New-York tribune., 1921-03-03

this as an argument for a higher fs,re
but simply to show that the needs fol
increased fare are manifest all over thu
country"
Mr. Prendergast then took up the
| question of home rule. 1t was pointed
out by the speaker that Mayor Hylan's
attitude toward home rule was quite
the reverse Of his present one during
the fight to take from the Board OF
Aldermen power to dispose Of the West
Side question and vest this authority
with the First District Public Service
Commission.
Questions Home Rule Sincerity
"People who plead for home rule
should come here with good home rule
records" he declared. IF they don't
then | am rather inclined that the
valuation of their contentious should
be appraised at the rather low valua-
ton they deserve"
Mr.. Prendergast then went into a re-
view of the fight to abolish Death Ave
nue and recalled how Mayor Hylan, at
the time judge, fought to have the
Board of Aldermen stripped of control
mayor Hylan at that time came to
this hated seat of power upstate" Mr.
Prendergas ast> continued, "to plead for a
bill giving the Public Service Commits
sion power to dispose of the question.
Mayor Hylan at that time was willing
to lessen the authority Of the Board of
Aldermen"
The next speaker, Mrs. Francis H.
Kelly, Of 1880 St. Nicholas Avenue,
made a brief speech, which furnished
welcome relief, in that it gave the
audience chance to laugh.
II have high respect for Senator
Johnson" said Mrs. Kelly. 81 listened
to his able address with a great deal
of interest, and tho more I listened
the greater was my surprise that a
man so able as the Senator %ould join
hands with Hearst and Hylan.
Likes Hylan's Red Hair
II don't mind Hylan's red hair. like
it. But | do object to his trying tc
slide into the Mayors chair on a s.
cent fare"
The reference to Mayor Hylar
brought storm of applause from the
left and Kisses from the right Some
ard in Mrs. Kellys face.
THAT banner" Mrs Kelly calculated
pointing to the standard, with its
Don't Tread on Me- is joke to any
one who has ever ridden in the subway
Thank God | am not one of those un-
fortunates who are compelled to be
crushed twice daily in a subway lam
but do feel sorry for those who have
TO undergo that ordeal. | know that
the plan proposed by Governor Miller
Will result in better ser 'ce and that
1t for that reason ought to go through" !"
Among the Democrats who soke for
the bill was Herman A. Metz, who
served as City Comptroller during the
Gaynor administration. He asserted
that city development is blocked be-
cause of the transit situation and said
no permanent solution could be brought
about as long as divided authority
exists.
Urges Unified System
"A unified SYSTEM" he said, dis the
first step in the right direction am
for the bill. In my opinion it does not
pave the way for higher fare, but it
gives US an opportunity to. get to the
bottom of the trouble and rectify it,
The message brought to The New
York City legislators by Martin SAKE,
former State Senator and ex-chairman
of the State Tax Commission, was that
they need have no fear of political re-
prisals if they vote for the bill.
Thousands in New York." he said,
"think and stand strong for the Gov
crnor's program. You will hav. plenty
of thinking people with you-they want
you to come down and take the power
Ct control away from the city authori-
ties. The state has that authority. 1t
has never surrendered its reserve
rowers over public utilities. AS far a.
the constitutonality of this proposal is
concerned, you need not trouble your
self for one single moment. Governor
Miller is recognized authority on con-