The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-09
WON'T INTERFERE IN STRIKE.
RAPID TRANSIT BOARD THINKS
THE COMPANY rs DOING WELL.

/ Only More Serious Accidents in the subway
VIII Change This DecldOn-Grout In.
siSts, Though, That the Loss Shan't
Come out OF tho CitI's Profits.
II the marlborough company continues
! 10 do as well as it did Yesterday in running
trains in the subway. the Rapid Transit
Commission viii not interfere in any way
in the strike and the company will not be
compelled at present TO live up TO the exact
wording of the contract providing for an
adequate train service. President Alex
ander l.. Orr and Chief Engineer Rice OF the
Rapid Transit Commission personally in
vestgated conditions in the subway yes
terday and both were of opinion that
the company was doing fairly well under
the circumstances and that there was no
cause for the commission TO hamper II in
its fight The Commissioners are inclined
to agree with the company that the real
question at issue is whether the operators
or the operatives shall manage the road.
Mr. Rice said that reports from his assist
ante showed that local trains were being
run on about four minute Roadway.
Some good comes out of every trouble,
he continued while the accident al
Twenty-third street is to be deplored be-
cause so many people were injured, it proved
that the subway cars are safe from fire
The wiring of the trains and The precau-
tons taken in the construction of the cars /
are such that there is no posi- bility Of fire
in the subway Had such an accident oc-
CURED to the old style wooden cars there /
would have been a terrible result.
Another lesson learned from the acct |
dent was the capabilty of the steel cars TO
withstand collisions II was the copper (
sheathed wooden car that collapsed and /
caused the injuries TO passen gers. The
company intends to replace these cars with
new steel ones as quickly as they can be
built
The Rapid Transit Commissioners will
intervene only If there are any more ser-
ious accidents. The Commissioners feel
that they are responsible for tho safe opera
ton of the road and they will insist that the
company replace the strikers with mon
qualified 10 operate the trains. There
will be a meeting of the commission to-day
and some discussion Of the strike Is ex-
pected
The only member Of the Rapid Transit
Commission who seems inclined to add to
he troubles OF the company IS Comptroller
trout. The contract with the company
provides that the city shall receive for the
irst five years in addition to the fixed
'harges / per cent OF the earnings when
he yearly profits are more than per cent.
IN The capital invested Mr.. Grout served
!otice on the company yesterday that il
will not be permitted to charge against
he city's account the loss caused by the
trike The letter said
There seems 20 exist a situation Yesterday
nd to-day under which apparently the RECEIPT,
ractlcally nil. while the expenses must be
d ormousy increased 1t IS impossible Tor I
he city 10 permit such contest TO proceed =
the expense Of the CITY. Rud therefore
otify You that your statement and pAy- :
lent due on The isi dny Of april next will n
CCount this present loss IN the gross receipts 81
increase 10 operating expenses ! do not $
Undertake 10 90 into ,he merits OF the contro- II
ldulge in such n controversy II must be
ith its own capital aud nj it, own expense s
nd not with the capital nor at the expense .
the city ~ New York.
The Comptroller explained that the city @
really a partner OF the lnterborough u
ompany in the subway and that the city a
such partner ought not TO suffer because IT.
Dmething has been done by the other :,
artner tending to decrease the income '
ON the property. he pointed out that
le company's report for December showed h
D increase Of nearly 10000 passengers II
irried over November Mr. Grout thinks a,
lhl Nllf ttIlpi'H LOT JduuETN anu IeDTlATN 1
III show oorespondingly large increases. h'
nj he contends that the city ought not TO M
se the revenue which this Increased bust
AS would have brought had II not been Nh
II he strike He hardly expects the com 81
any TO share this Wow and he minated
at the matter might have TO he taken to OF
e courts In that case the Comptroller on
III demand that in determining the profits he
the road the revenue from the signs and ne
u machines shall be included in the profits
ON operation,
The Comptroller's letter was received a.
the marlborough executive committee ID
fore it, meeting ended. Il was seid that dl
rptly would H., sent to-day III