The New York herald., 1922-11-30
REPUBLICAN GROUP
TO SUPPORT Smith
IN TRANSIT POLICY
Six City Assemblymen, Who
Hold Balance Of Power,
to Vote as Unit.
SAY NO ALIBI FOR AL
Willing to Give Governor
Free Hand to Hold Him
Fully Responsible.
KOENIG APPROVES PLAN
Democrats Get Majority Neces-
sary to Kill Transit and
Service Boards.
KoENIG APPROVES PLAN

The six Republican Assemblymen
elect from Manhattan and Brooklyn,
holding the balance of power in the
new Legislature which goes into Of
flee on January /. have agreed to vote
as a unit in supporting Alfred e.
Smiths policy to give control of tran
sit to the Board of Estimate.
This little bloc may in fact try to
beat the Democrats by being first to
demand that the transit control be
transferred to the city officials. The
Democratic administration will not be
able to blame the Republican majority
In the Assembly for inaction;
mo aIibi for .Al this timN' Is the
sentiment OF the Republicans. They IN
tend to hold Mr.. Smith strictly to his
campaign promises. During his first
term Mr.. Smith was able to make all
kinds OF progressive demands which he
knew some Democrats did not want be-
cause he was certain his proposals
would not get through the Republican
Legislature.
Full Power for City.
'.I am In favor of making Mr.. Smith
carry out his promises on traction and
everything else down to the last matter,
and TO assume full responsibility for
the Legislature" George n. Jesse of
Manhattan, one of the four Republicans
to survive in this borough, said yester-
day He was one OF the Republicans
who opposed Gov. Miller on the transit
BILL
The traction problem should be
turned over to the city administration
with fun power to act" Mr.. Jesse said.
Further, I favor carrying out the DEM
ocratic promises for repeal of the Null
Ian-Gagc liquor enforcement bill, and II
the Democrats do not introduce such a
bill / shall"
Samuel Koenig and Jacob a. Living
ston. Republican leaders Of New York
county and Brooklyn, have approved
the stand of the six Republican Assem-
blymen and will give what organization
support they can command.
Mr.. Smiths assistants are said to be
working now on the drafts OF bills to be
introduced with the convening of the
session. dealing with transit. These
measures will be worked over half a
dozen times before presented.
Commissions to Go.
One is expected to abolish the Transit
Commission and set up new depart
ment of transportation in New York
with commissioner In charge at a
$4,000 a year salary to be named by
the Board OF Estimate. This depart
ment will take over the existing COM
mission. Power 10 deal with the transit
problem will be lodged with the Board
OF Estimate.
4 Another bill will abolish the Public
Z Service Commission of which William
A. Prendergast Is chairman and trans
fer most of its authority to local COM
missions. a new State body probably
will be created to regulate public utili
ties.
On the subject of municipal operation
there may be some trouble between the
State and city administrations. William
R. Hearst and Mayor Hylan are ex-
pected to demand that the new bill
provide for sucn operation. II is by no
means certain the state administration
will care to go that far at present
The Republican members from New
York may offer no protest TO the Smith
program reorgauizing several other de-
partments, even though the proposals
are In the nature OF ripper bills. Let
'em go 10 IT, the Republicans say. The
only Office whic1 the Republicans may
seek to protect from the patronage
hunters is the Tax Department, which
they believe should remain as II is.
Herbert Sisson. Highway Commissioner.
is said to be willing to resign and give
the new Governor a free hand.