New-York tribune., 1921-01-27
Declares Foes Are Play
ing Politics or Ignorant
of Provisions in Meas
ure He Recommends
Denies Upstate Men
Will Rule Board
Asserts Commission. Not
Companies, Will Deter.
mine Question of Fare
From q staff Correspondent.

FROM Stdt Correspondent
ALBANY, Jan. 26.-Governor
Miller to-day divided the critics Of
his proposal for solving the traction
problem in New York City into two
classes-those who want to play poll
tics with the situation and those who
are ignorant of the law and the.
facts.
The Governor also dispelled the IL
fusion that it was his intention to ap-
point upstate men to the three head
ed public service commission which
would have complete jurisdiction
over all traction matters in New
York City, including the fixing Of.
fares.
He declared that the belief that
the new body would usurp any of the
functions of the local authorities in
New York City was misapprehen-
sion, and the same was. true, he
added, of the belief that the traction
companies, under the proposed plan.
could fix the fares. Only the Public
Service Commission, said the Cover
nor, could fix fares.
Republicans Split
There is big split in the ranks Of
the Republicans over the Governors
traction program. Upstate Republi-
cans are for the program. The New
York City Republicans who have ex-
pressed themselves on the subject are
bitterly opposed to it, declaring that
it can mean nothing else but an in
creased fare.
They say that to vote for anything
savoring of an increased fare means
political death. Some. of them declare
that II the traction companies are will
ing to lay all their cards son the table
and can show by figures which tell the
whole truth that an increased fare is
necessary they will vote for higher
fares.
Others say that under no circum-
stances will they vote for an increase,
holding that the companies made Dig
profits in the past and paid them out
in big salaries and big dividends, and
that they must take the lean years
with the fat. Still others argue that
their constituencies are against an in
creased fare, right or wrong, and that
they will reflect their constituencies
IN their votes.
The bills carrying out the Governors
program are now being drafted and
Will be introduced probably next week.
lhe hight which will be waged over
the bills will be bitter.
Paragraph Questioned
Many of the New York Citv lepisIa.
tors who have been studying the CIV
ernor's message were of the opinion
that one paragraph in it meant that
the Interborough, the B. r. T. and
other traction companies in New York
City could establish whatever fares
they saw fit.
The paragraph in question dealt with
the dual subway contracts entered into
between the city and the B. R. I. and
lnterborough in 1918, when the, city in
vested $300,000,000 in subways. and
stipulated that the fare should be 6
cents. That part of the paragraph
"nlch led to the confusion read:
inese contracts were made by the
PUBIC Service Commission and were
approved by the Board Of Estimate and
Apportionment, and they contained n
clause requiring the approval of the
board to any changes. However, find
no statutory warrant for that provi-
sion, the only consent of municjpal
authority to changes expressly re-
CURED by the statute being consent to
changes of plan"
When this language was called TO
the Governors attention, and he was
asked if it meant that the companies
could establish their own rates, he re-
piled:
"Oh, no. 1t means just what 1t says.
that the city's consent to changes Of
plan shall be required"
"WilI the city's cofsent be neces-
sary to increased fares?"
City's Consent Not REQUIRED
s'No, the regulatory powers will be
vested solely in the Public Servic.
Commission. This power resides in
the state alone"
"The regulatory powers include the
fixing Of fares ?"
Certainly" answered the Governor.
Some editors are of the opinion that
the dual subway contracts were made
by the city. They are in ignorance o.
the facts when they take this view.
The contracts were made by the Pub
lie Service Commission and approved
by the Board of Estimate, an approval
not called for by any statutory pro-
vision that / can sees
The Governor was then requested to
elaborate on his statement Of yester-
Gay that he believed that under the
Unified system, municipality owned.
the people would eventually pay lese
than cents for fare.
One Agency Is Essential
ut is not fare question:" replied
the Governor. 81 said at the time I
was not prophesying. But should ex-
pect that with unified system, under
PROPER control, and efficiently man
aged, it would be more likely to re-
suit in a less than five-cent fare
rather than in more than five-cent
fare ultimately. That is what !
would expect"
The Governor said ID aas essen
tial. that there be but ore agency r.
deal with the problem instead Of three
as at present.
'The plan ultimately" added ths
Governor. whatever it is, will be ex.
ccuted By the state. There wal, as a