New-York tribune., 1921-03-16
Senate Will
Pass Transit
Bill To-day
tcsnt,nusd from pass snU

the enacting clause be stricken out
lie then turned to Senator Knight and
asked him to explain the bill.
Instead of Senator Knight risins
Majority Leader Lusk took the foor
At the outset he said that one Of the
purposes Of the bill was to enable
the transit commission to establish
fares in New York City on cost plus
basis and to empower the statewide
Public Service Commission to do like
wise with traction lines upstate and
other public utilities.
This bill Is necessary" said SEN
ator Lusk, because Of the gas and
traction situation in New York City.
Transit lines in New York are now
charging two and three fares where
formerly only one was charged. Then,
too, there have been complaints from
clergymen that working girls and
young women are being molested by
men in the subways during the rush
hours. This is not only dangerous
to morals, but to health, and from the
standpoint Of morals and health we
must take the situation in hand.
Permanent Fare Raise
"The scheme Of this bill is to provide
for temporary or permanent raise of
fare. No property rights will be taken
from the city. All that is proposed to
do is to change the rate-fxing powers
from one city organization to another,
and thus the City of New York is high
~ favored, for the upstate cities must
S.bide by the action of statewide
commission"
Several Senator'S jumped to their feet
70 take issue with the statements made
by the majority leader.
Minority Lesder Walker was first
recognized. yes" he said but the
City Of New York invested $300,OO0 900
OF It's own money in the subways so
there is no parallel between upstate
communities and New York.
"Why," exclaimed Senator John Bov-
Ian, "you are making it impossible in
this bill to remove any of the ap-
pointees of the Public Service Commits
sion. You are hedging them around
with greater restriction than is placed
around the Governor. The Executive
OF the state can be impeached on
majority vote of the Assembly and q
two-thirds vote Of the Senate, but in
this bill you provide that it shall,ta
a two-thirds vote of both houses to re-
move any Of these public service com
as it because you cannot get
decent decent. type %, to take the job that you
Lusks Explanation
The reason replied Senator Lusk,
rs because the Governor wants to nut
me commissioners on a Iarity with the
Supreme Court"
But that does not apply here. for
the Supreme Court judges are consti-
tutional officers and their terms and
salaries are fixed in the constitution
by vote of the people," retorted Sena-
tor Boylan. Look, however, at the
transit commission The members Of
this are made subject to removal by
have the City of New York by the
throat. You propose to throttle the
city. You have q joker here forcing
the city to buy lines it does not want"
Nv here is there such a provision in
the bill?" inquired Senator Lusk.
Senator Boylan pointed it out and
Senator Lusk made no comment.
Senator Duggan called upon Senator
knight to say if it was not fact that
the bill delegated to the transit COM
mission all the powers of all the cleo
tive officials of New York City.
Senator Knight lodged the question.
Senator Boylan, pointing menacing
finger at Majority Leader Lusk, ex-
claimed: Remember, we had a Boston
tea party. We may have New York
traction party!"
Senator Nathan Straus jr. then in
quired if the bill would permit the
transit commission to abrogate the
leases which have been the basis of
most of the crooked financing of the
roads.
NO" said Senator Knight, at would
not"
eyes, it would" exclaimed Majority
Leader Lusk.
"Who is right?" inquired Senator
StrAus. bit bewildered.
Senator Straus paused, but no one
answered. Then, turning to Senator
about the bush and tell the Senate
what is the intention of the commission
with respect to these leases for ex-
ample, the Manhattan Elevated lease.
A guarantee on this lease of per cent
on S64,000U0O of capital stock Of the
company has been made by the Inter-
borough
City Forced to Buy
'T don't know what bush you're beat
ing around and do not know what the
commission, which has not yet been
appointed, will do"
"Thanks,' replied Senator Straus. "I
understand. Now, word in closing.
Let me call the attention Of the Senate
to one phrase in this bill which COM
pels the city to purchase anything CON
sidered desirable by the transit COM
mission"
Senator Straus then read the section
in question and asked if that did not
empower the commission to force the
city to buy any line the commission
thought it should buy.
The sponsors of the bill agreed that
this was so.
Minority Leader Walker began by
characterizing the bill as one of the
most gigantic steals ever contemplated.
cone thing which has been bothering
me- said Senator Walker, sis the sec
tion providing for the stabilizing of
securities. Is this section for the ben
ett Of those men pronounced by Gov
ernor Miller as crooks and malefac-
tors? Is it for these men that you are
violating home rule and invoking the
police power of Sthe state? Is it for
these poor stock manipulators who, ac-
cordlng to their own returns, only
MADE 1877 per cent on their investment
IN the last twelve years 2"
hen with all the dramatic power at
p