The New York herald., 1922-08-30
McAneny's Reply.

In reply Mr.. McAnenv said
THE commission has not undertaken
to do more at the moment than to point
out that neither the Board of Estimate
nor the Mayor could even begin TO carry
out such a plan as he had proposed. for
the purpose that they lack the legal au-
thority thnt to carry our much more
than half the plan would demand the use
Of more credit or borrowing capacity
than the city will have for every muici-
pal purpose, transit included, for years
ahead; that the first step the scheme
proposes would tear 20 pieces the exist
ing cent fare system. and that in
stead of Fastening the construction of
new lines, it would indefinitely put off
such construction.
'"The lines shown In the Mayors plan.
covering period OF fifteen years ahead
are taken. with few variations. from the
list of lines to be constructed through
out the same period that the commits
sion itself has before 1t, published in a
report of the consulting engineer, dated
August 2, 1920. In its construction
program of May last the commission
covered the first five year period. In
that respect the Mayors recommended
tion for the first five years are com
parable with the commissions and cover
approximately the same mileage. The
commissions engineers are preparing a
comprehensive comparison based upon
Its own fifteen year period When this
is ready 1t will return to the matter
Of routes with the Mayor with an abb
solutely open mind. and naturally will
be glad to make any changes that may
be shown 20 be desirable either in its
own general routing plan or In the orr
der in which particular lines shall be
scheduled for construction"
Several leading men OF Brooklyn, the
Mayors home borough. were outspoken
yesterday in their skepticism concern
ing the practicability of the Hylan
project.
Frederick w. Howe, acting president
Of the Chamber of Commerce, said !:
r'As yet | have not been able to give
II much study. The main drawback TO
his plan to my mind is that I oont see
where he will get the money to finance
the project In fact. / don't believe that
much money could be raised. The city
Is perilously near its debt limit now. IL
the Mayor and the Transit Commission
could agree upon some plan for the
general good then the ideal condition
would exist"
Charles Jerome Edwards, president OF
the Brooklyn Club, said: Il am no
politician nor engineer. but do know
this: II Mayor Hylan ever put those
subway plans through he would be
wonder. He won't live long enough"
wilfred T. Brady. chairman Of the
Rushwicl- -Ridgewood Consumers League,
said: "Td like to know where the
money is coming from. Let the admin
istratioh give US some idea OF that. AS
far as Rdgewood is concerned. it's the
same old story. Ridgewood Is left out"
Edward A. Richards. president of the
East New York Savings Bank, said :
"The Hyian plan Is all right II II could
be accomplished. but Il Is impossible Of
accomplishment"
Lewis H. Pounds. formerly Borough
President. said Where's the $780,
0co. 900 coming from? II the city adj
ministration carries out 80 per cent. OF
the schemes that have been put for
ward therell be no money left inside
the debt limit. In comparison with tho
Hylan plan. the plan Of the Transit
Commission is moderate and within the
limits OF accomplishment. Everybody
knows that an extension OF the system
Is absolutely needed. What the Transit
Commission proposed was practical"