New-York tribune., 1907-08-12

cent fare equitable and may order tnal NO
order on this point will be recommended TO the
commission by Mr. Wilcox until he has studied
every phase of the situation and determined
what is just
STEEL CARS FOR THE SUBWAY.
In the opinion of many. the merger will be
ordered to replace the old type of wooden cars.
of which 49I are in use in the subway, by the
more modern and safer steel cars This opinion
cannot he authoritatively sustained To make
tins wholesale change would involve the ex-
pendture OF more than S3.250.OIo, and the COM
mission hardly considers issuing so radical an
order. II is more probable that the company
will he required to replace the cars gradually.
The subway company is not expected TO object
to this plan.
1t has been brought out in the testimony that
the Interborough- Metropolitan system has not
in all respects lived up TO its charter agree
ment with the city. In many instances II mas
been shown by officials of the company that 10
conform to the letter of the law was fmpracu-
cable. In few others such has not peen the
case and excuse has been advanced by tne
company's officials for their dereliction in this
respect
An instance of this has been the failure OF
the company to run both its subway ana eie-
waited trains at the speed an hour required py
the charter It has been held by officials OF the
company and by independent engineers as Wen
that to do so would mean the endangerlns OF
the lives of tbe passengers !,
To this question Commissioner WILCOX Is
devoting much time. He will receive au'Ice
from neutral and competent engineers apoul
,vbe+ber 1be contract speed could be safely
maintained. II II could be he VIII oroef the
CORPORATION to put into ERECT scheduIeS iild,i,
tanning it. If It could not, it seems proodoie
that he will make no recommendation oli 'ii''
point
SUBWAY SAFETY DEVICES.
The commission is not satisfied WIN INC ii
-erhorough's provisions for insur1ng the sa4e'S
Of i+s messengers, and will, through its chair
- soo,-o- 70 issue orders for more safety
5,-i-es Commissioner WILCOX believes InaI
n is rossihle TO provide more efhclenI ~ ~"a.ol
nine system for the subway, to PROVIDE ~ ~oeo
arrangernents for the escape OF SMOKE III 90 60
of fire That the system lgnoieu -, ,lIo oas =
,9andations for safeguarding its SUBWAY pas
.oncars of the old Board Of Rapid TRANSIT Coili
,oiee;oners 10 a large degree was ackiloMleus -
hx- Mr. Hedley the stand bul . nc -
willing to obey any order OF the pte e ba
;esion has been stated by ofhclais Vi "Ae
company. 1,-,,,oo,, &c consid-
aine Is whether the equipment for the eleN
roads will be adequate after 'he u~eiI ~ ~
+ha o6ditional cars that are under GU,
oo,,s+ruc,ion II he considers that Ihe -
-. ,,1d he hettered by adding more cars ne
IN racommend to the commission -. &c
or5ar he issued that erect 1he9e' -, ~ 80
oro among the questions that are 80 -,
cided and that rest etlIIelS ~p obarga of
- Con,n7issioner Wilcox, who mas ChdI g -
- .,,;,,, ANY physical other recon- >
s,-s that he may make will unqueslolleo.S
,.o Endorsed by the Public Service
AZ oRJECT OF THE INQUIRY
pfora starting the investigation the Paohc
erz.;oa Commission, as a whole, knew throueh
chairman Wilcox many Of the physlca1 uei
of tha Tnterborough- Metropolitan system. MI
yt-,1,oox through his own personal knowledge
was prepared to recommend the lsS"aiioe a;o. -
5ers without any inquiry for physlcai tei',ep tF
Rur he wanted an investigation III VIM ..
so;a1e of the company should publicly tes'ilS " "
-, -rarenortation deficiencies Of the system AS
far as such deficiencies existed he Wah,eu - -
l.nov- both sides OF the case ana uluS 'T -.
r,repared 10 act in manner tlaU N'O-'
Justice 10 all 5 - the
-;rri,r, the issuance of remediatlVe oroet9
froT,, time 10 time during the inquiry Tor
ing relief 10 the travelling puohc- MI |" =.
md the commission feel certain lna' lie
1erboro,,gf- Metropolitan viii not opp'9s -.
sonable orders. but will assist IN every
the execution Of them ..,,- = nm
The Public Service Commissioners "ai'' - u 90
derstooa that they intend to act IN cDis' Ii,
tive careful manner They say tiiaI - c,;+,.
,,a-,e ,be transit situation in New holh -
- .l,az, also saw that they do not ln'eho 10
80 drastic or revolutionary orders uflui .iie
80 eo e,,c.7 has been proved beyond reasohaole
doubt
POLICING THE SUBWAY AND L"
The question of furnishing policemen at sub
way and elevated stations is receiving careful
consideration from both Mr.. Wilcox and Mr..
WINS Although they have not yet reached any
conclusion, they may recommend that the COM
nsnv employ special policemen, paying the city
for their service Police Commissioner Bingham
is opposed to employees of the company wearing
the blue uniform, but it is thought that If the
commission recommends IL he will furnish spe-
cfaI policemen for this duty, provided the Inter
borough Metropolitan pays the city annually an
amount equivalent TO their salaries
After the last hearing on Friday Mr. WILCOX
said: II am entirely satisfied with the progress
we have made so far. Certain things have been
brought out that seem to indicate the need of
remedial orders. Such orders will be issued by
the commission am pleased with the atti-
tude of the Interborough officials. 1t has been
helpful one The company has shown a willing
ness to assist us in every way. and 1 feel no
hesitation in saying that have not the sl1ghtest
fear that will not be able TO remedy the
nresent transit facilities in New York.
.t-ro,o time TO time we will issue orders that
will soon result in the betterment Of transit
facilities in New York do not expect any
difficulty in rerpedying present conditions, ana
remedying them as promptly'as can be reason
a ably expected
.-Tte difncultv will be in looking forward, in
nroviding for the increase of traffic in the future
That will mean probably that more sunWays
will have TO be constructed, and the construction
of subways is a difficult matter
sI think / am safe in saying that before long
the public will notice material improvement In
tho transit facilities afforded IT,.
Commissioner Wilcox has been forced TO take
. Te,,- d.,s, rest In the Adrondacks on account
oe his health Overwork has resulted in snsht
breakdown I'm health. and his physicians have
,.frn