The New York herald., 1921-01-25
The Governors Traction Plan.

Inc oOvSsnOs AAo~ss s>
In his public utilities message Gov
ernor MILLER's declaration that the
transit problem of this city can be
solved only by treating all the lines
as a unified system is unbeatable.
Our millions of people are never go
ing to be able to travel back and
forth every day through all the parts
Of the greatest population centre on
earth, rapidly, comfortably and
cheaply, except on closely coordi-
mated, entirely consolidated and SIN
gly controlled traction service. You
might as well expect the streets of
New York city to be satisfactory thor
oughfares If they were money making
enterprises under the possession,
rules and regulations Of dozens OF
different ownerships, syndicates and
arrangements, all in more or less
financial competition and political
conflict with one another.
Another of Governor MILLER's con-
clusions. which is beyond argument,
is that unless the systems are so
linked together that the profitable
parts sustain the Improbable parts
there never can be either adequate or
efficient transportation for hundreds
OF thousands of our dwellers and
workers in various and scattered Sec
tions of the city. Inevitably good
service in poor territory calls for such
complete unification that there may be
nc bankruptcy breeding competition ;
while there shall be single fare suffi-
cient to meet the operative and other
essential costs of the good and the
bad earners together.
Governor MILLER also squarely
holds the judgment that one complete
unified system necessarily means that
ultimately it must be municipality
owned. with, as he expresses it, all
the water squeezed out. If the only
way TO achieve these cardinal needs
OF successful rapid transit Of the most
travelled metropolis Of the world were
through municipal ownership, then
with due regard for all the faults
inherent in government participation
In business affairs and full realiza-
ton Of all failures In the past, mu-
nicipal ownership it would have to
be. But we cannot agree with the
Governor that 1t Is either necessary
or, in the light of bitter experience
with government in business. work
able.
It Is true that the city already has
invested a quarter OF billion of
dollars in the rapid transit undertake
ing, with still another half billion of
dollars required to provide for the
already pressingly needed new con-
structlon and equipment. But, even
on q proper valuation basis deter
mined by an exact inventory. which
in any event Is the sine qua non of
getting at this matter rs business
proposition, the city could not pay for
the privately owned properties, the
city could not put up the hundreds
Of millions OF new capital needed, as
long as the roads were not made self
supporting. If they are permitted to
earn living under a proper inven-
tory valuation, good management and
reasonable operating conditions, pri.
vate industry, enterprise and genius
always can give faster, safer, cleaner
more sanitary and comfortable ser.
vice than red tape. bureaucratic rou-
tine ever has given in any service in
any place.
And this brings us to the question
OF what Is O cheap fare. No fare
at whatever rate, "a cheap that doe.
not bring service. 1t is not cheap tC
the industries and businesses waiting
for their delayed employees and Gus
toners; 1t is dear. 1t is not cheap tc
the working men and women, weariet
and crushed in their efforts to get Il
their employment in the mornings OF
home TO their rest or recreation il
the evenings: IL is very dear. IL Il
not cheap TO the community as {
whole. with its production stalled, III
business hampered, its economic su
premacy threatened; 1t is incalcu
lably dear.
There is another thing TO be consld
cred In connection with this question
IL is what the fare really is now
Aside and apart from the circum
stance that two, three and even foul
fares are now being paid by thou
sands of persons, where one ought tc
DO. crude and ignorant municipa
policy has ignored and thoughtles'
public has overlooked the fact that al
extra transportation fare is now PAID
by the people of this city in the tn,
bills.
Two hundred millions of dol
lars in subway bonds are maintained