New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-19
BIG P.S. TRANSIT PROBE
SE4RCH TO BE GENER I'll
Commission 10 Take Up Conditions
IN Inter.-Ncf. and b. II. 7.

The Public Service Commission yesterday adopted
resolutions introduced by Chairman Wilcox pro-
.iGng for one % the most sweeping Investigations
o. passenger transportation companies ever AT
tempted in this state The marlborough AIetropoIi-
an merger and the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Com
PAM, with az The surface elevated and subway
Iiuss owned, controlled or leased by them Will be
SUBJECTED TO the most ..gd examination as 10 their
general condition, ;ae conduct and operation Of
their lines. All details and every aspect OF the
transportation systems will DC gone into systeraat
cally and se2rching.v
More vital 10 tEc very existence OF The two great
systems Of rapid transit IS the second purpose Of
me 1nFestgat!or wEtc.3, in the words of the -eso-
Luton, IS FOR the purpose Of determining whether
the SAID corporations Go in fact illegally and as
Enonopoies control and operate the several proper
ties now under their control ard operated in their
interests"
This move created al over the city much surprise
/ cannot understand said politician a strong
friend Of the commission as well as of Governor
hlgnes' why the commission should so hastily
take up this subject. II is one that requires the
most careful dei5eration and the constant advice
q counsel Yet the commission has been unable to
md suitable man for counsel"
This opinion OF the commissions action was
voiced by many persons well il rapid transit
aIiairs' some Of whom expressed the doubt as TO
me commission having authority 10 pass on the
FEt0ty OF the Interborough- metropolitan
On the other hand, the commissioners Were fire.
Quently congratulated their action and assured
that they had done the best thing"
In Offering the resolution Mr.. Wilcox said he
considered II the duty Of the commission become
Familiar at the earliest possible moment by actual
investigation with all the conditions OF fact and
law raised BY the present organization and opera
ton OF the street railways OF the city.
The preamble TO the resolution. after stating the
authority vested IL the commission 10 deal with
various questions affecting rapid transit and rapid
transit companies, enumerated the various lines
controlled b. the systems. the BROOKLYN Rand
Transit and the nteTboroUGh-AIetropolitan Then
followed statement OF the requirements made Of
these corporations by law. the necessity for the
Public Service Commission TO determine the orders
u shaI make TO enforce the performance Of ade-
Qale service by the street railroad corpora tons
and the necessity for information in regard 10
the manner IN which corporations within the tlIrs-
olo-on OF the commission operated and con.
trol4ed ana the measure Of the Capitalization and
financial condition, and their ability 70 render b.
public services for which the companies were char
tered
Both August Belmont. president OF the INTERIOR
ouEA Rapid Transit Company. and Theodore p
Shonts president Of the InJerboroug-
SAID they would assist the commission in every
way.
The ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS company said
NJ. 18eimont, will meet the commission IN a
Taightforward and cordial spirit and will CO.
operate with II in every way possible"
= We are going 10 have the measles chicken
poA ana "HooIing cough we might we'll have
them al at once and have II over with" was the
laughing reply OF Mr. Shonts in response N an IN
CURRY IS TO his attitude regarding the investiRa-
ion We viii meet the commission half yay
an give them all the Information they want ana
a. q me assistance we can We only ask that
they study both sides Of the question, for there
are t"o sides 70 Il We will meet them in q spirit
q cooperation When 7 came 70 New York
SID t-at that would be my policy. and am more
man ever convinced that only through co-opera-
zion can New York's transportation problem be
so-Fe-. believe that with real cooperation the
work Il The commission be very helpful TO tho
public and 10 US
President Winter Of the Brooklyn Rapid Transit
company when told Of The proposed investigation
SAD " { shall welcome any sort Of an invest!ga-
ucn, and the commission VIII be aided in every
way We have no fear OF being investigated but
OF the contrary We expect that an investigation
VIII PROBABLY result IN some improvements in the
service, which IS what are all seeking"
The commission received letter from the 18th
Ward Board Of Trade. in Brooklyn in regard 70
NE movement OF elevated trains over the Will
.ansblrE Bridge Borough President AhearB
granted Il the Use Of the Council Chamber in the
City HAL for the hearing the Brooklyn Bridge
oE1sa = be he'd On Julv q