New-York tribune., 1922-01-18

itSlt ana tiEVl Diflk OF Lnc NnlIic
| points. and also the coastal de-
fenses at friedrichsort, kicl and
Helgoland. will be scrapped
Transit Railroad Commissioners. of tn,
Transit Construction Commissioner IS
successor to the powers and duties OF
such Public Service Commission of the
First District, and of the local author.
ity OF such city to approve contracts
or modification of contracts under any
provision cf the rapid transit act. OIL
of ary contract heretoforc made, are
transferred TO and vested in the com
mission, together with such other and
necessary powers as may be requisite
to the efficient performance OF the
duties imposed upon the comm ssion
by such laws and contracts. Sec. 10S)
The commission IS not authorized TO
make my rev con tract or modify any
contract for the construction. equip
ment, maintenance or operation Of the
railroads. or any OF them without the
approval or consent Of the local au-
thorty where such new contract or
modification Of al existing contract re-
qulres to carry it out the authorization
by the local authority Of corporal te
stock or bonds OF the city, in addition
to the corporate stock or bonds re-
Quired to carry out such existing cor
tract, or would result in replacing with
II the debt limit OF the city under the
constitution Of the state, corporate
cluded therefrom under orders OF the
Appellate Division Of the Supreme
Court or where such contract or modi-
tication of an existing contract adopts
or SO modlfes a route or routes and
general plan OF q railroad as to require
consents therefor under Section le Of
Article III Of its constitution of the
state. (Sec. l09).
The foregoing provisions of the act
are substantially ali which it seems
TO me are necessary to be considered.
In determining whether the act be q
valid legislative enactment certain es-
tabhshed rules of statutory construc-
tion must be kept in mind.
First, as to the assertion that the
act violates Article 10, Section of
the constitution What is claimed in
this respect is that the trans t com
mlssioners are city officers within the
meaning of that provision. The asser-
tion is unfounded and has, in effect,
been so determined By this court.
They are not city officers The fact
that they hapnen 10 he at the nresnnt
time consjdering ran;d trsnsi+ soleIv
for +he ci,,. of Nar1 WI, d, -.
neccssarilv wake tha,r of1ioars - ti1at
CIV TIC nowe- fo,',,nrI,, e;r.o,, .a
and vested in tha ,anid t,a,s;t oor,
was tranlfa far,ed ~ sho Vo"'' ''n
Tic service comm,ssioncrs ava a. ,,n',a,. n',o
the act now under cons liberation it has
been transferred "a tho trans,t oa,,'9 ,,,'|'
,nissjoners Tbe ros.is,asn~a n.d =
right to make these chances
Test Case Cited as Ease
Eo~ ,,dc:, of po
u 'u"s'"s oi io"ers
(PcoDle ex rel Simon Y 1,,.o,ou
supra.
an the case ,us+ c;.cd tho 1on;s
lature created railway .sr,,,;,,a, ~,
mission for ohe citv o{ p,,faln ~.
act was attacked rs rere unnn tha
ground that the co,nrn ss;,na,.s ,.o ,.o
locsl otscars ,yhor, w., "ele
der ths cons+;t,,t;a WV ,.G ! s'atole un
The eo,,rs belJ ,,e oth er,,,isa rrh ~. $780,
nes n1acnl ,,T,on ~ ll,e uec'sI on
state IN ;ts rrUa sovarei1n s,v snvumu tna. .he
subject 70 const;tut;o,apl S'' u.'p@1;sS; ,; misne
resn,,e no,ver o''Se Ja'oa Se..u.aolai h1l''allons'
and e;tbsr bv ;.saIs s'eu 70 locali'les'
agent djrect1T cnn+~ai W. VI eniougn an
governrnent , eomaa .. matters OF local
fbat +ba non,, ~as '"ele poihVeo ouV
neu, "a; cers h,+ .hie were not only
even rhore-t ~ 49,, '';ulI ;n,, uu.,es we're ne"
ubicb haJ ., VIZ" l"eiuueo some duties
Nv o;tu "ae @ .neie'oAo'e Deeh performed
mrh;:o oinesis. l
is useision IS appncab'e to the
,,,dar Ny'llar' sloa'eiS appolnted by the act
t,are;+ Noisrusi at!on. Inc once of
s.ardai S0n''''I ss.ohst' whether re
sssantiou s1iueu . as sta'e or city office, is
s.aiy a4fsoh.d "ew once TO which are
nowers o,a az" uu'ies, WIN increase
Trane;t Canstr', .',ose even 70 the Rapid
The commission ns,, a';so'' u & oomm'sslonels ms
to prepare and srJi' n,s+ gr,e" ;nte me power
plan for read;ustn1ent "e t"o9 80 .. operat'on a
ditions in the CIV ~ ~ - 'r1nsit W con g1
powers given ara broed 1'.w na oin. l ne
and snfflcien+ - oroao ana extensive
mission tba d,+r "'1o'e upull 'ne com
whole transit s;tr.t;o ~ saii.ze the
The members ~ tha a'-, ~, sueh elty'
new Officers MI onTs, ,re to''ililssion are
fact Their d',t;a. o-.y 'n haA!e nu' IN
dut;es sl+h onnl essen''a4ly ne"
duties herntofere 10y lnc1oae some
hooI, "eie'olole performed by other
transit coromiss;ons, ''Ie,s, Ae;n me once OF
flee. the Leoislat,r. co'Sa ne" % :
tionally flI fhe sana 'u ~ .o.s a;.;.'-. ti.u-
the ncrsons - .ot '''e W ueslghatvg
"SecondM1t j. naxt a. ,', vo'l'1"'sslonefs SIS,
act is unconstitut;onal IN +bot t'H' a. ene
lates Article II. Section . tho .,a;.. w.
in this respect being that the act 10 - ~ u