New-York tribune., 1922-03-11
Hylan Hopeless
Of Home Rule
ThroughAlbany
Mayor Says Efforts TO Innu-
encc Legislature i'm Favor
OF Bills Would Be Wasted
and Craig Agrees
Points to Bus Failure
Il Think We Are Being Brn-
coed" Says Comptroller;
O'Brien More Optimistic

Board Of Estimate in an ATTEMPT to oct
measures in the Hylan administration
legislative program through the Lcgis-
lature were declared by Mayor Tylan
at the meeting of the board yesterday
to be futile and an unnecessary ex-
pendlture OF the taxpayers money.
Corporation Counsel O'Brien, who ap-
peared before the board to discuss
some of the bills pending at Albany.
held out some hope that Governor
Miller would be disposed to support
the home rule bills with certain
amendments, but his optimism was not
shared by the Mayor, Comptroller
Craig and other members of the board
The Comptroller summed up the sit
uaton at Albany, as he saw it, by de
claring that Il think VIC are being
buncoed."
The Mayor improved another oppor-
tunity to rap the Lcgisla turc for per
mittng the Committee on Cities Of the
Assembly to so out of existence with
out having acted upon the bill en-
abling the City Of New York to buy
fare. He introduced resolution.
which was adopted by the board. re
questing that the motor bus bill be
immediately reported out of the Rules
Committee and passed by both
branches of the Legislature.
Blames Cepublican Machine
Committee to act on the motor bus bill
the Mayor said:
This places the bill in the hands Of
the autocratic Rules Committee of the
Assembly, which is controlled by the
up state Republican machine. RcspoN-
sibility for the conduct of this commit
tee is in the hands of the Republican
party and the Governor
"Thc City Of New York has tried on
three successive occasions to induce a
Republican Legislature to empower the
city to operate municipality new and ef-
icient buses on the city streets. Each
time its attempt has been frustrated
by the refusal Of the Legislature to
pass the enabling act. The bill was
not even reported out of committee.
The same situation exists in the Re-
publican Legislature this year, and cf-
forts arc being made b. the transit
controlled Republican leaders to
smother the bill. In spite of the fact
that the measure is Of first moment to
the people of this city, no public hear
ing has been accorded The plan is to
Kill it in secret in committee.
"Thc execution of this scheme can
only be prevented by united protest
and action on the part Of civic organi-
cations and by the people Of this city
generally. This should be followed by
a mbardment Of the city's legislators
by these civic bodies and the people
generally. so that they, too. may bring
pressure TO bear on their upstate Re
publican associates to compel them to
grant a hearing on the bill"
Asks Aid Of Newspapers
The Mayor even called upon the
newspapers to help push the bill along.
He declared that the situation afforded
an opportunity for the newspapers
that profess to be concerned with the
peoples welfare to bestr themselves
inth proper activity by way Of asking
that this bill be reported and passed
by the Lcgislature.' In this way such
newspapers would be doing mething
in the peoples interest and of credit
to themselves, the Mayor said. Then
he introduced his resolution.
The entire session of the board was
occupied with discussion of legisla-
tive matters. Mr.. O'Brien informed the
members of the board that there would
be hearing before the joint commit
tee on cities on the Simpson-Jesse bill,
amending the transit law, next Tuesday,
and asked that the members attend the
hearing at Albany.
What does this bill do?' inquired
Mayor Hylan, "takc the clothes off our
backs p
sci; the position of the city so far
as court proceedings arc concerned is
clear
Notwithstanding what the sub
sidized press says?" said the Mayor.
The Corporation Counsel answered
that the Mayor was right, and then
went on to explain the proposed amend
ment to the transit law, which provid es
that the board of control shall consist
of the three members of the Transit
Commission, which takes away the
power of the Mayor to name three
members of the board. he said. Mr..
O'Brien declared that the city objected
to this amendment, rs it left the city
with out representation on the board.
"They might just as we'll give the
managers Of the Interborough and the
Brooklyn Rapid Transit the control,
Sdlu CNC way yoi.
Albany Hopeless, Says Mayor
Taking up the home rule bills that
are now before committee, the Cor
poration Counsel said that Governor
Miller might give his approval to the
measures if there were some changes
made in them. Mr.. O'Brien told of a
conference at Albany with the Cover
nor, at which the latter seemed dis
posed to approve these bills if the
verbiage relating to the adoption of
city charters, by the cities, be so nodi-
fed as to provide against comp etc
enforcement from the State Legisla-
ture. He said that a conference was
to be held in his Office to-day between
representative of the Citizens Union,
the City Club and other organizations,
for the purpose of discussing how the
Governors views may be met without
emasculating the home rule bills. This
led the Mayor to remark, referring to
the Citizens Union, that the Corpora
tion Counsel was getting in fine COM
pany."
The members of the board doubted
the good of the proposed visit to AL
bany. and the Mayor said
II don't see the use of spending any
more of the citys money with trips to
Albany. III go If you wish me to, but
the stage is set and 1 don't relish
spending the peoples money on a use
less errand.'
Comptroller Craig agreed with the
Mayor, saying that it was folly to 60
to Albany.