New-York tribune., 1921-02-09
Aldermen Ask
Traction Probe
By Legislature
Resolutions ID Denoun C i'm &
Miiler's Plan as Outra-
geous Assault on Home
Rule Favor am Inquiry
Seizure Proposal Beaten
$4,000 600 Power Charges
Remain Unpaid by Bank
rupt Lines i'm Queens

Resolutions denouncins Governor
Miller's proposals to solve the traction
problem as an Outrageous assault ON
home rule and the principles of self
a-overnmentr were adopted by the Board
Of Aldermen yesterday after the four
Socialist members had Joined with the
Democrats on the issue.
The board also adopted report sub
nitted by the Committee on State Leg
islstion calling upon the Legislature to
appoint q commission to investigate "all
ehc facts" regarding the city's trans
portation system and to report "a con-
strpctive plan to the local authorities
for approval"
At the height of the argument sug-
gestions were made that the city seize
sill the traction lines. The suggestion
was embodied in 8 resolution offered By
Alderman B. o. Vladeck "to direct the
Health Commissioner. in conjunction
with the Police Department, to seize
and operate all the traction lines in the
city until such time as the traction
situation will have been permanently
this was to be substituted for the reso-
hutton condemning the Governors pro-
posal.
"The people want the traction lines
to belong to them," asserted the AL
derman. "They are ready to pay eight
cents if the lines belong to the city.
The service has become nuisance and
= danger. 1t is so run that the people
are willing to pay increased fares If
they can have decent service
The substitute was voted down, only
The CHr;0(iSfc cnOn0rtiNO IL
F. Fl. La Guardia, president Of the
board, and four other Republicans
voted with the Democrats and Social
ists on the resolution adopted.
The report of the committee, of
which Alderman Charles H. Hauoert, Of
Brooklyn, is chairman, accompanied
resolutions which had been referred to
It at last weeks session. The reso-
buttons say:
Governor Miller in a recent message
recommended legislation giving him
the appointment of commission with
EUN power, among other sweeping pro-
1isions, over the transit problem in
this city, independent of municipal
control and regardless Of the provisions
oE local consents and private contracts
This extraordinary commission is to
30 invested with power. to fix e rate
OF fare after an examination of the
provide temporary rates to meet con-
iition3 made necessary by what the
Governor properly characterized as
background Of criminal finance.
THE same brood Of traction manjp-
Nlators responsible for this back
ground OF criminal finance did, as les
sees of the city-built subway, link up
with the subway exploitation all their
worthless and stock-bloated assets in
ma rf trn1 ord
ovar-capitalizcd elevated lines. There
t4re be it
"Resolyed, That the Board of AL
Gerlnen is una terably opposed TO any
-egisl&tion which would invest this pro-
posed commission with power to regu-
ste the fare question in this city IN
dependent of municipal CONTROL and
urges q elements of our citizenry, re-
;ard ess Of political affiliaton, to or
aaaize in potential numbers and resent
,his outrageous assault on home rule
and the principles of government"
The committees report referred to
The Republican state platform as hav
ing declared in favor of granting to
al cities and villages adequate powers
Of lf-government and control over
rheir local affairs and property, free
rom legislative interference" The
rcport continues:
l ~,
however, have long realized that the
principle Of political equality is not
tor them in the fullest acceptance Of
.he term, and will not be until the
9Tganic law is charged and the con-
atitution permits our just representa-
.ion in the Legislature, in accordance
With our population.
IN the Investigation conducted by
the Board of Estimate recently, the
y, 70
h&Vc contract with more than forty
years OF life, refused to consider its
abrogation, but wanted the Board Of
Estimate inquiry confined to the con-
alderation OF increased costs of labor
and Supplies on which they based
their application for a modification of
The contract, so as to permit an in
creased fare. There is no doubt that
the operating costs have increased
signed, and The Subway Sun and other
purveyors OF news in this town have
not at all understated the facts. Not
wlthstanding these increases, a cursory
examination Of only q few of the high
spots in subway financing discloses
that the lessees are selling power TO
one of their subsidiary bankrupt troll
ley lines in Queens Borough for less
fhan the pre-war prices and this COM
oany was charged with power cost up
TO December 81, 1920, with more than
Sz'oo0,V00, which remains unpaid and
mas been accum ulating since October.
1908. This Is one of the companies
thr9wn into the transit melting pot
by Mr. belmont. 1t is no wonder that
che puoilc is now in state of mind
20 take nothing for granted as
governor Miller succinctly stated in
ais message"