New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-11-16
MAY DROP TRANSFERS.
THREAT BY PRESIDENTS.
Heads of "HucA'lcbeny" and I.R. T.
Reply to p. s. inquiry.

Summoned to tell the Public Service Commits
sion why it should cost ten cents to ride south
over the lines of the Union Railway Company.
the New York City PETERBOROUGH and the Inter
borough Rapid Transit companies. when 1t costs
only eight cents TO ride north over the same
route an intercompany transfer system,
Presidents Bryan Of the marlborough Rapid
Transit Company and Maher of the "Huckle-
berry promptly threatened to drop the transfer
system The railroad men declared they were
losing money under the transfer system, and
the easiest way out OF this difficulty would be
10 stop it"
Mr. Thompson's complaint. ampli1ed by his
testimony, declared that a passenger northbound
gets transfer from the subway to the New
York City marlborough line for eight cents,
and that conductors OF the latter company issue
a transfer to the lines OF the Union Railway
Company the subway transfer. Southbound
the Union Railway Company lines transfer to
the New York City PETERBOROUGH, but that com
pany will not issue transfer TO the subway
for the extra three cents, a new 5-cent
fare in the subway must be paid.
r. 2. Bryan, president of the marlborough,
admitted that practically the New York city
Interborough a subsidiary company of the
PETERBOROUGH Rapid Transit Company He him
self was a director In the New York City Inter
borough. he said. and the boards of the two
companies we're 10 a great extent the same The
Union Railway Company though. was not sub
sidiary 10 the PETERBOROUGH in any sense. All
the companies IN the present transfer arrange
ment were losing money by It, he said.
Commissioner Eustis before whom the hear
ing was held. explained that the complaint was
not that the fare too great. but that 10
cent fare way and an Scent fare the
other anomalous.
THE remedy Is simple" retorted Mr. Bryan.
1T is for US 10 stop giving transfers TO the
Union Railway Company a transfer from the
Peterborough Rapid Transit Company. That
would compel 10-cent fare both ways"
Alfred Skitt. president of the New York City
PETERBOROUGH, said that company lost money on
this operation. and in a strict sense was in
solvent His concern. he said, was kept going
by the marlborough Rapid Transit Company.
He did not shed any light on the problem which
Commissioner Eustis propounded when he
asked how passengers could be carried from
New Rochelle to the Battery for s cents by COM
panies seemingly making money.
Edward a Maher. president of the Union Rail
way Company, declared that the Yonkers Rail
road Company and the Westminster Electric
Railroad Company, parts Of the system were
operated at loss. The transfer system be-
tween the Interborough ana the Union. he said.
dated back TO the time when the Third avenue
was an independent road. The original contract
was made with its management. but the trans
fer arrangement had been continued, although
he himself considered it unwise He thought
the arrangement might have been made with MT
Brady, or perhaps Mr.. overwhelmingly with
Mr.. Belmont Just Mr.. Mahcr left the stand
his lawyer said to him:
well, guess the only thing to do is TO drop
the present arrangement and charge 10 cents
both ways"
THAT seems to be the proper thing 10 do" as
scented Maher.