The New York herald., 1922-04-20
MILLER THREATENS
REMOVAL OF HYLAN
FOR TRANSIT DELAYS
Whole Power of State to Get
Service for Riders, Says
Governor.
COMPANIES ARE SCORED
Have No Right to Expect
Any Fare Increase, They 4
Are Told.
CROWDING EVILS CITED
Administration Brand of Home
Rule Ridiculed at Fifth
Avenue Luncheon.
CROWDING EVILS CITED

Gov. Miller warned the .Hylan ad-
s11inistration yesterday that il it con-
tinues trying to obstruct solution Of
the transit situation and refusing to
award subway contracts to which the
city is pledged drastic official action
may be needed to end the abuse. 1t
was plain threat of removal from
office.
Reviewing the whole transit situa-
tion in New York for tie first time
since he named the Transit Commits
sion and inaugurated the task OF try
ing to rescue the city's wrecked fa-
cilities, the Governor told six hundred
!, members of the Fifth Avenue Associa-
tion at luncheon at the Waldorf
Astoria that the time for compromises
and halfway measures had passed.
Both city officials and the traction
companies must accept the new doc
trine of fair treatment for the public
which means maximum service at
minimum cost-or the entire power of
the State will be used to get results.
said the Governor.
Cites Fourteenth street Delay.
The Board of Estimate has refused
deliberately to place a contract to
which tho city is pledged for complet-
ing the Fourteenth street subway, re-
sulting in loss OF service to hundreds
of thousands ut a congested center
and OF at least $4,000 daily for year
in interest to the city. The speaker
said:
IF that sort of conduct is per-
sisted in too long it may become such
a gross violation of official duty as to
justify. indeed il need be to require,
more drastic action"
There was no doubting what thu
Governor meant. He hurled his threl;
across the room. and for moment the
500 business men seemed stunned Then
there was a ripple of applause and a
shout, growing until In a moment every
man in the room was on his feet roar-
Ing his Endorsement and waving his
arms. 1t was a big demonstration.
"Not Entitled 20 Fare Rise"
In another moment the Governor was
notifying the traction companies that
they are not entitled to an increased
fare that by their own confession that
they cannot perform their contractural
obligations and give adequate service
for Ave cent fare they have forfeited
their rights and must accept the Corn
missions plans
There is no such thing as vested
right in public utility when contracts
are violated and inadequate service pro-
vided." he said. "The only outcome
must be that the companies are not
entitled to an Increased fare and mus.
accept the valuation of the Commission,
on properties to be taken into the new
system Then the Governor delivered
this ultimatum to the companies:
I'VE are trying to get service. mt
lawsuits. but II the issue ever comes
when the question of enforcing the
Commissions orders is involved. thai
issue will be so framed that the COM
panies will not be able to plead flnar-
cial disability, and IL the lawsuits DO
come then there will be behind, the or
ders Of the Commission all the author
ity and power of the State. They Will
not then be pleading to the innocuous
fulminations from the City Hail."
PoI<es Fun at Hylan Home Rule.
The audience rocked with laughter
when the Governor poked fun at the
spurious brand of home rule" which
goes to Albany when some personal adj
vantage Is 10 be gained--the reference
being regarded as to Hylan's effort 70
tu1
Legislature--and calls In outside lega.
talent TO fight the city's battle He
smoke with contempt of the Hylan
charge that the Transit Commission
had surrendered to those interests
which, as part OF the conspiracy 10
milk the public and discredlt the cit =
administration, are staging holdups aid
robberies.'
The old stock jobbing days are gona
forever, said the Governor In cleai /.
logical terms he analysed the whole
situation and pointed out what must b.
done.
Robert Grier Cooke presided and John
III. Towne told of the growth and greater
work proposed for the Fifth Avenue
Association. Leading merchants In tho
Fifth avenue district officials and manv
others OF prominence were present.
.sNeed Of Facilities Acute"
The Governor congratulated the asso.
citation on It's growth and then took
VI transit. saying
THE need for improved and additional
transit in this city Is to-day apparent.
IL has become acute. That need should
have been equally apparent to those
charged with official responsibility year
rEo TWO years ago. three years ago,
four years ago. during all Of which time
your transit facilities have been going
backward. and meanwhile the travel
upon these lines has been Increasing at
the rate OF four thousand day.
"If you were to begin tomorrow 10
construct the additional lines not inn
Continued on Page Four.
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