The New York herald., 1922-10-08
MILLER BARS SESSION
FOR BUS POLITICIANS
Turns Down Estimate
Board. but Shows 1t Has
Another Remedy.
MANENY PLAN FOUGHT
Whalen Says City Has No
Idea of Applying to Tran
sit Commission.
FRANCHISES DENOUNCED
FRANCHISES DENOUNCED
Commissioner Wants Private
individuals to Get No More
Rights in Streets.

Special Dispatch 70 THE Nrw York HERALD
New York Herald Bureau,
Albany. Oct. I.
Gov. Miller replied emphatically II
will mott" when asked to-day if he
would call an extra session of the
Legislature as requested by the New
York Board of Estimate to permit the
continuance of bus lines which have
been enjoined by Justice Mullan in
'"They now have the remedy if they
wish to take it. but If they are going
to play politics with it, theyiFan; I'm
not"
The Governor showed that the Board
of Estimate at any time it chooses can
meet the situation by applying to the
Transit Commission. 1t can obtain
franchises for the bus lines by asking
the commission for certificates Of con-
venience and necessity, he explained.
Grover A. Whalen. Commissioner Of
Plant and Structures, declared yesterday
that present laws are not sufficient to
meet the bus situation, as declared by
Chairman McAneny of the Transit Com
mission. because they involve the wi
cious practice" Of granting monopolies
on public streets to private individuals
and corporations. Mr.. Whalen said:
Even If the Board of Estimate were
agreeable 10 granting bus franchises,
which 1t Is not. the impression attempted
to be conveyed by Mr.. McAneny that a
franchise could be granted forthwith is
not So"
Mr. Whalen went on to quote the law
which provides that the petition for a
franchise must be advertised for ten
days. the Division of Franchises must
draw form OF contract. which must
be submitted to the Board OF Estimate
amendments may be suggested, then
public hearing must be held not less
than twenty-seven days after the pro-
posed form OF con<~act is spread on
the minutes of the Board Of Estimate,
and not until the form has been pub
lshed for fifteen days in the City
Record.
After quoting Chairman McAnenys
declaration that the Transit Commission
stood ready to cooperate with the Board
Of Estimate to take necessary steps
to preserve bus lines and thet the Legis-
lature had provided legal means for
licensing them. Commissioner Whalen
added.
"Mr. McAneny's statement summed
UP in very simple language means this /:
THAT Gov. Miller's Transit Commits
sion is not in favor Of municipal owner
ship and operation but is In favor OF
continuing the vicious practice of grant
ing to private individuals and corpora
tions monopolies OF the public high
ways.
THE people OF the city of New York
are to-day suffering from the granting
of franchises to private corporations.
The Board of Estimate and Apportion-
ment has very properly refused to grant
bus franchises. holding that this valu-
able source of revenue should at all
times be retained for the health. COM
fort, convenience and profit Of the
people. No matter how favorable to tn .
city might be the provisions of a fran
chso as drawn. experience has shown
that when the city endeavors to enforce
the terms the courts by some strange
process of reasoning nave taken a view
adverse to the city's interests.
THE municipality should not permit
itself through the Board OF Estimate and
Apportionment to further entangle the
transit situation by making indiscrimi-
nate grants of bus franchises.
mo public body such as the Transit
Commission should advocate the grant
ing of further franchises in the city OF
New York. That day has passed when
a group of private individuals can Oh
tain from public officials valuable fran
chise rights in the streets Of our CITY,"