The New York herald., 1921-02-18
MILLER PLAN URGED
BY STATE CHAMBER
Transit Board for First. New
York District Favored in
Special Report.

Gov. Mller's plan for solving the
transit problem of New York city was
unanimously indorsed by the Chamber
of Commerce Of the State of New York
at a special meeting held yesterday for
the purpose Of hearing the report and
recommendation OF the recently APP
pointed special committee on the rapid
transt situation which has been lnvesti-
eating the matter for the last fortnight.
The committee submitted q report OF its
findings, together with resolutions In
dorsing the Governors plan, urging the
Legislature to create q commission Tor
the First District of New York with
sole and exclusive jurisdiction over
traction affairs in that district. includ-
ing full power to act" and appealing to
citizens of New York regardless OF
party to support the plan proposed py
the Governor. William McCarroll. for
mer Public Service Commissioner ana
chairman of the committee, presented
the report.
The situation with reference % rapid
transit in New York was set forth In
the report. which declared that transit
conditions have reached crisis threat
ening the life and progress OF the city.
''The facilities are notoriously inade-
uuate." the report continued. Result
ant overcrowding is disgraceful and
dangerous. In addition to suffering
from physical conditions passengers are
now compelled to pay two or three
fares where they formerly paid one.
No provision is being made for the
growth of population, which Is constant
ly adding its demand for service. On
the contrary the operation OF a number
of lines has been discontinued through
inability to pay expenses. Many I'M
portant companies are In the hands OF
receivers. The properties and rolling
<l1tAr I'M
city authorities and the Public Service
Commission appear. to stand helpless IN
the face of these difficulties andt prob
lens.
"It Is significant that with full recog-
milton Of the many vitally important
problems of the State of New York the
Hon Nathan l.. Miller promptly after
taking offlce addressed himself with
vision and courage to a solution OF our
transit problem.
There are now three agencies dealing
with transit affairs in this city. namely.
the Public Service Commission, the
Transit Construction Commissioners and
the Board of Estimate and ,,Apportion-
ment The powers Of each of these
agencies, as set forth by the Governor.
are in constant dispute. There Is much
conflict of Jurisdiction. The Public Ser
vice Commission has complete Jurisoic-
ton over all of certain street railways
and over only parts Of other lines, and
a divided authority with the Board or
Estimate and Apportionment over all OF
certain other lines or parts thereon. the
result is n hopeless tangle.
Divided authority and responsibility
is wrong in principle. The Governor rec
ommends that authority and responsible
ity should be completely centred in a
single agency. and he proposes to ac-
complish this by legislation creating q
| transit commission responsible to the
| State. with authority both to investigate
and to act
This commission IL to possess all OF
| the authority that can constitutionally
be given II and will, after investigation,
develop a plan for one unified traction
system. with q single fare and ultimate
municipal ownership. In other words.
this commission will result In centraliza-
ton of control and the ultimate uniflca-
| tion in respect to ownership OF our trac-
ton properties.
The Governors plan has been OBJ
4 jected to as an invasion of the principle
| of home rule II this objection Is urged
with sincerity the answer is to be found
| in the fact that the essentials of real
4 home rule are fully met by the organi-
zation Of the proposed commission. II
is to be body exclusively for the city
OF New York. to deal exclusively with the
transit situation and with ample powers
for that one object. 1t is to be composed
of competent men OF high standing. pos
sessing tho confidence OF their fellow
citizens, wholly free from political bias
I Such commission will surely meet th'
views of all honestly solicitous for bom
rule true home rule which this city de
| sires and needs Is that which makes tn
interests and welfare of the city tn
supreme and exclusive aim and end.
your committee believes that unifica
ton of the traction systems as th'
Governor suggests In essential in tn