New-York tribune., 1921-01-29
Brooklyn Leader Says He
Favors Every Phase of
Governors Program;
For Fare Rise if Needed
Stand May Test
Political Strength
Tammany Organizes to
Fight Plan; Hedges to
Debate ON the Question

Opponents of Governor Miller's pro-
posals to solve the city's traction prob
lens yesterday took steps to organize
their opposition.
At the same time Jacob A. Living
ston, Republican leader in Brooklyn,
came out squarely in support of the
Governor. He asserted that the ques-
tion was not one of politics, but wheth-
er the city was to have adequate trans
portation facilities; that it was time
for the public "to place its confidence
in the ability of some one to go ahead
and do something," and that he would
use his influence to induce legislators
to support the Governors plans.
Backed by Tammany Hall, Senator
James J. Walker and Assemblyman
Charles B. Donohue. leaders Of the
Democratic minority at Albany, called
a meeting of all the Democratic men,
bers of the Legislature from greater
New York to be held in the chamber of
the Board of Aldermen next Monday
at noon, and extended an invitation to
all Republican members to attend.
" The purpose of the meeting, it was
announced, was "to map out plans for
combating any increase in fares. rob-
bing the city Of its rights to home
rule and the even more dangerous evil
Of delegating the tixation Of gas and
electric rates to commission sitting
at Albany"
Fight Organized by Tammany
Plans for the meeting were decided
upon after the executive committee of
the County Democratic organization
assembled at Tammany Hall, had
adopted resolutions pledging the organ
ization to IAN untiring fight" against
the Governors proposals.
1--WE invite al Republican members
of the Legislature to attend" said Sen
ator Walker. Our purpose is to c.
velop measures to prevent this pro-
posed violation of the principle of
home rule. The Governors plans, il
carried out, would mean that New
Workers would have to pay increased
fares and that commission sitting al
Albany, with no representation from
the taxpayers, would arbitrarily fix
the rates of gas and electricity used
in this city"
Replying to the Governors sugges-
tion that the city would be represented
on the directorates of the transporta-
tion lines, Senator Walker said:
That is about equivalent to saying
that because person owns three or
four shares Of United States Steel
stock he is represented on the steel
company's directorate"
Declares City Would Lose Control
Copies of the Tammany resolution
were given out by Thomas f. Smith,
the secretary. The resolution reads:
The executive committee of the
county committee of the Democratic
party of New York County condemns
the message of Governor Nathan L,
Miller, submitted to the Legislature
on the night of January "a
because it means the destruction OF
the little measure of home rule now re-
naming with the people of the City
Of New York over their own affairs;
Because it means an Scent fare for
New York City;
municipal officials will lose all control
over the present transit system, which
has cost the people of the City Of New
York more than $25o,000, 900;
because it means that the people of
the city will be robbed Of the use and
control of their streets; and further
Because it means that the power of
fixing rates and service of gas and eiec-
tricty supplied to the people of the
City of New York will be in the hands
of the upstate Public Service Commits
sion, no one Of whom can by law be a
resident of the City of New York, and
rone of whom has any interest in the
people of the city or in the territory
served. Therefore, it is
"Resolved, That this organization,
true to its party platform declarations
for home rule and municipal owner
ship, continue to wage an untiring fight
against the plan contained in Governor
Miller's message. We call upon all the
elected officials in the city and state
unscitishly to join, irrespective Of
party, in a vigorous fight to protect
the people Of the City of New York
Continued on page hfteen)