The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-28
Getting Ready for the Hearing Before
state Railroad Commission.

The committee of the Merchants Associa-
ton on franchises and transportation.
held an open meeting In the rooms Of the
association yesterday afternoon To prepare
for action in the crusade to improve the
transportation facilities in this city. A
legal committee was organized OF which
Theron q. Strong was elected chairman.
William II. Shepard, vice-chairman, and
Francis Y. Butler. secretary.
An executive committee OF ten was ap-
pointed to adopta plan Of action and present
it before tho State Railroad Commission
work to subcommittee and TO ascertain
from the State Railroad Commission what
steps 1t has taken to maintain the public
rights a. between the public and the trans
portation companies holding the franchises.
William F. King, chairman Of the COM
mittee on franchises and transportation
said that 1t was intended that the executive
committee should investigate the trans
portation problem from top to bottom.
He appointed TO this committee John r.
Delafeld. Andrew ii. Green. George f.
Morse. Bert Hanson, George II. Gilman.
William u. Shepard, Edward X. Finch,
Bernard Naumberg L. ". Tyler and Francis
Y Butler.
general discussion of conditions fol-
flowed. Charles E. Manierre suggested
that an appeal should be made to the Board
of Health. He thought it was in the
province Of that department to prevent
crowding of cars. He also suggested that
action BE- taken to bring about law COM
pclling the roads to charge a fare of only
two or three cents for ride in a crowded
car.
when a car is crowded and persons are
hanging onto straps a ride isn't worth
five cents" he said. 1T certainly is not
worth that to a person hanging onto q
strap. and ii isn't worth that to a person
who has "a seat and IL interfered with by
persons standing in front Of him. Don't
let the roads get the profit there is in pro-
viding that sort of service.
IF the Board OF Aldermen has the power
TO define the duties OF a transportation
company it should also have power to de-
termine what Is a violation of those duties
and it should pass law establishing PEN
altes for such Violations
Harcourt Bull said that something should
be done about what he termed violation
the lack Of transfer privileges from the
Twent y-third street line to Broadway,
Sixth and seventh avenues. Mr. Bull also
protested against the lack Of transfers
from the 125th street and Third avenue
line, formerly a part Of the Third avenue
system. to other lines OF the old Metropoli-
tan system.
James +. Walsh intimated that the State
Board Of Railroad Commissioners and the
railroads were on too friendly terms to
,xpect much relief from the Commissioners
and said that New York cit needed local
railroad Board of Commissioners to attend
to its own problems.
$. G. Mead who appeared before the
State Railroad Commission In Albany on
Friday said that the hearing on Tuesday
next would be only the first of a series of
hearings on the subject. The commission.
he said, realizes that the transportation
conditions in this city are nearly intolcrable
and desires to do all il can to better them.
Joseph s. Menline proposed a number of
improvements which would better the
facilities OF the railroad companies. He
said that block system would enable the
running Of more trains on the elevated and
urged that the contact shoe touch the third
rail either on the side or under surface.
He demanded six-"ar trains, better light
ing and heating, the enforcement Of the city
ordinances which are supposed to prevent
blocking the surface lines by trucks and
traffic and several other changes.
Chairman King asked the committee to
submit suggestions In writing to the Riil.
road Commission.