New-York tribune., 1921-10-14
Transit Chaos
to 11ylan
ByUnter1nye1'
Offers to Debate Subject
to Show Mayor Knows
Nothing of 1t; Part of
Board Plan Criticized

Board Plan Criticized
Criticism of Mayor Hylan for "crass.
dense ignorance that would disgrace a
schoolboy' and for absurd camou-
hage and demagogy' in dealing with
the citys transit problems was made
by Samuel Untermyer in an address
delivered last night before the City
Club, So West Forty-fourth Street.
Responsibility for the present "dis
rupted and chaotic condition of our
transit system was placed squarely on
the Mayor by Mr.. Untermyer, who was
invited to speak before the club on the
reorganization plan prepared by the
transit Commission. Mr.. Untermyer
said he had some serious criticisms to
make of the commissions plan, but he
branded as based on "dense ignoranceo
the Mayors arguments in opposition to
the plan If the Mayor disagreed with
him, Mr.. Untermyer said, he would
challenge him to a joint public debate
on "The Solution to the Transit Prob
lem promising to show that the city's
chief executive knows nothing of tran
sit problems.
Quotes Hylan Acceptance Speech
Misstatem ents made by the Mayor in
his speech accepting nomination for
reelection were singled out by Mr..
Untermyer as the basis for his attack.
| The speaker also attacked Conn
troller Craig, who has been using op-
position to the transit plan as Hylan
campaign propaganda. Of the attitude
of Henry II. Curran, Republican-coali-
come out fatty in favor of q scent
fare, Mr. Untermyer said his criticism 6
Of the transit plan were "just and en-
couraging"
But continued Mr.. Untermyer, che,
too, has failed to give us anything con-
structive in place Of what the commits
sion Offers
Mr.. Untermyer ridiculed as "a pre-
cious curiosity" the Mayors "construc..
tive plan" outlined in his acceptance
speech. In his speech the Mayor said
he recommends. that the private oper-
ators of the systems turn the city
municipal operation, that as the sub
ways carry two-thrds of all the traffic
the remaining one-third could be &C
comm odated by automobile busses and
that the surface lines should be aban-
doned.
Short and simple, is it not ?" asked
Mr.. Untermyer "Parentheticallv I
may interpolate here that the solitary
statement of fact that the city owned
subways carry more than two thirds of
all the passengers in the city is not
true. They carry two-ifths or six
tifteenths, whereas two-thirds are ten
hfteenths. But that is, after all, a
mere detail
Subway Investments
"There are S263, 100000 of private
moneys invested in these subways by
about $4,000 investors scattered all
over the face of the earth, as against
the city's investment of S233 900, ,OOC
These moneys were expended as hon
estly as were the city's moneys and at
the same time.
'Is it just Grass, dense ignorance
that would disgrace schooboy, or
uncxampled mendacity, or a good deal
of both, that is responsible for this
absurd camoutlage and demagogy? Is
it possible that our people are so
stupid and unthnking as he believes
and that he can get away with such
stuff Try as one may out of respect
to the Office of the chief executive of
ou. unfortunate city, it is simply i'm
possible to discuss such drivel and
cheap political claptrap. What COM
mentary upon the quality of our citi-
zenship when that type can be permit
ted to present himself for our sutfrages
backed by a great political organiza-
ton, Ii is incredible.
''lf the proposed plan is to be de-
feated or so modified as to safeguard
the city's rights and equities, II is
evident that we must look elsewhere
for the aid and protection that we
should receive at the hands cf the
citys elected representatives. The
Mayors advisers for he has not the
faintest conception Of the problem or
Of any business, financial or economic
proposition) have made sad mess Of
this affair.
"While fares have been constantly
increasing through the elimination of
transfers and the service has been
steadily deteriorating TO the point Of
cXasperation, until our citizens are now
paying higher fares and getting poorer
Continued on ncst pagc>