New-York tribune., 1921-02-15

Board VIII Fix Fares,
Unity Lines or Divide
Them, and Dictate Ac-
MISUNDERSTANDING
Decisions Final
After 80 DAYS
Governor Makes Public
Digest of Bills That
Will Be Offered To-day
rror. a stnn cor,ss nnsSen.

mIller late tonight issued q state
ment embodying the provisions of
the bill carrying out his recomnen-
dations in his message to the Legis.
iature on the New York City trac
ton muddle.
The bill gives the proposed transit
commission of three New York City
men, which is to have complete iur-
isdiction over traction affairs in
New York City, almost absolute
power over all matters involved.
The measure specifically empow-
ers the transit commission to in
crease or decrease fares; to unity
all the traction lines into one sys-
tenn OF divide them up into several
systems, as it deems best. and to
provide for the acquisition Of the
lines by the city if it so decides.
In the event the city does not ap-
prove of the plans within thirty
days the commission may execute
and deliver such plans with full
legal force and effect as if all ap-
proval by the local authorities and
by any local officer had been given"
The measure provides for board Of
control to be composed of representa-
tives of the city, the traction company
and "any other interests which the
commission decides shoaid also be rep.
resented thereon
Investigation Authorized
The commission is authorized to in
vestigste the entire situation and is
empowered to build connecting lineB
between the New York City transit
companies and the suburban linss.
"In connection with the plan of re-
adjustment" reads one paragraph o.
the bill, "the commission shall investi-
gate and give consideration to the pos-
| sibiIity of including in the plan pro
| vision for railroads operating between
point or points within the city and
point or points without the city and
| for connecting railroads whose lines
! stop at or near the city line
| The plan of readjustment which the
measure authorizes the commission to
| follow provides:
/. Combine, rehabilitate, improve
and extend existing rapid transit lines
so that adequate service shall be rem
dered.
q Provide for sufficient returns ih
the operation of the roads to the city
treasury so that new corporate stock
issued by the city for rapid transit i'm
provements may be exempted from the
debt limit.
I 3. Readjust existing rights and obi
! cations OF the transit companies SO
! that all water is squeezed out of the
! stock and securities stabilized.
The bill which invokes the police
power Of the state to give the commits
sion the powers proposed will be intro
duced in the Legislature tomorrow.
A Statewide Commission
All the public utilities of the state,
with the exception of the transit lines
! Of New York City, are transferred to
the jurisdiction of a statewide com
mission of five members with terms o.
! fifteen years. subject to removal in the
same manner as justices OF the Su-
preme Court.
This specifically provides that the
members of the transit commission
shall be residents of New York City.
One phase of The question which was
the occasion for considerable specula-
! tlon-how the city could be forced to
taken over the transit lines in the
event that the transit commission SO
ordered and the city was unwilling
was answered in the following provi
sion in the bill:
"The commission may include therein
| (the contract) provision for the acoui-
sition by the city of the railroads or any
of them or portions Of any of them and
is authorized and empowered on behah
Of ths city 70 accept title thereto and
to provide f9r the payment thereel
through amortization or otherwise r.
| the commission may determine"
| Governor Miller's statement in full
sa &
THE following is an advance state
ment Of the prov sions of the bill to
| carry out the Governors recommends
tions in his transit message. The bill
IS in the form of an amendment to the
| Pubic Service Commissions law. Il
provides for two commissions state
vide Public Service Commission ana
q local transit commission for New
York City:
"Jnrisdition over gas and electricity
matters throughout the state +
lodged in the Public Service Corumis
sion, in addition TO its existing au-
thority over railroads. street railroads.
telephone and telegraph companies and
steam companies.
! Transit Beard of Three
The Public Service Commission is Ia
De composed OF five members, with
terms Of ten years, subject to renovs,
IN the same naaE@r as justices of tn.
Supreme Court. There are 20 be th"ce
transit commissioners, and the present
term oi otfice ttive years. and the pro
vision for removal By the Governor arr,
left unchanged. Members of the tran.
slt commission must be residents al
NeY' York City.
"The bill carries the exercise OF the
police power OK the stale 10 nodif,
rates either oy way Of increase or de
crease ''apon terms, conditions. safe
guards o. readjustments of franchis
Or yoatfsc$ rights Of obligations aa th
commission mayspre8eribe.