New-York tribune., 1921-10-24
Transit Queries
Put to Curran
By Unterrnyer
f.,yver Declares He Will Not
Aid Coalition Candidate
Unless His Replies to
List Prove Satisfactory
akesUpConln,issionplan
saxs He Is Anxious TO Help
Rid City of Its Present
Inefficient Government

Samuel Untermyer, commenting on
,ss published reports that he is sup
,ort;ng Henry H. Curran, yesterday
Dictated the following statement of his
nos;tion in the campaign:
sThe published reports of my atti-
,uae TO Major Curran's candidacy, for
rsish there is as yet no basis, are
,rehably due to the fact that, in COM
mon with hosts of other Democrats,
! am supporting Senator Lockwood. /
am however, doing so as 81 Democrat
.rd because of my knowledge, from in
innate association, of his high integrity,
shility and courage and because of his
spiendid public record Of constructive
accomplishment.
Says Transit Is Chief Issue
Tn my opinion, transit is in the
minds of the people, and properly so,
the chief issue Of this campaign. Try
As they please neither party can evade
Il. Yet that is percisely what the lead
ing candidates on both sides have thus
far been trying TO do by failing to offer
! constructive plan in opposition to the
plan proposed by the Transit Commits
sion
sThs commissions plan is far short
Of assuring 2 fve-cent fare or a reor-
canizatioH that would be just to the
city. II tnsr plan is put through in
anything ike its present form it is a
fosegcne conclusion that we shall have
increased fares. In a speech on transit
deivered by me on October 13 at the
Ct:y Club asked Major Curran some
questions on this subject that he has
not yet answered.
Before deciding whether or not
vii support or oppose Major Curran l
r5w ask from him specific answers to
the following questions:
"i) Do you favor or do you oppose
the present plan of the Transit Com
mission?
"{2) If you are opposed to the plan
which Of its features do you oppose
ald what have you to offer in substi-
1tion for them?
"(3) Are you willing under any cir
cumstanes to support that part of the
plan which provides for a sliding scale
or barometer fare under which the
tAres not only may be but must be
increased whenever necessary in order
to realize the net revenues REQUIRED
70 pay the interest and sinking fund
on the bonds that are TO be given in
payment for the traction properties?
Question of Tax Cancellation
"a Do you approve or oppose those
parts OF the transit plan which
"(a) Cancel the $13,5OO,000 of back
taxes owing the city;
"tb) Deny to the city any represen-
htion whatever on the boards of the
operating companies;
"{cl Deny to the city any right to
De paid in bonds either for it's nres-
snt investment or for it's new invest
nent;
20 Undertake to place the $780,
ao0o0 of new money that the CITY is
ssKed to furnish on par with the old
money, instead of giving it priority
over the old money.
"(e) Denying to the city bare ma
'0riiy representation on the board of
control. ~
II you disapprove of these features
y the plan what have you to offer in
heir place?
-"So) Do you approve of permitting the
transit Commission to force these trac-
s0n properties upon the city at prices
1sd oy the commission, with the right
wine commission to take or reject such
Nel rriss as it chooses, while the
Aactlon people are not bound to sell
ay o. the properties unless the price is
satisfactory to them?"
Transit Act Repeal Issue
"(6) II elected would YOU endeavor Tn
'ssure the repeal of the rapid transit
WI OF II that were unatta .nable would
'uu IN the alternative endeavor to Sc
.ale 1he following amendments to pro-
att the city?
Na) The right to the city to be indie
ssaaently represented in the valuation
sL;la lae properties and in determining
salcn are TO be rejected and which ac-
sf'ea ana made part of the system and
NC llgnt to the city to appeal to the
e salss from the decision of the Transit
aons, 'i'ese qoes-
..Io) The vesting in the Transit Com
4 ...s.l ..ssauh OF tre right TO take such of the
q. iss.ion properties as may be needed for
.r; ahlIeu system by the power of
,u'hent domain and TO compel the COM
's1iss TO relinquish them at that price.
!, Major Curran will be good enough
ssr aaswer these questions and if he an
s .s'S Them unequivocally aud in way
%' conceive to be in the interest of
Sas Ss clty, shall support his candidacy.
4 mo ~ aot otherwise. If | can be CON
y ,assd on these points I am anxious to
s,p Fia the city of New York of it's
. Hssent inefficient erovernnert