The New York herald., 1921-02-04

7
known until they are handed TO the
Senate and Assembly.
No time is to be lost In getting the
recommendations before the public. The
Governor will spend two or three days
studying the bills and whipping them
irto final form.
Senator Kright, chairman of the Pub
&c Service Committee, probably VIII
handle the bills In the Upper House.
There will be at least two measures. one
bringing the public service act UP TO
date BY amendments and another Great
ing the new commission IL New York
with full powers.
Expert Backs Miiler's Idea.
John J. Merrill Tax Commissioners
and an authority on taxes and finance,
gave full Endorsement to-day 10 the
Governors policy and also strong rea-
sons for taking that stand.
No argument can be advanced IN
favor of giving traction corporations In
creased fares unless II is 10 save line
from ruiz, the Commissioner stated.
lie expressed the belief that New York
will never have an eight cent fare, ridi-
culed the TaInmany-Hylan cry that the
Governors plan Is designed for higher
fares. pointed out how losing transit
system Ia a detriment to any city be-
cause It imposes an unfair burden on
the small rent payer and advanced
new and remarkable scheme for giving
the army OF workers five cent fare
while making the thousands OF daily
visitors TO the metropolis pay their share
Of the expense for the upkeep OF the
transit linee.
Day by day the opposition to the
Goversor's programme appears 10 be
growing weaker. The only protest now
heard is coming from the Tamniany-
Hylan quarters. That seems 10 be hav-
ing a hard time 10 keep going
II started with the eight cent rare
wall. That soon petered out. Next came
the charse that the Governor was try
ing to sell the city a traction gold
brick" That stood UP one day. Then
the cry was that the Wall Street lobby
lists had descended on the State Capttol
and were Srowpeating the Legislature.
Everyone here who knows anything
about the situation knows that the flnan-
cial interest DO not relish the Governor
insistent demand, that the whole subject
be taken from the world Of high finance,
where Il has been kicked about for more
than twenty years and dealt with scien-
tihcally.
n Is expected here that the next wall
from the Tammany-Hylan group will be
that tralnloads OF money bags are ar
riving 10 buy up the Legislature. That
IL due about Monday next
statement by Com missioner.
Commissioners Merrill was asked for
his opinions on the New Tork transit
situation and what he thought could be
done about t. The commissioner spends
his time studying state tax problems,
not giving interviews. In his little room
on the fourth floor OF the Capitol he took
long view OF the vexaticus problem
and In his calm Judgment said:
The Governors transit programme
does not contemplate an increase In
fares. II does contemplate creating
some method Of redeeming the transit
lines in New York city from conditions
which, IL they prevail much longer. will
lead 70 partial collapse OF the system
and abandonment of service. All this
cry that has been raised about eight
cent fare Is FOR political purposes on
the eve Of political campaign. Those
who hope 70 benefit by beclouiing the
public mind by such pernicious propa-
eanda have no constructive programme
and no real interest or sense OF reepon-
slbility ia connection with the New York
transit situation.
every resident of New York city who
rides on any OF the transit lines and
drops his nickel into the box. may talnk
that he Ia paying only a nickel for his
ride. but in effect he Is paying a great
deal more, how much 7 am not IN a
position 10 determine. n may be eight
cents at this moment. II may be more. it
may DO less no one knows.
This question OF fares Is an economic
ana fundamental question bound M with
the prices OF groceries. rent. the tax rate
and everything else that goes into a
mans weekly expense bill. II the public,
and by the public I mean the man wh6
counts his nIckels. could only be mad.
10 realize how the fare question relates
10 bis household problem the whole thing
would be comparatively easy to. solve.
If subway Loses City Pays.
"New York city Ia q partner In ~.
subway. n the subway loses money. the
city has 10 foot the bill That means
thet the city rivst raise the tax rate
end boostirg the tax rate nehns higher
rent for the apartment. the flat. the cor
ner store The ,Rx comes out Of the
wage earuers. 7. "a perfectly simplo.
1T follovs that transit company
that loses money. which ls no, self sus-
tanning, becomes automatically q burden
On tho municipality and therefore on the
taxpayer do not think a single areu-
ment can be advanced IN favor OF in
cren sing fares merely to help a transit