The New York herald., 1921-02-08
Everybody's Rapid Transit Need


Everybody's Rapid Transit Need.
All the great States of this country
have their transit problems. The Gov
ernors Of such States cannot solve
those problems with soap box ora
tory. They know better than to try
it. They get on the job and stay ON
the job Of doing something practical
to meet the public's need Of being
transported- safely, rapidly and de-
Gently in centres of population. And
pretty nearly all the Governors as a
result of their experience with the
most trying task there is in the
crowded municipalities are a unit
with Governor MILLER in his view
that the problem can be worked out
the right way only by commission
charged with undivided responsibility
and armed with full power.
| The common sense of New York
city, which suffers more from insult
ficient and Inefficient rapid transit
service than any other city in the
world, knows that the first question
and the biggest question is to be able
to ride. Exhortations in behalf Of
municipal ownership and operation
are not rapid transit facilities. Full
limitations against crooked finance of
the past are not. The only thing that
will give the necessary service at a
reasonable cost is hard fact pro-
gramfne on sound business basis
which will provide more lines, more
trains and more cars. atas
This is what Governor MILLER
wants to do. He wants to do it by
cutting out talk and getting action.
He wants to do it by putting on the
job full power commission to find
out the honest truth about the differ
ens companies and lines now In oper-
stion--how much money they are
really making or losing, how much
water Is in them to be squeezed out,
how much can be saved by central
lied and competent management. He
wants to do 1T by putting all the
companies into one unified system on
solid business basis, which will
make II self-supporting, pay the city
taxes that are not now earned and
return the city income on it's quarter
OF billion Of dollars of rapid transit
investment which Is now returning the
city nothing. He wants to do 1t by
releasing from the debt limit strait
jacket that quarter of billion dollars
which is now non-earning, dead money
and making it earning, live money
which can go into more rapid transit
and other municipal undertakings.
And If the people OF this city don't
want the same thing they don't want
more and better transit service.
In few days, perhaps few hours,
the bills representing Governor MIL
LEn's ideas will he introduced In the
Legislature. They are not likely to
be perfect as they first come before
the lawmakers. No bill Is just right
in It's tentative form. Every plan can
he improved beyond It's rough draft
by studying over 1t, working on 1t and
polishing Il. But If the legislative
bills stick to the fundamental prin-
clples Of Governor MrLLER's plan so
that the result Of the commissions
work may be one unified system,
with whatever water is In the prop
critics squeezed out. n single fare,
ample funds to rehabilitate the lines
in existence and to set in immediate
motion programme Of constant con-
struction of new lines, extension of
old lines and expansion Of equipment
If the legislative measures stay
close TO these fundamentals they can
be made to do what Governor Miller
wants to have done for the people Of
this city and what must be done for
them If they are to be salvaged from
rapid translt chaos.