New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-14
DEGREES CITY TRANSIT.
SHAMEFUL, SAYS WINS.
Rapid Transit Commission
an Supporting Young Bill.
IBy relegraph to The tribune.


Albany, March 13.-Graphic description Of the
intolerabIe transit conditions in New-York and
vehement criticism of the Rapid Transit Com
mission formed the burden of William NJ. WINS s
argument when he appeared before the Assem-
bly, Cities Committee to-day, advocating the
passage of the Young bill for a local railroad
commission for New-York. He the leader
of a large delegation of representatives of the
various transit reform organizations of the city
who declare that under the present system little
hope is left for betterment in New-York
Mr.. WINS declared that with the present dis
position of the corporations. some power was
necessary which would force them TO provide de-
cent accommodations for the travelling public
The Rapid Transit Commission he said, was out
of touch with the people and In too close touch
with the corporations, which thought 1T the
last and final work of gracious Cod" Mr..
WINS said in part:
I want to ask if any of the members of this
committee would like to have daughter come
in contact with the conditions that exist on
traction cars in New-York every day. What
happens? She is made the centre of jostling,
brutal set Of men. 1t is condition 1 see every
day. tell you it is greedy and cruel to tolerate
such methods. People are damned into the cars
almost any way. The methods pursued by these
corporations is against the life of the state. II
this is not to endure must assert our su-
premacy over corporations. If don't they
will soon assert supremacy over US Do the
railroads exist for the people or do the people
exist for the railroads? AS view conditions in
New York it is the theory OF the traction cor
porauons that the people exist for the railroads.
What about the State Railroad Commission?
Five members and not single living in
New-YOrk or knowing at first hand the railroad
conditions there. We want some board that
knows NewYOrk and will make the railroad
companies there feel that they are responsible
TO somebody for certainly they do not feel so
now Parties, political parties are to blame
The people, wish to warn those parties are in
silent mad and determined revolt The methods
OF corporations are not pleasing to them. AS a
Republican myself and ardently desiring the
success OF that party. let me say that. II these
demands Of the people are not listened to- you
won't have our votes in New-York Help us
bring about condition whereby we may believe
that New-York really exists for New-Yorkers
come here asking for enlarged powers for
Mayor Mcclellan as the head Of the city OF
larged powers had l been elected Mayor
want to say that 1 perfectly confident that
the interests Of New-York would be better taken
care OF by commission appointed by Mayor
Mcclellan than by any state commission
Julius Henry Cohen said that to relieve the In
tolerable conditions in New York there should
be there a commissioner directly responsible to
the voters The state commission, slow in its
examinations, exercised no restraint at all on tho
local companies.
James S Lehmaier explained the provisions II
the bill and urged it's passage thus:
No greater crisis In the fortunes Of the Re
publican party has ever existed than at present.
In the language of an editorial in The New
York Tribune March 7, the Republicans In
the Legislature have the prospects of the party
in their hands" In my judgment there IS
way in which party success may be insured
more than by passing legislation which will give
the people of the various communities salts
factory assurances that the Legislature is con-
cerned with the remedying of existing evils.