The New York herald., 1921-12-22
City Club at Open Hearing
Sides With Untermyer
in Criticism.
WANTS CITY IN CONTROL
Denies Recommending Munich
pal Operation, Though Sug-
gestions Approach 1t.

ilSn III tne transit commissions S
schedule for new subway construction.
plans for which probably will be made
public soon after Christmas, will stand
the new passenger tunnel between
Staten Island and the Bay Ridge sec
ton of Brooklyn, connecting with the
trunk line subway of the B. r. T.
under Fourth avenue, in that borough
IL is expected to be a s25,000,000 op-
GRAFTON.
Announcement of the commissions
eagerness to advance this long con-
templated public Improvement was
made by Chairman McAneny yester-
day in connection with the appearance
in the witness chair Of George Crom-
who portrayed that borough's transit
needs
1T Is our present purpose" said Mr..
McAneny. ito include a passenger tunnel
TO Staten Island that will link with The
Fourth avenue subway and bring Staten
Island traffic directly to Manhattan, as
one of the first items in our general pro-
gram. We are quite prepared. If funds
are made available, 70 go ahead with the
construction of such tunnel Whether
a freight tube is built or not, we are not
prepared to put our passenger traffic
in a freight tunnel"
Joint Boring Economical
Referring to the mandatory legislation
OF The Smith bill of last year, which re-
auired the city within two years to pro-
ceed with the construction Of a $50, ,000,-
600 combined freight and passenger tube
between Staten Island and Brooklyn
legislation which the Transit Commits
sion may ask the Legislature 20 amend
Chairman McAneny said:
I'VE have been informed by our en-
gineers that IL freight tunnel is to be
built and passenger tunnel were to be
built alongside IL, two tracks in each,
joint construction would reduce the cost
of either 40 per cent. of what the cost
would be II they were undertaken as
original and separate ventures. You may
he assured, therefore. that we will pro-
ceed with our plan for the building of
passenger tunnel. either to be inde-
pendent of OF linked up with some other
enterprise OF that character, without any
delay"
The chairman made it clear that.
under the advice of the commission's 8
engineer, the commission would not
consent to any plan contemplating the
operation of freight and passenger traf-
fc over the same tracks. He added
Our ability to carry out this plan
will depend, of course. on the cooperation
of the Board OF Estimate and Appor-
tionment."
II think it very desirable" said Mr..
Cromwell. that the city. under the
Smith bill plan be made to see the i'm
portance of acting in harmony with
your commission"
The Transit Commissions hearing,
which closed the series. at least until
after the holidays, was in the nature OF
an open forum for any persons who had
opinions or constructive criticism on the
commissions tentative plan for unifying
the city's transit facilities. There were
only about half dozen such volunteer
witnesses.
Four-fifth of both the morning and
afternoon session was consumed In read
Ing and debating voluminous criticism
OF the plan prepared by the Public Ser
vice Committee of the City Club and
approved by its board OF trustees last
Tuesday. Nelson s. Spencer. president
of the club, introduced DIR. Delos +. Will
cox member of the committee. who
took the witness chair and presented
the thirty-six page document
Though the clubs monograph con-
ceded that the commissions program
rmDOQ1ed some BOOu luedS, It's cIitlclsHls
were destructive rather than construc-
tive at all points At the outset 1t re-
lated the clubs hostility to the leglsla'
ton creating the Transit Commission
both because of doubt as to the work
ability OF the flexible fare scheme ano
through disapproval OF the denial to the
city of all participation in the solution
OF local traction problems
Like Untermyer Ideas.
The critiaue in most of its conclusion.
raralclled those stated last week by
Samuel Untermyer. who on October 1:
st had addressed the City Club on tho
subject. II attacked the barometer func
rroject for determining flexible far,
as "utopian in its virtues. Machiavelliar
ir its vices" II advocated the city hav
ing "a clear majority in the composition
OF the board of control. SO much Of th'
criticism seemed to favor a preponder
ance OF public authority in railroad
operation that Commissioner Harknes,
finally asked point blank II the City
Club did not recommend outright munic
ipal operation as wen as municipa
ownership.
Dr Wilcox admitted that PERSONAL,
he was for municipal operation, but III
said the City Club formally had no
{; ken any such position. Henry c
Wright. chairman or the clubs commit
tee, denied later in the session that tn,
document had aimed at municipal opera
ton.
others VINO testified briefly wer'
robert II. Higbie. chairman Of the tran
sit committee OF the Queens Chamber o
Commerce. who spoke well Of the tesla
tive plan, but was a little fearful o
political taint in the board OF control
r. Van u. Lane. chief transportation
engineer for a well known heavy moto
truck manufacturing concern. who hlet
brief for the substitution Of moto
buses for surface cars Charles O. led
wards. president Of the Real Estat,
Board OF New York; William n
Stewart. a realty operator. and Henry w
Spang. an electrical engineer.
The examination WAS adjourned sub
feet TO the call Of the chair
PRESENTS SAVED FROM FIRE.