New-York tribune., 1907-11-10

an example OF this method of treating a minor
oOiiipiaht Is furnished by the suggestion made at
@liOuS 'ilies during the summer and early fall by
olnerent complainants that conductors =, ~.
brooklyn RAPID Transit lines should be instructed
AeP aI Ventilators open in the cars. A brief
.''ei 70 'he company resulted in proper instruc-
uons Deins immediately issued to conductors and
enforced Tor the ventilation of cars
Similarly complaint regarding noise ar nigb,
incidental TO the construction of the McAdoo tunnel
uhoer sixth avenue was taken up with the com
pany and the complainant satisfied without the
1ooeeSiS oI an order The company, upon receiv-
ing from the commission a copy OF one of these
complaints. Immediately made ARRANGEMENTS for
he suspension during the night of the noisiest feat
ures of the construction. such as blasting and the
complainant was satisfied with the change and so
Informed the commission.
Ihe regular procedure upon the recent Of an
answer from the company to a complaint handled
directly by letter is to send a copy of the com
pany's answer to the complainant with q racuos+
that he inform the commission whether II is salts
factory and whether the conditions are improved
When such letters TO the complainant are un-
answered the commission assumes that there is no
further complaint"
OF the commissions Investigation, ,,,o-L w
Whitney said:
I'm taking hold of the transit situation with
view OF shaking it out quickly and as thoroughly
as possible the commission has held a number of
public hearings. at which citizens We're invited to
five boroughs have been treated at these hearings
The fifth Observation-Disclosures the one which has
received most particular attention from the invest-
cation of the marlborough Metropolitan company
under the direction of Chairman Wilcox.
The commission has also made careful investi-
cations through its experts, and has retained
the services Of two eminent engineers for this spe
cial purpose
''Bion J. Arnold. who is credited with having
worked out the solution OF the Chicago transit
m. hy haf Cfty at larry of
$4,000 year, is at present engaged with corps of
assistants In investigating the condition of subway
equipment. When he has completed his investiga-
ton he is expected TO make recommendations 10
the commission indicating the method by which the
greatest possible use can be got from the subway.
"A W. McLimont, an electrical expert of similar
eminence. who has built and equipped railroads, is
making thorough investigation for the commits
sion Of the equipment OF the surface lines. Mr.
McLimont's corp of inspectors go TO the extent OF
examining every OF company before making
final report on its equipment
WORK ON GAS METERS.
Part of the commissions work is the testing OF
gas meters. a legacy from the State Inspector OF
Gas Meters. which office was abolished by the
Public Service Commissions law. It found
necessary TO organize practically a depart
ment for this work The commission determined
TO allow no meter TO be set which had not been
actually tested by the commissions inspectors and
found 10 be within the percentage OF error allowed
Dy law. II began WOrR July TO- AT present AIlo
commission has force of twenty men at work
and has made actual tests TO November OF 74.091
meters During October. with the full force Of men
at work. II averaged more than one thousand
meters day, at the rate OF over three hundred
thousand meters a year. Each Of these meters has
had an actual test and has been sealed with
to prevent its being opened without destroying the
seal.
In addition TO the work OF testing new and re-
paired meters. the commission has taken UP the
work OF testing meters upon complaint OF con-
sumers. Within period Of three months the com
mission has received more than 40 applications Tor
the test OF meters upon complaint These appnca-
tions come from every portion Of the city. The
commission has Instituted a system by which
thorough examination Of the meter is made upon
the premises OF the applicant and in this way has
been enabled to discover number OF errors In me
Of overwhelming OF gas bills or errors IN te
matter of charging consumers for gas consuineo
from wrong meters. In one instance the commits
sion discovered a meter which registered over loo
per cent fast so that for every one thousand feet
OF gas consumed the consumer was charged at the
rate OF 81 so. This, however. was an exceptional
case.
HAS SETTLED DISPUTES.
Tn the work OF testing gas meters upon com
nlaint the commission has discovered number OF
cases Of inefficient service. which, while OF com
paratively small Importance to the general pubic
have been OF Importance TO the Individual con-
suner These cases being OF individual char
hold formal hearings on the same. but has under
taken the work Of adjusting the dispute between
the consumer and the gas company An example
of this class Of complaint is shown in comInuni-
cation from well known institution in Brooklyn
which was without gas for three successive nights
The institution appealed 10 the commission for
relief and the matter was taken up with the com
nanv with the result that the matter complained
OF was Immediately remeded. In the communica-
ton which we received from this institution the
president said:
Two months ago this institution. with twenty
six patients was without gas for three successive
nights. Repeated calls on the company brought
only repeated promises to attend TO It. Finally, l
made complaint the telephone 10 your COM
mission. and although It was o'clock when
telephoned the gas company had their men there
that night, and the trouble was remedied To my
surprise the next morning received inquiry
from your office to know If the matter had been at
tended TO. I say surprise because we are not ac-
customed to such prompt and courteous treatment
in Brooklyn from public officials. Accept my
thanks and that Of the board Of managers for your
prompt and kind attention
BRONITE THANKS COMMISSION.
Prom a resident of The Bronx a communication
WAS received by the commission in which the
writ er stated that matter in dispute between him
self and gas company, which had been referred
by him to the commission for settlement had been
adjusted satisfactorily by the company. In MS
letter to the commission he said:
I 90 not hesitate 10 say that this gas company
has only been brought 70 terms through your in
tervention and I beg TO express my thanks TO you
for your kind assistance
..Other letters Of a similar character have been
received by the commission concerning individual
complaints The commission recognizes the fact
that II has broad field in which 10 work on mat
ters of this kind, and where 1t finds consumer
has a tustihable cause for complaint has used its
efforts TO get a prompter settlement. The work
bain bV