New-York tribune., 1922-11-09
Smith viii Have Upper
Branch Behind Him;
Requires Only Six Votes
in Lower to Control
Clash With Hylan
On Port Plan Seen
Fate of the Authority
Plan and Transit Board
Is Still Undetermined

When Alfred E. Smith takes Office a.
Governor on January he will have
bare majority of one in the State Sem
ate and will find the Republican con-
troll of the lower house reduced to q
slim six. This means that when AL
returns to Albany he need only talk
persuasively to handful of Republican
Assemblymen to insure the passage Of
legislation in the Democratic program.
But the changes in the Legislature.
while making it easy for Smith at AL
bany, left Mayor Hylan-who doesn't
like the Governor -elect-and the Board
of Estimate, which Hylan controls, in
full and undisturbed control here, thus
insuring jam between Albany and
City Hall, un.ess the Mayor recedes
from his attitude of incorporation
with the Port Authority, of which the
Governor elect is a member and the di-
fecting force, or unless Smith does
what he never did before-knuckle
down to Hylan and William Randolph
Hearst.
Old Clash Recalled
On this subject Hylan and Smith
clashed at public dinner while
the Hearst -Hylan drive to get Smith
out of politics was at its height. Hy-
Ian attacked the Port Authority plan
and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Smith re-
piled that it would take an army Of
spirits from the next world to en-
Tighten Hylan on the Port Authority,
since he was unable to understand tho
plaA English in which it's policy was
set down. Hylan at that time said the
city could be deprived Of its waterfront
by \ Jersey. Smith read the words
inch of city property could be taken
without the consent Of the city.
The Democratic party platform. is
pledged to the Port Authority plan,
with but one change in the present
law--the granting of the appointment
of two of the states three representa-
tives to the City Of New York. Such
an amendment was proposed by the
Democrats at the last session but de-
feated.
:. There will be no difficulty, Repub-
licans predicted last night, in Smith
getting through this legislation. But
peal of the legislation creating the
Transit Commission, thus scrapping it
and undoing. it's plan, Is something that
probably will not be determined until
the Assembly organizes.
Smith Likely to Get Results
If the Assembly follows the prece-
dent of 1919, when Governor Smith
asked for reorganization of the then
existing Public Service Commission In
this district, and obtained it, the Re-
publican majority in the Assembly will
not stand the way Of the Democratic
program.
In view of the fact that Smith would
need but eight Republican votes to
carry out this program and that it will
take the consent of Democratic Sem
ate and Democrats Governor to put
through any necessary improvements
for upstate, it is considered improb-
able by Republican leaders that Smith
will have any trouble in finding the
necessary eight votes.
In fact the major part of the Demo-
cratic program can be put through with
little trouble if the Governor-elect
does little log rolling, and in this art
he proved himself master during his
long service in Albany. Republicans
admit that he has the edge on the
situation, as he and the Democratic
Senate are in for two years and if
persuasion fails he can emulate the
example of Charles E. Hughes, who,
when Governor, campaigned against
the legislators who opposed his direct
primary legislation and his anti-bet-
ting bill.
Other Smith Planks
The other principal planks in the
Democratic platform call for the resto-
ration of the direct primary system,
a home rule amendment to the state
constitution guaranteeing cities and
villages oiequate power of self-govern-.
ment a1d right to enact, alter and
repeal their charters, including power
to own and operate their public utili-
ties, and law giving the fullest meas
ure Of home rule to communities in
the regulation of public utility cor
porations; giving localities the right
to own and operate. busses, repeal Of
the Lusk bills, repeal of the Miller
Continued on page slx)