The New York herald., 1921-09-30
OPINIONS WITHHELD
ON TRANSIT REPORT
Mayor Is Not Yet Ready to
Comment on Proposed Solu-
tiOn of Problem.
CRAIG SEES 8 CENT FARE
Newspapers Praise Commission
for Undertaking Huge Task
Toe Soon for Criticism.

The report of the Transit Commission
or It's plan for the reorganization OF the
city's transit lines and companies. made
public late yesterday. was followed last
night by rvticence In all interested
quarters unt1 more time was available
In which to study so voluminous and i'm
portant document
Mayor Hylan. who has led the fight
against the commission and it's plan,
said he had not had time 10 read the
report and therefore asked to be excused
from commenting. High officials OF the
transit companies refused to discuss the
report. also for the reason that they had
not had time to consider It.
The only definite opinion came from
Comptroller Charles L. Craig. Mayor
Hylan's running mate for reelection.
who. after he had perused the document.
issued the following dictum:
An examination OF what is claimed
to be the Transit Commissions plan
shows beyond question that nothing less
than an eight cent fare will carry the
plan into effect. One feature seems to
be excellent. except for the time it is
to take effect. That is the provision
for the abolition of the Transit Com
mission. Instead OF waiting until the
plan is put ipto effect, the commission
Papers withhold Comment.
John p. O'Brien, Corporation Counsel
who has conducted the Mayors court
lights against the validity OF the act
creating the commission, could not be
reached for his views. Senator Hiram
w. Johnson OF California brought to
New York by William Randolph Hearst
to act as Mayor Hylan's generalissimo.
was understood to be In Washington.
Editorial comment of newspapers.
while praising the commission unstint-
ingly for 'the one attempt that has
been made to arrive at a scientific So
luton OF New York's traction problem"
and an eye that has been single to
the welfare Of the city. to-day and in
the future was marked by reserve
until closer scrutiny OF the report could
be had and until the scope of the plan
could be more fully developed by the
public hearings which the commission
proposes and until the results of its
efforts at valuation could he disclosed.
The New York Times said in part:
THE recommendations OF the Rapid
Transit Commission. being the fruit OF
months of intensive labor, cannot be
Judged on sight. They must be studied
and weighed, part by part and as
sive opinion of them can be formed But
there need be no hesitation in recogniz-
Ing the scope Of the work, and the skill,
courage and conscientiousness with
which Il has been done. The eye of the
commission has been single to the well
fare OF the city, to-day and In the future.
There win be occasion to return TO
the report again and again as various
features OF Il come under discussion. No
final Judgment OF 1t should be hastily
delivered. II is praise enough to say OF
It that II shows comprehensive grasp
OF the problems to be solved, and attacks
them with knowledge based on expert
encc and with n public spirit that Is ur-
questionable and fearless"
More Praise for Commission.
A portion OF the comment of the
World fellows:
The report OF the Governors Transit
Commission represents the most ambi-
tious attempt that has ever been made
to devise a permanent traction pro-
gramme for the city of New York.
1T is impossible at this time to dis
cuss in detail the Great constructive re-
port to which Mr.. McAneny. Mr.. Hark-
ness and Gen. Organ have devoted
months; but 1t IL apparent that they
nave created n new tTdCtiou situaticA ~
New York.
at is unfortunate that the report
should come in the midst OF municipal
campaign, which will be an obstacle TO
the sober consideration which its Inn
portance demands. But even with that
handicap it will take the discussion OF
the traction question at once out OF the
realms OF demagoey and corporation
sophistry and bring 1t down to the basis
OF facts. Even facts cannot always be
excluded from municipal affairs. and 1t
is to the credit of the commission that
II has disregarded politics completely
In order to present a plan which VIII
give the city comprehensive traction
system under municipal ownership and
meet the pressing requirements Of the
future.
'The report stands out Immediately as
the ono attempt that has been made to
arrive at n scientific solution OF New
York's traction problem. and IL II can
be successfully carried out Il will mark
the beginning of n new chapter IN mu-
nicipal government. not only for New
York but for every othrv city that has
ta deal with nuhiic utilities"