The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-02-05

coed until we knew where We We're
going.
"a traction company is public util-
ity. The public needs II. and transit
commission was organized to get the
facts and render such decision as
would provide adequate service for the
people. That could not be done in a
minute, but to-day some progress $
being made, and those who are afflicted
with loose talk and looser thoughts see
that there will be better service. and
they arc not SO sure that there viii be
an increase in fare.
THE problem was acute in New
York city because OF congestion there,
but it was not confined to che metropo-
lis. Upstate cities have their own
AK 10 grind and they are no more
anxious for six, seven or eight cent
fares than anybody else
"Fares were never a primary con-
siGeration. They were secondary. Ser
vice was first, and the people will get
satisfactory service. and when they do
the subject of fares, one way or the
other, will be absorbed. The traction
companies must live. but they must
live upright lives and give the peopls
proper treatment. This the companies
will do or I am greatly mistaken"
Without intermission the Governor
discussed telephones likewise. In his
opinion the Public Service Commission
could not hand down decision before
it had the facts.
Said Gov. Miller: Your judgment
can be no better than your inforna
ton, and when the facts are assembled
and the situation made clear this, too,
will be adjusted and the people will
not lose their sovereign rights"
Directing his words at his audience
of one, he proceeded:
You have intelligence. Would you
guarantee to settle those two matters,
transit and telephone, in fifteen min
utes, or would you prefer to gather
some information before you decided?
You know you would want every
particle OF information you could get
before you acted one way or the other.
You would not pass on fares or tolls
or anything else until you had the
evidence to guide you. ! was confident
10
more confident now that there will
be an adjustment and the people VIII
be satisfied because they will get SER
vice and they will not be victims Of
financial Juggling, not IL j have any
thing to say about Il, and j may be
able 20 get in a word. Whatever Is
done will be just. and no one can
complain when justice is done. In
neither case have l ever considered
fares or tolls. Both are to be decided
later, and no one to-day can possibly
foreteL whether they will be more or
less. But can promise you whatever
is done will be right"
Not as an afterthought, but as that
which he did not intend to omit by
any means, tho Governor moved a
step nearer the desk and said:
You know the Attorney General
now appears for the State at these
hearings, do you not?"
Were the Governor ever detected
using stagccraft one might have
thought he was posing. Eut lie was
not. 1t was proof to make plain. and
with emphasis, that the States legal
machinery is operating to protect the
people, and the people are the State.
There were one or two other
thoughts in the making in the Gov
ernor's mind. This was discerniblc
while he was concluding his resume OF
the two 'Ts"-telephonc and transit
IL didn't sound like an abrupt depart
ure from one subject to another when
he began talking water power.
Hydro electric. Well, what about
that? II is one OF the States problems
that has been considered but never
contaminated. But there is water
power, millions of horsepower, going
to waste every day that should be
saved. II can De converted into heat
light and power. and the people who
own Il should get some return. Just
how this is TO be done Is yet to be
decided, but we are at work. And worl,
always counts"
The Governor, anxious as he Is 10
develop the water power. ia pevcrthc-
less just as cautious about protecting
the State barge canal for this reason
There is surplus water IN the barge
canal. but before any action is taken
TO utilize IL there must be ironclad
statutes that will not allow any OF
that water to be used for power IL a
drop or IL Is needed TO provide naviga-
ton on the canal.