Evening star., 1925-09-06


Street" and that the effort to put him,
Hylan, out and put Walker in is
merely to have a mayor who will yield
eventually to the demands of the ''in-
terests" in the matter of increased
fares. In support of this charge. he
points out that four years ago he
was supported by Gov. Smith and
Tammany for reelection as mayor.
Frank ID. Waterman, who is expect
ed to receive the Republican nomina-
ton at the primaries despite opposi-
ton by William NJ. Bennett and John
j. Lyons, also pledges the rapid con-
struction by the city of additional sub
ways and a better transportation
system.
One of the criticisms 'leveled at
Mayor Hylan, both by Walker and
waterman supporters, is that he has
failed to provide the SubWayS so Sorely
needed; that he has used up in talk
and promises the time which he should
have used for constructing the sub
ways.
In this connection attention should
be called to the fact that the, Repub-
lican organization and Mr.. Waterman
have raised an issue all their own.
They propose business administra-
tion by business man OF the worlds
greatest city instead of a political ad-
ministration by a politician. 1t has a
catchy sound, but that may be all that
it will catch. New York has many
business men and women. but it also
mas a crop of politicians who are past
masters in getting out the vote.
Waterman Business Man.
>Mr. Waterman is a successful bust
ness man, very successful business
man. The Republicans are making
their play on this fact. And If he had
the support of Tammany for the nomi-
nation he would likely be nominated
and elected. But he Is to run on the
Republican ticket.
The Republican party in the great
city of New York is not taken with
any too great seriousness. certainly
not by the Democrats, who recall that
IT is more than a generation since a
hepuoIlcan mayor was elected as a
straight ouu-and-out Republican, and
| not as a fusion candidate. The Re
publicanS, OF course, do poll q lot of
votes in New York City on election
day, and they elect some Congress
men here and some members Of the
State Legislature and some city Off
cials. But for the most part II has been
IN recent years the party of protest
A very prominent New York Demo
crat told me today that he considered
the Republican party in New York
city occupied the same relative posi-
| ton to the Democratic party OF this
city that the Democratic national
party occupies today with regard TO
the Republican national party, the
position OF an obStructionist, merely.
Democrats outside of New York will
resent such q Characterization of
their party, no doubt.
There is not the slightest doubt but
what the people of New York want
| more subways, better service and a
retention OF the scent fare.
Profit i'm Subways.
The situation, so far as the traction
| companies are concerned, is briefly
this: They are losing money on the
surface and IL" lines, which they
own and operate, and are making
money on the subways, which the
city of New York built and leases to
them. The advocates of the reten-
ton of the scent fare demand what
right or justice would lie in permit.
ting the companies to increase the
fare on the subways, which are
money-making institutions and owned
by the city, merely to pay the inter
est on the surface and IL" lines,
which are owned by the companies.
The 5-cent fare in New York City
is intimately connected with the sub
ways. The scent fare was first made
mandatory by the dual subway con-
tracts OF 1913, IL years ago, under
which the traction companies obtain.
ed the use of the subways. but with
the condition that fares in New York
City on all the lines be continued at
cents. The prices of everything
used by the street railways including
labor, have increased greatly since
1918, the companies claim, and they
are entitled to raise the fares as they
were raised in Washington and in
cities throughout the country during
this period. Furthermore, the COM
panies are strongly opposed to the
proposed operation by the city of the
new subways now under construction
or planned.
For some time there has been a
fight as to where the control of New
York City's traction lines and sub
ways should lie-in Albany or New
York City.
The city has already expended more
than $500, ,000, 900 in the construction
and equipment of its subways, but the
control of these SubwayS Is actually
in the hands of the so-called State
transit commission created by the
Legislature three or four years ago.
The charge is made by Mayor Hylan
and his friends that this commission
is friendly to the traction companies;
that it has not ordered improvements
in service which it should have done,
and that the people cannot expect re-
lief from 1t. 1t was not until July,
I1924, when the board of transportation
was established, that the city itself
had any power to determine routes
for new subways and construct them.
Since then Mayor Hylan and his ad-
ministration have planned a new sub
way system and contracts have been
let and construction begun on part of
the system.
One of the criticisms Ieveled against
the Hylan administration Is that the
annual budget has increased from
about $4,000, 900 to more than $780,
900 900, with a consequent increase in
taxation. Mr.. Waterman, the Repub-
lican candidate, proposes to reduce
this annual budget through more eff
cient business management, and so
bring about a reduction in the city
| taxes. He insists that the business
people of the city have been aroused
by the heavy expenditures and heavy
taxation.
A budget of s4o0, 600, 900 ran the
Government of the United States, in
cluding the Army and Navy, not so
very many years ago. 1t Is a vast
| sum-. But New York is a vast city,
| and what affects it really affects the
country at large in a measure. The
city today has a population Of more
| than 100000, which is greater than
the population of any of the States,
| with the exception Of Pennsylvania
and Illinois, and is many times the
population of some States. The ex-
tent of the city and it's tremendous
problems of government are indicated
| in the claims made by Mayor Hylan