New-York tribune., 1921-02-20
Kings County Republican
Committee Approves Mil
1er Plan ss an Equitable
Solution of the City Crisis
Demagoguery Is Scored
People Told Not to Assume
That the Proposal Is Sure
to Bring a Fare Increase

csai committee IN which Governor Mil
lers proposed solution of the traction
situation is thoroughly approved and
recommended TO the people Of the city.
The document does not contain any
Of the expected constructive criticisms,
and its only reference to the possibil-
ity of an increased fare on the subway
lines is contained in list of ''Donts"
which complete the report.
After reviewing the present traction
situation, and the Governors proposals,
it says:
when 1t comes to the detail Of work
iag out such q program there will be
necessarily marked differences of opin-
ion among the Intelligent and thought
{ul members of this community, but it
is out of Just such differences and Just
such discussions and such conflicts of
thought that ultimately public opinion
viii crystalline upon the true, equita-
bic, fair and correct solution of this
problem. The main purpose at the
moment is to ascertain the facts and
present them, 20 have q tribunal be-
fore which all parties may be heard,
including the city, to know that the
hearing does not end in a recommen-
dation, but ends in final decision.
Taken al in all, this constitutes the
Governors message and the Cover.
nor's program"
States Duty of Citizens
The document, which is sig0ed by
Frederick j. H. Kracke, Alfred E. Vass,
Jacob Brenner, Marcus B. Campbell,
Richard II. Laimbeer and JACOB A. Liv-
ingston, then states the duty Of the
citizens as follows:
This is not law. this is a bill, pre-
sented for your consideration and upon
which you are invited to attend hear
ings and make suggestionc What,
then, is the duty of the hour? Plainly
70 address ourselves to the constructive
SIDE OF this proposition and join in an
effort to carry to completion the work
naugurated by our Governor.
In measuring the value of our Cover
nor recommendations something must
be borne in mind. These recommends
tons do not emanate from a dema.
gogue, nor from layman. Tney eman-
ate fom one who has helped to make
the law of this state on this very ques-
tlon, as he sat upon the bench of the
Court Of Appeals. The man is speak
ing with accuracy. The people Of the
City of New York are receiving the
most competent legal advice obtainable
IN tins community"
The report concludes with the fol-
lowing list of Don ts":
Gives List of Donts
Don't be misIed by the false cry of
home rule" All power in the munich
Talit emanates from the state.
Don't forget that some of the very
people in charge Of our city govern
ment who now raise the cry Of home
rule only few years ago were ciamor-
ing for the Legislature to grant power
through the Public Service Commis-
sion over a city matter that of the
West Side improvement
Don't forget that it is the impotency
OF our city government that has crea-.
ted the existing emergency.
Don't forget that every railroad
franchise comes from the state, not
from the city.
Don't forget that the contracts for
the present subways were made by a.
board created by the state Legislature
not by the Board Of Estimate and APP
rortionment. The latter body simply
consented on behalf of the city.
Don't forget that the state made the
contract with the railroads, and the
stats can alter these contracts. The
city already has consented to the exer-
eise of the franchise granted by the
state
Don't forget that at one time the
state delegated to the Board of Alder
men its power to contract with the
railroads
Power Vested In Board
Don't forget that the state withdrew
the power thus delegated and vested
that power in the Board of Estimate
and Apportionment.
Don't forget that the state can like
wise In this emergency take the dele
gated power from an impotent Board
Of Estimate and Apportionment and
place 1t in a commission created for
the purpose.
Don't forget that the revision Of
tracts would be of great interest to
tthe public, because the provisions for
the payment of the preferentials are
Unfair to the city, and especially is
tais true where it is provided that on
me failure to pay such preferential,
because of lack of earnings, interest
theFeon is made cumulative under
provision made for semi-annual rents,
aad this, in effect, produces compound
interest,
Dont assume that this plan means
Increased fare.
Don't forget that no transfer means
sse fares,
uon't forget that two five-cent fares
The equivalent Of one ten-cent fare.
.pon't forget that this is not po-
ssaeal meausre. but a determined eff
seN to benefit the entire community,
tssafdless OF politics ard in spite of
me efforts by Tammany Hall TO make
sOneical capital out of the effort
uont hesitate to make thoughtful
au constructive suggestions to your
"aIor and to your Assemblyman.
Legislators Name Committee
Inc New York County Senators and
aSsSemolymen, at conference yester-
Icy afternoon at county committee
saaquarters after q two-hcur discus
s.oa OF the best way of handling the
euon reorganization plan of Gov
nor Miller, put the subject into the
- asAus OF special committee to report
A. special meeting of the county
ssatlVe committee and legislators
asxt Saturday afternoon. The commit
ee consists of Senator William Dug
Ga, chairman; Senators Schuyler
ISyer and Ward Talbot, and Assem-
Sgmen kayher, Fox, Ullman and Stein