New-York tribune., 1922-12-30
Smith Offered
Republican Aid
On City Transit
Local Assemblymen With
the Governor for q Fair
Reorganization, but Not
for Hylan Grab Plan
Bus Scheme Denounced
Back Proposal of Present
Commission as the Best
to Give Subway Relief

The six New York City Republican
Assemblynen are a unit against turn
log over unressrysdly 20 the Hearst
Hylan Board Of Estimate control Of
local transit
All Of them will eo-opsrhts with Gov
ernor Smith in q busInessliko reorghni-
zstion Of the Transit and Public Service
commissions, but they will demand
from Governor Smith before they vote
for hls reorganization bills guarantees
that there shall be no exploitation OF
the local transit lines Gs advocated By
Mayor Hyian.
The Asssmblymsn, generally speak
ing. are awaiting the new Governors
message before openly discussing II,
but they have made up their minds on
Important Fundamentally. One Of these
ia that they will stand With Governor
Smith 90 long hs be 10 nsnifestly
right. and leave hin when he goes
The New York City delegation con-
.,,ts Of goi UilmAn, OF the 9Th; Victor
r. kaufman. Of the 9TH; Joseph Stein
berv. Of the 18th; and George n. Jesse.
AZ the 2sd, Manhattan, and these from
prooklvn: Walter r. Clayton, OF the
21st, and Joseph ?. RieeH, Of the 2sd'
M. Rieca has the indorsement OF the
democrats and beat HIS Socialist op-
ponent. All were reelected IN O Demo
cratic landslide year.
"I am reluctant, In advance OF the
meeting Of the Legislature next week
"a Indicate what / may do relative 70
transit matters" said Assemblymanl
CLAYTON Yesterday. 81 have not talked
vith the other Republican members
and I do not know whether In a
noiitienl exigency transit may come 20
be reSarded az a political question.
will 70 this far, however, | am IN iaVof
Of hearty cooperation with OoVerno.,
Smith In any sincere and disinterestee
endeavor 20 bring about the building OF
new subyays At the earliest possible
time. II has been nothing but i've
vssrs Of talk 30 far as Mayor Hylan
has had any part In the matter. hylann
blocked progress on the fourIeehth
Street Eastern line, and be has NOT
started any new lines The peopis,
want more subways. | viii not stand
for spending s25, 100000 for buses 70 be
operated under the Hylan plan. me
Hylan administration showed its hand
In the operation Of the Bronx-City. ISL
and bus line, with its 20-cent fare.
I an for new subways, fve-cent fare
and free transfers II we are TO have
more buses they should be limited 70
their natural function as feeders FOR
the subways and elevated lines.
Whatever Of good constructive work
the Transit Commission has accom-
plished should be utilised 50 as 20
avoid delay. When the Republican As.
semblymen get together IN Albany /
believe they will support Governor
Smith In handling the transit problem,
n he IS on the level In what he asks.
They will have 20 be shown In advance
By the Governor. however, about what
be proposes 20 do. don't believe the
Republicans will stand for handing
over absolute control Of transit 10 the
Hyian Board Of Estimate unless there
arc positive assurances beforehand that
the real interests Of the city are 20 be
subserved."
The other Assemblymen take virtu-
ally the same attitude toward transit
reorganization. Either George n. Jesse
or Joseph Steinberg probably will be
chairman OF the Cities Committee Of the
Assembly. Neither Will support Gov.
ernor Smith In recognizing the Transit
and Public Service commissions II
what he proposes Is a mere swapping
OF Republicans for Democrats. MesETs
Jesse, Ullman and Steinberg say that
the Transit Commission has done eI.
eelient work and laid down a better
plan than any that Mayor Hylan has
evolved and that the Transit Commis.
sion's plans should be carried forward
unless Governor Smith can produce
superior ones.