New-York tribune., 1921-02-20
Craig Demands
Referendum, ON
Transit Bills
Asks Miller i'm a Letter,
Made Public With Con-
sent of the Governor, TO
Defer Action Until 1922
Doubts Legality of Plan
Declares Errors of Past
Are All on Legislature;
Frames Measure of Own

Comptroller Charles L. Craig made
public last night, with Governor Mil
ler's consent, letter addressed to the
Governor by the Comptroller. setting
forth the latter's views in regard to
the Governors proposed traction plan
for New York City. The Comptroller
criticises the Governors plan, placing
the entire responsibility for the pres
ent "division of authority" in transit
matters upon the Legislature, and
calling upon the Governor to defer ac-
tion by the Legislature until 1922, so
referendum whether or not they favor
municipal operation as we'll as mu-
nicipal ownership.
The Comptroller picked the Governor
up on his statement that "the time is
ripe to correct the errors of the past"
and declared that these errors,
whether those resulting in inadequate
: and indecent transportation or in the
inaction of public authorities, are
I clearly traceable to the Legislature"
He reviewed legislative action on
traction matters in New York City
from 1860, when the city was first
stripped of all control over the grant
ing of franchises, upon the suggestion
of Governor Edwin D. Morgan, down to
the present time. and declared that the
same attitude had prevailed during all
this time toward the municipal au-
thoritles.
Board Open to Attack
Z $50 long as the Leg stature with.
holds from the Board of Estimate and
E Apportionment the power to deal with
( the transit question:" said the Comp,
j troller, "it is obvious that that board
! is left in the position of being con
tinually assailed by the various cor.
porations acting under legislative au
thority, and that no action can be taker
by the City of New York except such
as is in conformity with the wishes i
these corporations. The criticism o1
the Board of Estimate overlooks the
fact that the Legislature has withheld
from it the power to give effect to any
! determination that it may make in the
I. interests of the people of this city, il
that determination is not to the liking
. of any traction company,
For more than sixty years, as the
result of Legislative policy begun il
: 1860, the people of the City of New
York have been stripped of any eff
. fective voice in regard to their daily
transportation, and there never has
teen time during that period wher
the municipal authorities could effec
! tually provide proper transportation
/ without first going, hat in hand, ant
, procuring the consent of one or mor'
traction companies, whose rights ant
existence rest solely upon an erroneous
I legislative policy toward the City o.
i New York"
The Comptroller declared that tht
State Constitution clearly authorize,
the City of New York to own it's public
utilities, including rapid transit, ant
that it is very dc ubtful whether the
Legislature has the power to interfere
with the exercise of this ownership BY
requiring the city to lease such prop
critics to private corporations for op
Grafton. What is true of rapid transi
railroads should also be true Of sur
face lines or any other form of pas
senger transportation within the city
the Comptroller said.
City at Mercy of Lines
at is further to be observed" con
tinued the Comptroller, "that while the
Board of Estimate and Apportionmen nj
may authorize the acquisition of rapiC
transit lines by purchase, the city j;
/ completely at the mercy of any o.
such lines as to the price to be paic
! for their property. Such price mus
be that demanded by the franchise