The New York herald., 1921-03-03
&c AT ALBANY DEVELOPS INTO SCENE OF TJRBULENCE

breathes in every section that deals
with the commissions power the right
OF plenary power in the commission at
the expense OF what there IS in the city
of New York.
Appeals for Generosity.
"You permit by this bill acts that you
wouldn't permit under any other set OF
/ circumstances. The remedy. YOU ask
The remedy you ask for traction. by
putting power In this State and tweed
ling away power in the city2 All, Mr..
Chairman. with their local concerns and
their local problems, give tho city OF
New York the power, add to its power.
give IL more right Don't deal with 1t
In a sparse and niggardly fashion In
doing out the power of this State. Don't
take from 1t the little that 1t has. Give
| to II the plenary power that Will enable
Il finally to act for ITSELF as 1t has the
right to act Self-government? Why,
Mr.. Chairman, this bill makes q mocl1ery
Of self-government. Home ruler There
isn't any such thing II the PROVISIONS of
| this bill can ultimately go into full force
| and effect"
Corporation Counsel O,Brien. Comp
| troIler Craig and President La Guardia
| Of the Board of Aldermen all talked OF
| depriving the city of home rule. They
followed along the line laid out by Sem
ator johnson.
! Among the upstate city officials op-
posing the measure Mayor George r.
Lunn. Of Schenectady, was outstanding.
He said that in the poll Of city execu-
! tives II was found that those for the
bill represented but 36ss1s citizens.
while those opposing represented more
than 100000.
When Senator knight banged his
gavel and announced time was up for
the opposition. there was an uproar Of
protest
rs labor going to be heard or are
you going to throttle us?" shouted
James p. Holland. president of the
4 State Federation OF Labor. TT Is not
fair nor right that we should be denied
a hearing. Do you want conditions in
New York that you have In Albany ?
Do you want to have the tracks torn
up?'
A score or more iusty lunged spolSes-
men for the people demanded they be
heard.
/ Un0rEanixed Public.
'T am here for the unorganized pub
| lic,' cried c. II. Collins Of New York
I'VE have a right to be heard"
''Sit down." shouted Senator knight
and he swung his gavel fast and fu-
riously.
II won't sit down: this is q disgrace;
IL you refuse to hear me TIL put my
statement in the papers," Collins defied
the chairman.
1t was finally agreed that II the COM
mittees gave the opposition another
twenty minutes that might stop an out
cry that a hearing was denied to the
public.
when the police power begins the
Constitution ends" said E. Ward Nc
Mahon Of the Brooklyn Chamber of
Commerce. This proposition is iniqui-
tous: 1t overrides New York"
This measure Is the greatest piece
OF political insolence OF this generation"
said Albert s. Ward Of the Citizens
! Union.
7 Justice John Ford or the Supreme
Court came near starting something. He
said: This bill cannot be amended to
make 1t good. 1t is an outrage against
local self-government and an invasion
of our rights.
| Il know you men. I know the mo-
tives that actuate your legislation"
Two or three members of the COM
mittee Jumped up and shouted for recog-
milton. Senator Knights right arm was
swinging again. A chorus OF Kisses
swept the room.
miller ran 100000 behind his ticket
in New York and if you pass this bill
any one who dares run against Mayor
Hylan will not get as many votes as
there are in Arcade, Wyoming county,
where Senator Knight lives" Ford
shouted.
Every time a speaker paused for
breath half a dozen more were trying to
get recOgnftion
Invisible Government.
Invisible government wrote this bill."
| Mr.. Hackett, assistant counsel of the
Public Service Commission In New York,
said. He was careful to explain he spoke
for himself only. and not for the commits
sion. Every comma in the bill was put
there because some corporation lawyer
wanted II. The only demand for such a
law is the political demand here, be-
cause the Republicans control the Legis-
lature.
TT is the most vicious legislation: a
smoke screen for an eight cent fare"
Frank Oliver took the responsibility
CT speaking for "every man, woman and
child in The Bronx" and informed the
lawmakers those he represented would
''nght to the last ditch against an eight
cent fare" He ended a ono minute
speech with this:
"The Bronx viii take ten minutes Of
Hy1an honesty in preference to one hun
dred years OF Miller brilliancy-"
Then there was an uproar. The crowd
shouted and roared it's objection. and in
the midst OF the excitement Stewart
Browne OF the Real Estate Board got
out in the aisle and began shouting for
recognition. He had been trying hard to
make q speech.
But Mr. Collins was not going TO give
way to Mr.. Browne.
'T have got some figures I want TO get
Off my chest" Collins shouted.
Put them in the papers" Senator
Knight roared.
"I speak for 1000 taxpayers" Browne
sang out.
Senator Cotilla stepped into the fray.
IT want TO know II you are citi-
| zen % the Senator asked Browne.
II took the oath of allegiance to this
country when you we're stffl sucking q
button" Browne flashed back.
Bul's Friends Have Floor.
That was too much for Senator Knight
No ono could make himself heard
against the pounding of the gavel for
the next minute, and when every one
was back in his seat the chairman said
the friends of the bill had the hoor
Former Comptroller Prendergast was IN
troduced.
Reviewing the recent history of the
transit companies in New York, AIR.
Prendergast illustrated how the high