The New York herald., 1921-10-10

use il on. and petty political obstruc
tion will not build subways We mu
develop our vacant land. build homes o
II and use 1t for all the people. Nor
homes mean lower rents. but We mus
have the means OF going to and fror
the new homes. We must have mor'
subways.
Some Fares Now over Five Cents.
Furthermore. we have not even got
hve cent fare in many parts OF town.
ssnccially in the boroughs of Brooklyn.
Queens ana Richmond. Transfers have
been taken away from one street corner
after another. until to-day thousands OF
our people pay ten cents. and even flf-
teen cents. for car fare where they for
nieriy paid five.
''Now let me take up this transit re-
port. I would discuss it seriously. as
II is very serious proposition. Be-
cause We co not agree with all the Leg
isiation that gave us the Commission.
we haS- b-, light TO dismiss its labors
hippantly. or declare. as the present
administration has declared an unal-
terable opposition TO anything. good or
bad. coming from the present body. The
law is on the books, and our task to-
udy 10 W 80 dJtcdQ Will Ntlioei hSt4NS
bet.erment of the intolerable transit
conditions under which every man, wo-
man and child in New York city now
suffers. The transit commission plan
is q step in that direction.
This plan Is of a preliminary ma
ture. as indicated by it's own words. II
holds out a definite hope, however, OF
several things which we have waited
Tor through many years. The revoca-
tion OF perpetual franchises, the setting
aside OF underlying leases. the soueez-
ing out OF all the water. the cancella-
tion of preferentials. the co-ordina-
ton of the different units OF transpor-
tation into q harmonious and service
able whole, the restoration Of universal
transfers, the taking of the citys in
vestment out OF the debt limit so that
we can spend that money for schools
and Fairgrounds and more subways.
the contamination of municipal owner
ship of all the lines--these are things
that we have long hoped for. This
transit report starts us on our way to-
ward the realization of every one OF
them. AS the plan unfolds through the
successive steps toward accomplishment
we shall know better how far along the
road we are going to get.
VIII End Era of Abuse.
''In making clear my stand on the
traction problem / have endeavored. SO
Ear as possible. to refrain from abuse OF
any one. We have suffered too much in
the last four years from that sort of
thing. When I am Mayor / shall en-
deavor to cooperate with all forces and
agencies working for the good OF the
city.
II shall stimulate to the extent of my
power the formulation and execution Of
plans to provide greatly for the city's
greater future. My attitude to the plan
of the Transit Commission. or any other
plan, will not be determined by any con-
eideration OF the source Of the plan.
I'VE have got to settle this problem Of
local transportation In New York. The
movement of millions daily through the
territory centring In Manhattan is an
exact parallel to the flow Of blood to and
from the heart. The railroads are the
veins and the arteries. The city Is a liv-
ing, growing body. The New York of to-
day is young giant clad in the steel
arnor of its transportation facilities.
''The time is limited within which
unless provision s made for continuing
expansion OF transportation facilities to
keep pace with populaton--the body
polite must be crushed to death by its
own growth. Health, wealth. happiness,
live are all involved in the conditions un-
der which people who work must travel
TO and from this homes.
Those elected by the city cannot post
pone consideration OF this problem. nor
can they evade their responsibility. The
results OF neglect outlast the guilty.
Mayor Hylan has not helped to solve this
problem. He has merely declared HIM
self In favor of the five cent fare. Yet
the only record we have OF his making
any constructive effort toward the adop-
tioa of any unit OF carfare Is the testi-
mony concerning his dicker with the late
Theodore p. Shonts for a seven cent fare.
While our Mayor has been talking the
public has been walking. In many parts
OF the city.
II believe the Transit Commission has
already performed public service. Far
from closing the door to proposals from
other sources. its report has opened a
discussion which will not fall to engage
the best minds and the most devoted
public spirit We will help the city most
II we take up this discussion with open
minds. free from politics and free from
bias"