The New York herald., 1921-02-13
'DAZED BY PLAN FOR
TRANSIT SOLUTION
Hylan-Tammany-Hearst Ele-
ments Silent, but Others
Praise Miller's idea.
LA GUARDIA Is WON OVER
Metz Lauds Governor for His
Brains and BackbOne-City
Ownership Feasible.

Gov. Miller's letter to Gen. oliver b.
Bridgman, giving further details of his
proposed solution OF the transit tangle
porters and left his opponents In dazed
ccndition
Mayor Hylan said nc had no comment
to make. Comptroller Craig had nothing
to say. although he expects to give his
views at the meeting of the Democratic
legislators in the Aldermanic chamber
tomorrow.
The Governors position and mine
are not far apart" declared Mr.. La
dermen, although he insisted that ii
was the Governor and not he, who had
changed his point OF view since the Gov
ernor's message.
Both Mr.. La Guardia and Henry ii.
Curran, President or the Borough OF
Manhattan, have expressed desire to
confer with Gov Miller on his plan.
Maurice L. Connolly, President of
Queens Borough, issued q manifesto
against the plan, because he conceived
l. meant an increased fare.
Public reaction on the Miller pro-
gramme, as detailed in the Bridgman
man A. Metz. formerly Comptroller of
the city. Democrat, praised the Gov
ernor as having what he said was
rare combination in politics. brains and
backbone
1t was learned that the Governors
ieea is to give tho Board of Estimate
every chance to work with the, Public
Service Commission in the final solution
OF the problem. To that end the bill, it
is understood. will provide that the
commission before putting through any
plan shall give the Board OF Estimate
three chances to agree. If the latter
rejects the first plan worked out by The
commission, thesiattef shall present a
modification. If this is rejected third
time the commission, shall offer a solu-
ton to the board. If the latter still
holds out, then the commission shall
have confplete authority to carry out
such a programme as II deems wise.
The city will need no money in order
to take over the transit lines, it was
stated by a person familiar with all of
the details of the Governors scheme.
Opponents have declared the cty's in
ability to go into debt further was an
irsuperable obstacle. And even il it
had the money. the process of condemn-
ing the lines would be long and tedioAs.
"As matter of fact" said the in
formant OF The New YORK HERALD,
'fhe plan is that the compensation TO
be given by the city for the properties,
stripped of their leases and bonds and
stocks and appraised at real value only,
will be in the form of lease to the new
operating company. The term of such
lease will be one of the vital points
This lease will be morteaged and bonds
and stock issued to be substituted for
the securities. properly valued, which
the present holders will consent to re-
lease"
Replying to question how Il viii be
possible to procure the participation in
the plan of security holders OF such
lines as are not already in receivers
hands. attention was called TO the Gov
ernor's statement: ''It is doubtful IL a
single company could operate twenty
four hours under existing conditions IL
the regulatory powers Of the State were
exerted as they might be exerted." In
other words. line which would refuse
to come in might operate on its own
hook for brief time. but eventually
would be unable to stand the strain and
would go into the hands OF a receiver
IL is pointed out that the provision
giving the Board OF Estimate three
chances to agree with the commission
would tend to arouse and crystaliya
public sentiment during the discussion
between the two bodies. In tho end
the commission would know Just how
the public felt upon the details of the
solution it might be planning to put
through.
II refer you to my message to the
Board OF Aldermen. dated January g."
was Mr.. La Guardia's comment. "The
part where 1 offered a plan for having