New-York tribune., 1903-01-01
REFORM REGARDLESS OF COST.
COLE SAYS COMMISSION HIS n PLAN-RAILROAD Ds
MUST OBEY.
Grand Asks That Charters Of Brooklyn
Rapid Transit Company Be 4mnudsd
OBJECTS TO SECRECY.
Merchants Association 4lso Lays
WesseFs Death to, C,o5edang

,ion coronanies was made by the State Railroad
Commissioners yesterday at the end of an eX-
ecutive session at which officials of the Metro
politan Street Railway Company had been ex-
amined. The session was similar to the one helo
on Tuesday afternoon when officials of the Man
haitian Railway Company were before the Com
mission. 1t began about 10 a. m. in a room at
the Fifth Avenue Hotel and was continued until
after l p. m.
H H Vreeland president Of the Metropolitan
Street Railway Company; Oren Root, general
superintendent. and Henry A. Robinson. of the
companys counsel, were called before the COM
missioners to produce books and lists showing
the number of cars operated at all hours on
the different surface lines, the number of en-
ployes and the number OF passengers carried.
The railroad officials were questioned about rush
hour travel, ovecrowdng of cars and blockades
in traffic. and before the session ended they
promised to prepare and send to the commission
full information on some subjects not covered
by the investigation.
I'VE have acquired large amount of informa
ton bearing on the questions under discussion"
Colonel Ashley W. Cole, chairman of the commis-
sion. said after the session, and we have de-
n1anded and shall receive additional in
formation from the companies. We hope to
formulate a recommendation soon from the sta
tistics schedules and other material we have
obtained The officials of the Metropolitan
Street Railway Company are to send to us by
Saturday some additional figures by which they
hope TO show that reforms shall demand Of
them are impracticable. The commission will
then take up the question and decide If the i'm
provenents it demands. which will entail con-
siderable expenditure of money, can be put into
execution.
EXPENSE NO EXCUSE.
THE recommendation Of the State Railroad
Commission is equivalent TO positive order"
said Colonel Cole. No railroad company would
dare to disregard it. The commission promises
to the public the fullest possible measure of re-
lief. We shall not report that we can do moth
ing We are going to Dc something. We al
ready to have plan, and investigation has
been conducted to ascertain if the plan is prac-
ticable. If it is practicable it will be carried
out. The commission does not care how much
the reform costs. The railroad companies will
have to supply the relief demanded if it be
supplied We do not expect to have further con-
sultations with the railroad officials. We shall
go back TO Albany and study the documentary
evidence before formulating recommendation"
The executive committee of the legal COM
mittee and the committee franchises and
transportation of the Merchants Association
held joint session yesterday and prepared some
suggestions for presentation to the State Rail-
road Commissioners. They adopted and sent to
the commissioners a protest against secret meet
ings with the railroad officials The protest
said:
We submit that the practice Of the board
in granting secret hearings to the railway COM
panies without affording an opportunity to the
public to be represented, is contrary to well
recognized functions of ni-judcial bodies, and
ought to be discontinued Whenever CONFER
ence is had the public is entitled to representa-
ton. Its representatives are entitled TO hear
and to meet these ex parte statements of the
representatives Of the roads. In no other way
can the truth be arrived at and proper remedies
applied. It should not be necessary to call at
tention to matter so plainly and obviously IN
the interest of justice and fair dealing.
I'VE are forced for time to have our meet
ings in secret" Colonel Cole said. THAT is to
avoid outside interference which might initiate
against our influence with the railroad officials
and lead them to think were playing with
them and not are, in dead earnest for
this much needed reform
The suggestions prepared by the committees of
the Merchants Association are the following:
Suggestions respecting Objectionable condi-
tions capable of remedy:
First-It is within the power Of the elevated
roads TO furnish, and they should be compelled
TO furnish, increased facilities for passengers
and prevent overcrowding.
An examination of the operation of the roads
will show that they could furnish at least six
trains. running at more frequent intervals
all day on all lines.
An investigation should be had of the records
of the operating department, and an examlna-
ton had Of the proper officials, to show what
they have done heretofore and what the facili-
ties at their command, If employed, are capable
of accomplishing.
ADDITIONAL EXPRESS TRAINS.
Second-Additional express trains should be
operated, by means of the third track, for
through traffic.
An investigation should be made as TO the fire.
1-,l o,7a o< IS,
and as TO whether increase Of facilities in
this direction could be furnished We believe
that if the traffic were distributed on express
and local trains in the Of the trunk lines,
considerable additional accommodation could De
furnished.
Third-A system of facilitating entrance TO
and exit from the cars should be Immediately
Every facility for the more speedy exit from
and entrance to the cars that be employed
will by just much enable the trains TO be
operated mora rapidly
Fourth-The company should employ adequate
means TO see that the ordinances Of the Board
of Health with respect to cleanliness and Venu-
lation in the cars are in force.
This is a duty which should rest upon the
companies 1t is in their interest. as IN the case
of any other nuisance. to see that these ordi-
nances are not violated. They should employ q
Conductor on each train TO accomplish this
Fifth-An distractions Of the stairs and sta
tions should be removed
The staircases and exits TO and from the sta
tion platforms are entirely inadequate. and
should be-as they be-increased without
difficulty. They are al present dangerous Ihe
death of Mr.. Vessel. reported in the papers of
December 81. 1902 was. we believe. due to
the overcrowding and consequent struggle to
obtain place in the car.
While book stands as at present constructed
are less Objectionable than those formerly in
use. they still occupy very prominent and e.
very considerable part OF the platform at the
front Of the station. These stands should either
be removed altogether or placed at one or other
end Of the platform.
LIGHT SUFFICIENT FOR READING.
Sixth-An cars should be sufficiently heated
al all times and sufficiently lighted all