New-York tribune., 1921-02-18
State( commerce
Chamber Backs
Traction Bills
Asserts Crisis Threatens
City's Life and Progress
and Pledges Its Support
to- Governors Program
Committee OFF to Albany
Garrison to File Complaint
Soon i'm Threatened $40
600, 600 Suit Against City

Endorsement of Governor Miller's
plans to solve the city's traction prob
lens was voted by the Chamber of
Commerce of the State of New York
yesterday after a special committee,
headed by William Carroll, formerly
Public Service Commissioner, had re-
ported that transit conditions had
reached crisis threatening the life
and progress Of the city"
The committee was authorized to
appear at the public hearings on the
pending traction bills, which are to
begin at Albany on March 2. 1t will
cndeavor to show that business inter
ests are solidly behind the Governors
determination that the traction prob
lens shall be settled with minimum
of delay. The members are Michael
Friedsam, Wilson S. Kinnear, Alfred L.
Marling, William A. Prendergast, Mer-
Ger P. Moseley and Burton F. White.
The chambers stand was taken
through the adoption of the report
which declared that the present
division of authority among the Public
Service Commission, the Transit Con-
struction Commission and the Board of
Estimate has involved the traction situ-
alton in "a hopeless tangle."
Committees Report
The committees report said:
"The Governors plan has been OBJ
of fba Y,rj n
ciple of home rule. If this objection
Is urged with sincerity the answer is
to be found in the fact that the essen
tiais of real home rule are fully met
by the organization of the proposed
commission. 1t is to be a body eX
clusively for the City of New York, to
deSl exclusively with the transit situa-
ton, and with ample powers for that
one object. 1t is to be composed of
competent men of high standing, pos
sessing the confidence of their fellow
citizens, wholly free from political bias.
Such commission will surely meet the
views of all honestly solicitous for
home rule; true home rule which this
city desires and needs, is that which
makes the interests and welfare OF the
city the supreme and exclusive aim
and end.
"The broad question of municipal
ownership by the city of rapid transit
lines is already established in its own
ership of the subways. The city should
not recede from it's position, and in the
interest of the public a full measure
of ownership is the only safeguard.
Municipal ownership, however, does
not carry with it municipal operation.
"Unitication under municipal own
ershp will admit of the employment Of
one or more operating companies. The
consolidation of all operating COM
panies into a single unit might not be
Desirable A single operating company
might prove too large for efficient and
economical operation. 1t might also
place the city at the risk of complete
tieup of service in the event of labor
or other difficulties"
Garrison To File Complaint Soon
Lindiey NJ Garrison, receiver for
the B. R. T., it was learned yesterday,
within few days will file with Fed
eral Judge Julius NJ. Mayer the COM
plaint in his threatened suit for $20,-
100000 against the city for delay in
the completion of work provided for in
Contract A. Mr.. Garrison informed
the court some time ago that the COM
pany faces a loss to the amount
named because of it's inability to use
subways now under construction. which
by the terms of the contract ought to
have been completed.
Mr.. Garrison, accompanied by his
counsel Carl M. Owen, and George D.
Yeomans. of'the B. r. T. legal staff,
visited the Offices of the Public Service
Commission yesterday and had con-
ference with Commissioner Alfred M.
Barrett. Terence Farley, counsel of
the commission, also was present. The
general transit situation in Brooklyn
was discussed and it was arranged to
gather data on several points which
will be taken up at q further con-
ference next Thursday.
Commissioner Barrett asked the
receiver as to the possibility of re-
suming service on the Church Avenue
surface line, which was discontinued
in August, 1920. Mr.. Garrison de-
clared that the financial condition of
the system and the previous revenues
from this line precluded the resump-
tion of operation with free transfers,
as heretofore.