The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-02-01
Good Service the Need.

To THE NEW YORK HERALD Gov
ernor Miller's efforts 10 solve the trans
portation problems OF Greater New York
should have the earnest support of all
public spirited citizens whose daily lives
are not governed and guided by the
fetch of home rule"
This talk about home rule Is 90 per
cent. rot. There is no rule that can be
enforced by the city which is not au-
thorized by the State. The State Is
sovereign and supreme. The city is the
creature Of the State. The Legislature
fully realizes that New York city Is
the States greatest asset, and that the
prosperity Of the city is a matter OF
vital Importance.
The present city administration ap-
pears to have deliberately and success
fully forced the transportation COM
panies into a position that makes II
impossible to give good service, the OBJ
ject evidently being the punishment OF
present security holders for the finan-
cial crimes of those who controlled AT
fairs twenty years ago.
The writer is fully aware Of those
financial Irregularities. and not only
called the attention of Governor Higgins
to some OF them but went to Albany
several times as witness in the inquiry
ordered by the Governor of the old
Railroad Commission. This was before
the Public Service Commission law was
passed.
The present contract between the city
and transportation companies was made
nearly ten years ago. It was the great
est financial transaction of its kind that
had ever been made. Mayor Gaynor
and George McAneny represented the
city. No two men ever served the city
more conscientiously. They did the best
that was possible under the conditions
that confronted them. And when Gay
nor died his enemies. who were nu-
merous. bitter and nasty. could not point
to one dollar in his estate that appeared
to be dishonesty gained.
The contract between the city and the
transportation companies Is In effect a
partnership affair, and contains certain
conditions, both written and implied.
Taken by and large, II was assumed that
the transportation companies would re-
ceive adequate compensation from the
public for the service they undertook to
render.
On the strength Of this a surance. and
In accordance with the terms OF the con-
tract as agreed TO. the companies bor-
rowed hundreds of millions of dollars
at high cost. All Of this money was
spent under the direction of the Public
Service Commission, and the city re-
ceived the benefit. While the city as
sumed no legal responsibility toward
the holders Of these securities. Il Is a
question II there Is not a moral obliga-
ton involved which the present city ad-
ministration has utterly refused TO rec
ognize. II the present attitude of the
city officials toward the holders OF trac-
ton bonds could have been foreseen not
one dollar could have been borrowed
The writer holds no brief for the
transportation companies and has not
one dollars worth OF interest in any of
their securities. All he wants to see
is good and adequate service, a service
that will be credit to the city and a
square deal for all concerned.
This can best be brought about by
giving less attention to the padded cap
ital account OF twenty years ago and
more attention TO the actual replace
ment cost Of the various properties ut
the present time JupsoN @. WALL.
BROOKLYN, January 81.