New-York tribune., 1903-01-06
4 SETTO OYER SECRECY.
Col. Cole Intimates That Technical
Work Can't Be Done an Public.


Of the railroad companies were being read with
interest by thousands Of New-Yorkers yesteT-
day afternoon the State Railroad Commission
ers were giving another hearing at the Fifth
Avenue Hotel. The hearing began at p m,
snd was devoted TO the consideration of trafiic
on she surface roads. large representation
Of the Merchants Association, headed by Will
lam F. King, confronted H H Nreeland and
several other officials OF the Interurban Street
Railway COMPANY The association presented a
long list Of suggestions for reredying intoler-
able conditions in surface car travel and Mr..
vreeland made long speech abounding in ex-
cuses.
There was an agreement at the end of the
meeting that the association and the railroad
company should present plans later for the bet
ternlent of traffic on the surface lines. and that
the commission would adopt and enforce the
best plan There viii be another hearing on
January % begin the sitting process. and
meanwhile several sets of railroad experts will
be busy.
Theron G. Strong. chairman Of the executive
committee Of the legal COMMITTEES Of the Mer-
chants Association. started the discussion by
reading the following list of suggestions for the
railroad commissioners to act on regarding the
surface lines in the city:
Fsrst-Fuu and continuous service on all lines
owned and controlled by the Interurban Street
Railway Company. by the running of all cars
necessary. for the speedy movement and proper
81 sRa eduea anda @ Of Boaw ea Tas I
particularly the sxth-ave line, in order that such
use by the public thereby relieving the heavy
tr on fee H nam of Hereafter turning
northbound Broadway cars into sxth-ave at
,n9o gTosdway at !s thus abolish
E I9f m aa tP of extending the
Broadway route SO as to avoid transfers at LILY
Fifth-In view of the narrowness and crowded
and Twenty-hrst-st. 1t should be considered
fnoted dangerous congestion at Twenty-third-st
sno FouTth,ave prevented@ @ and the taoies IoF
were to run east from Broadway along Fourteenth
thence I'D Fourfh-ave to Tvventy-thir6-st and along
Twenty-third-st- TO Lexington-ave-
ss ne beSod Riehthave and the Change
of motor power 20 electricity
THE CRossrowN SERVICE
seventh-The entire subject as to whether the
efficiency and character OF se19e on 7,c the qown ba
in The Bronx and other suburban districts do not
furnish adequate. or in fact any suite pie accom-
,noaaton for tne pT3section OF al june
NinfhGThe service Of said roads in point Of fire.
ouencV Of running cars is entirely inadequate to
the public needs. and shonld De Geatea on tne
slns Manhaffane PdanciPie as iH''eS'e'
greater New-York provided the city VIII safeguard
the present franchise rights to the future use OK
EIeventh-The question of vestiouing cars
Tweifth-The question of two concuctors on
every during the rush hours, and on al the
TRirteenfh-The question of the issuance Of
ing Of al to show the route and destination OF
Fourteenth-Tne pronaotion Of proper police rsga-
,s9ns tsqogs oI Mbieb ines are eo operated
Fffteenth-The removal Of obstruetions OF al
streets on which car lines run.
sixteenth-The question of the enforcement OF
o1ssnlness Shs Ihess 'e7e0---s
seTenteenth-The prevention of permitting pas
sengers TO stand between seats in open cars.
Mr. Strong said the Merchants Association
snd his committee stood ready to aid the COM
r1issioners IN the task of investigating condi-
tions of local traffic and In suggesting appropri-
etc remedies. and he hoped the commission
would continue TO have open meetings. He
added that the association regretted that in its
recommendation to the Manhattan Railway
Company the commission ignored certain sug-
Eestions made by the association.
Colonel Cole chairman Of the commission. re-
Piled that the commissioners had not ignored
any suggestions but had dealt in their recon-
rnendation with the questions that seemed OF
most Immediate importance. Details Of how
tne company 10 take on and discharge Its
passengers. Colonel Cole said. were matters of
general adjustment that would be attended to
later.
ASKS THAT HEARINGS BE PUBLIC.
MI Strong said the railroad company aggra-
veted its offences against the public by running
empty cars on the tracks between the crowded
ones without any apparent reason He en-
iarged on the protest of his association against
the --secret sessions Of the commission. and
insisted that the law contemplated that in the
1-aE <afv z
should be public
when he sat down Colonel Cole consulted
for a moment his associates and then took ex-
ceution to the reference to secrecy. The meet
,nes were not secret, he said, and the law re-
serrd orly TO town meetings when ii spoke OF
public hearings.
IF g body like the Merchants Association.
ne said would secure experts TO consult with
the commissioners expert the commission
1ro11Id be glad to hear from them. The BOARD
does not believe any intelligent suggestions are
I5ely to be presented at open meeting. we
have never at any time desired to exclude from
our sessions any one who couln give US assisU-
snce OF information.
.syva contend" Mr. King interrupted, that
,ra .,e entitled TO know all that is going on.
ssrf veu come before us with practical solu-
.,or of the difficulty Colonel Cole replied, I'VE
shall be delighted TO receive YOU
IF we have TO do that-the work of the board
what is the board forE
.sr,o Won want the board to work technically
,n ruhlic7" Colonel Cole asked.
we do" replied Mr- King
We'll, it's not practical We don't commit
sny crime at our executive meetings.
gwen drop the crime part Of st." Mr. King
,etorted I'VE hold that we entitled TO know
all that is going on; that you have no right TO
+t.a officials not o the