New-York tribune., 1921-02-03
Hyla1n Is Kissed
At Meeting; One
Man Backs Him
Town Hall Meeting Almost
Unit Against Reelection;
About Evenly Divided OH
Miller's Traction Proposal
Curran Opposes Program
Calls Ii Invasion of Home
Rule: Hedges and semple
Defend Governors Plan

Although the 1000 persons who
heard the debate In the Town Hall last
night on Governor Miller's proposed
solution of the traction problem ap-
peared rather evenly divided in senti-
ment on the home rule and fve-cent
fare questions. they were all but unani-
nous on one Issue.
Approximately 1899 of them Missed
and jeered when 1t was suggested that
Mayor Hylan ought to be reelected.
The single exception was gentle
man who was first to arise when the
meeting was thrown open to three
minute talks from the floor. He re-
ferred to Job E. Hedges and Oliver C.
Semple, who had spoken in favor of
the Miller plan, as Corporation lawyers
who always lie about these subjects,p
and then resumed:
II want to see Mayor John f. Hylan
reelected"--
Storm of Cat-Calls
At once the audience broke into a
storm Of cat-calls, jibes and Kisses.
The uproar continued and grew in
volume for nearly minute. Finally
the chairman restored order by plea
for fair play and the Mayors friend
went on:
"He Is the honestest Mayor
Raucous laughter once more swept
the assemblage, drowning the speak
er's voice. He stood his ground, how
ever, and the audience, appreciatinr
his. gameness, finally let him proceed
with some denunciatory remarks anent
the traction companies, even applaud
Ing him literally at the end.
Henry L. Curran, Borough President
of Manhattan, and Edward NJ Bassett.
a former member of the Public Service
Commission, were the speakers who OPP
posed Mr.. Hedges and Mr.. Semple.
Mr. Curran said he believed Cover
nor Miller was honestly trying to help
New York City solve it's difficulties, but
that nevertheless he considered the
Governors plan ga deliberate invasion
ct home rule" AT the same time the
Borough President assailed Mayor Hy-
Ian as equally responsible with Frank
!. Hedley, of the Interborough, and
former Public Service Commissioner
Nixon for the existing state of trans
portatlon affairs. He declared the
transit troubles were due to 'conbi-
nation of crooked finance and peanut
politics"
Favors a New Commission
"This is my plan in a NUTSHELL said
Mr.. Curran. "Create a new Public
Service Commission that will get the
facts and recommend the remedies, but
whose recommendations as to a tenn
pofary on permanent increase in fare
or changes III contracts must be ap-
proved by the Board of Estimate be-
fore they can become effective.
Il believe that when the facts are
known this commission will place be-
lore the public a plan that is based
on scent fare. That expresses
merely my own belief. I have not the
iacts, nor has anybody in the City of
New York"
Mr.. Hedges, who is receiver of the
New York Railways surface lines, said
ne didn't mind the city regulating
traction, but wanted to have something
left alive to regulate"
Rapid transit is at it's lowest ebb,"
he continued. Service has never been
poorer. That is why New York is cry
ing to the Legislature to come down
and straighten things out. If we wait
about sixty days more there'll be moth
ing left. Transit will be a memory.
Home Rule Like an Alibi
This home rule stuff is like an alibi
when you're trying to explain to your
wife where you've been when you can't
remember. For two years the Board
IF Estimate has sat there mentally i'm
potent. Not suggestion has it made
as to what is to be done. They've lust
| talked.
"It's great thing we've got Gov
ernor whose mind and spine work at
the same time: l don't believe the
people of New York are in doubt about
this thing. They merely know they
can't ali speak at once and that they
couldn't be heard, anyway, while the
board of Estimate is in session"
| Mr.. Semple declared the question
at issue was not one of home rule, but
of transportation service. He as
serted that the city had no rights in
the matter except such as were granted
| it by the Legislature from time to
time and that these could be taken
away by the Legislature at will.
Mr.. Bassett said Governor Miller had
made the mistake of not properly'
| analyzing the situation He agreed
that the state should have power to
regulate the privately owned public
utilities, but maintained that the city's
control over the city-owned subwavs
should never be relinquished.
Glynn Sure Governors