The New York herald., 1921-10-12
HYLAN SAYS CURRAN'
WAIVERS ON TRANSIT
Mayor Ayers Rivals Position
on Five Cent Fare Issue Is
Subject to Reversal.

Mayor Hylan Is unwilling to accep,
the statement of Henry II. Curran. Re-
publican Coalition candidate for Mayor
that he does not favor the readjustment
plan of the Transit Commission as IL
now stands. but will ask the Legisla-
ture to amend II, insuring a Ave cent
fare and home rule. The Mayor issued
a statemnt yesterday In which he said
"Curran's lip service opposition to the
vital aspects Of the plan does not OBJ
scure the fact that he is for the plan
and is ready and willing to yield and
withdraw his mild objections to details
II the people afford him an opportunity
to do So"
The Mayor offered no explanation of
this challenge Of his opponents veracity,
and Republican political leaders were
frankly of the opinion that the Mayors
only reason was that he knew that If
ne showed sportsmanship enough to ac-
cept Mr.. Curran as a man of his word
he could no longer pretend that Mr..
Curran is opposing a five cent fare and
home rule. the main battery Of the
Hylan campaign artillery.
The Mayor also quoted George Nc
Aneny. chairman of the Transit Com
mission. as follows
ANY plan Is ridiculous. with the pres
ent unsettled and uncertain transit Sit
uation. which seeks to guarantee per-
n1anent five cent fare"
Mr.. McAneny, who had been quoted
to the same effect by the Hearst news
papers, denied he ever had made that
or any other statement regarding a five
cent fare, further than the discussion
In the commissions recent report,
Candidate Curran," said the Hylnn
statement. has at last broken hts
silence on the Transit Commissions 5
plan. Before doing so he opined that
while reading the report he fell asleep
pnd awoke refreshed. His comment on
the, plan Is refreshing piece of incon-
sistency and disdainful disregard Of the
Intelligence of the public. ,fs
Candidate Curran indorses the Tram
BIT Commissions plan. Yet the plan
and the law under which 1t is issued
prevent the city from having a binding
or final voice in New York citys trac-
tion matters. 80
The plan and the law under which
1t is issued prevent the city having an
effective voice In regard to ''consolida-
tion' OF lines and OF financial terms by
which this consolidation is effected and
OF the valuations to be imposed BY the
plan. Candidate Curran favors the city
having such final voice, and approved
the plan that prevents 1t having such a
final voice, the only right OF veto in
such matters being vested In the trac-
tion companies.
Candidate Curran declares himself In
favor OF five cent fare. The Transit
Commission plan does not provide for a
five cent fare but on the contrary rigs
up a barometer fund scheme with the
elements stacked against the public so
that prevents permanent five cent fare.
evolving from its operation.
Candidate Curran thus favors plan
that prevents permanent five cent fare
which he says he favors."
The Mayor continued as follows:
Candidate Curran says the Millerized
transit commission plan is the first
practical attempt that has yet been
made In this Mr.. Curran is mistaken.
The traction compsr les have for several
years been making practical attempts
to solve the transit situation; SO have
Travis II. Whitney. adviser to the COM
mission. and Mr.. Hardness. on the COM
mission. The traction companies at
tempts. however. though practical did
not meet with the approval OF the public
or Of the Board Of Estimate, of which I
am chairman.
''It Ia an adroitly yelled higher fare
scheme. It Is modelled upon the plan
that has resulted in 8 and 10 cent fares
In every city In the country where 1t
has been put into effect.
Candidate Curran's grotesque posi-
ton on this Miller Transit plan Is easily
understood Immediately after II was