another speaker. to be
named. opposing his plans.
Travis " Whitney, formerly Public
l.