The New York herald., 1921-01-30

w1s read In the Legislature. He is
likely TO do so still further"
How do most OF the members feel
about the proposal?' Mr.. koenis was
asked.
They are really not IN a position
where they can consider the question on
its merits" was the reply, Il don
know what position they are going 20
take, except know they are Repupn-
cans. believe we all feel We need fur-
ther information. We must wait wiul
the bill is drawn. Then there may be
change OF sentiment on the part OF GER
tain persons who took snap judgment
Mr.. Koenig In reply to questions said
he did not hear any one express direct
opposition 10 the Governors programme:
The Senators present were Schuyler
NJ Meyer Seventeenth district William
Duggan, Nineteenth, and Ward V. Toll
bert Twentieth. The Assemblymen were
Sol Ullman, Sixth district; Noel b. Fox,
Seventh Norris d. Reiss, Eighth Ed
ward r. Rayher. Ninth Bernard Aron-
son. Tenth Robert B. Wallace, Thir-
tecnth; Joseph Steinberg. Fifteenth
Nathan Lieberman, Seventeenth; Mar
guerite T.. Smith, Nineteenth Mario q.
Dipirro, Twentieth; John c. Hawkins,
Twenty-hrst. and George y. Jessee.
Kings Leader IL Not Disturbed.
Jacob A. Livingston. the Brooklyn
leader, was not at all disturbed by the
declarations of three OF his Senator's,
which Indicated disagreement with some
of the Governors ideas along the lines
of a state commission.
Personally ! am convinced that an
increased fare iss-not necessary, said
Senator Maxwell s. Harris. II feel the
programme which seeks to confer on a
commission the power TO revise the con"
tracts and alter the basic rate OF fare is
a programme for an increased fare"
"At tho present time all l am inter-
ested in is service" said Senator A. L..
Katlin. "I won't support anything just
because the Governor asks for IL. ! am
going 70 study this proposition before I
take a stand"
so far as giving a commission power
to 1x flexible fare" said Senator Will
lam T. Simpson, 81 certainly would want
assurance that II would not pe fixed on
the figures which the railroads them
selves would present"
The declarations of Mr.. Harkness. the
expert on transit law and conditions, on
the Miller programme were in the high
est praise.
What is needed" said Mr.. Harkness,
"Is a complete reform of New York
city's traction system. in order that the
public may be assured It is not being ex-
plotted through stock jobbing and similar
practices. The public is thoroughly i'm
bued with the idea that II is being ex-
plotted. and for that reason Is resentfill
and antagonistic to anything the COM
panies ask.
"It is this feeling that has presented
the present opportunity to make the
transit situation political football. So
far as the legal side of home rule is
concerned the Legislature never has
given the city Jurisdiction over the sub
ways
"The construction and operation OF
subways since 1894 has been. in the
hands of State boards he continued.
Fur thermore, the principle of home rule
should not be made fetch to cover in
capacity. The city has had three years
OF unexanplci opportunity to right de-
plorable situation, and IL now seems to
be a case of either letting bad go TO worse
or having comprehensive handling OF
the situation by n state agency"
Because Of the bad financial conditions,
Mr.. Hardness said, the companies
would have been glad to submit TO al
most any conditions the city might have
imposed. Perpetual franchises could have
been eliminated. leases revised and
ground regained that had been lost in
dealing with the companies during half
a century.
Governors Plan Praised.
An editorial in the current issue OF
the Electric Rdii1cdy Journal. referring
TO Gov. Miilers message. says In part:
aft iQ at nd Nn
are glad to see that the Governor sees
the necessity OF coordinated system in
the proposed revised plan for New York.
In this way only can the maximum SER
vice be given for the minimum cost to
the users.
but the companies also must make
concessions. The subway contracts, tho
Governor says, need revision in tho pub
lie interest. as experience has shown that
the provisions for preferential payments
are unfair to the city. Just how far nc
concessions requested will extend II Is Inn
possible to say. but the tone Of the mes
sage throughout indicates a strong desl- !,
to administer justice, and the companies
have the assurance that in the Cover
nor's opinion the market value Of the
outstanding securities IL much below .ho
intrinsic value OF. the properties rep-.-
sented
~ VIII N'rAahl9 mean SIedl zeal
10 the companies. just as II will 10 the
city. to rewrite their contracts I'm the
light OF the experience OF the last ten
years
The City Parliament OF the Commu-
nifty Councils OF the City OF New York
viii hold what II calls home rule meet
ing In the Aldermanic chamber at the
City Hall on Tuesday night The an
nounced speakers will be Messrs. Curran
and La Guardia, Borough President and
President OF the Board Of Aldermen re-
spectiveiy. and Assemblyman II. J.
Neary OF Queens. They say they are
arranging for a monster parade" OF
-protest against the attack on home
rule"
THIRD AVENUE LINE