New-York tribune., 1907-08-03
OWNS BELMONT TUBE.
HELD BY ENTER.-MET.
Irins Springs Surprise on Public Ser
rice Commission Inquiry.

lie Service Commission. established yesterday
for the first time that the Interborough Rapid
Transit Company owned the Belmont or Stein
way tunnel That this tunnel was a part of the
merger had long been suspected. but never
proved
Nj Shonts. president Of the system was on
the stand when the fact brought out Mr.
Ivins had been asking number of seemingly
casual questions. which the witness srnil-
ingIy answering Suddenly the lawyer straight
ened I'D
Who owns the Belmont tunnel?" he asked
The question came as an unexpected shock TO
Nr. Shonts. The smile disappeared He hesi-
tated and ther replied: Il don't believe 1 could
give you that information
The Interborough Rapid Transit Company
owns the stock OF the Belmont or Steinway tun-
nei." replied Paul d Crayath. Of counsel for the
Electromagnetic metropolitan
Il was all over in a moment. hut the question
seemed TO have electrified the whole chamber.
Mr Ivins asked only the one question in regard
70 the tunnel and then continued his examina-
,inn Of Mr.. Slonts other lines.
only a few days ago the commission passed
. resolution 10 investigate the tunnel. its
e-sr;r and franchise This done at the
reo,est Of g delegation from Queens County.
,,-h;cb feared thai additional fare would be
charged through the tunnel on the basis that
- wss not part Of the Interhorough- -Metropol-
itaa system
II IS now the opinion Of at least one OF the
commissioners that additional fare cannot
he charged since the tunnel is acknowledged TO
he = part of the Interborough- Metropolitan sys-
ten.
THREE WITNESSES EXAMINED.
Frank HedIey. Edward P. Bryan and Presi-
dent Shonts were the three witnesses called by
Mr WINS yesterday The first two
an1ired very briefly and only IN regard TO what
had been done TO safeguard passengers on the
subway. The examination Of Mr.. Shonts had
not been concluded when adjournment was
taken 70 Tuesday afternoon
With relentless energy Mr.. WINS forced the
three officials Of the company TO show how little
the system had done 10 remedy the congestion
Of traffic which they Were forced TO admit ax-
;sted. lie brought that the company had
failed 70 heed the recommendations Of the old
Board % Rapid Transit Commissioners for pro-
viding for the safety of its subway passengers.
He forced them TO admit that the standard Of
the men they employed was yearly growing
IoHer. that the number OF cars in operation
during the rush hours il sie subway was less
thar il had been in 1904 although the increase
in subway travel was marked
Admission after. admission Of things left
done that might have been done 20 improve the
service Of the company was made until at last
Il. Shonts. in desperation, exclaimed: Il want
20 tell YOU Nj Counsel. that the Interborough-
Metropolitan system il only TOO ready TO do
everything II can - remedy the evils that do
exist We are anxious 70 adopt remedies The
only thing We want To know is that the remedy
70 it, applied Is practicable"
on The whole II seemed 10 be the general
opinion that Mr., Ivins had carried the day
and that the Public Service Commission would
soon he g ble 20 issue orders for remedyinE some
of the most obvious evils Throughout the ses-
sion officials and counsel for the road showed
again The greatest willingness to assist the in
resrigatCrs in every way and to furnish the1h
with any information they desired
For q short time counsel for the commission
went into The question Of the capitalization OF
the surface roads Of the system Then ne
corterted himself with reading figures showing
the cost Of road and equipment Of each OF the
surface lines for each mile. He failed To get MI.
shor-s 1o give any opinion on these hgures-
TRANSFER QUESTION COMES Up
-ozea~5 The end of the hearing Nj Shonts
s5-r9r-e5 that 1he road had not considered the
Question Of giving transfers from the subway
70 rse elevated or from surface 10 subway or
surface 10 elevated Mr- Shonts also said that
the system had no intention Of giving mat
matter any consideration. The matters Of po-
lice protection IN the subway and OF eieclrllS-
ing horse car lines were also gone INTO.
Nj Shorrs was called TO the stand at the De
etnr,-- of the session. but q moment later
NJ WINS excused him temporarily ana caiie1
NJ rsed1e-- after a few preliminary queS-
:iors Air Hedley VAS asked II ne reCal.eu ~ an
accident on the subway on June = 1to'- III
Heclev recalled the accident. but dld ho' ir
n1enbe seeing the recornnendatlon OF uIe 'I.
board - Rapid Transit Commissioners pdSs1
upon tie accident In this recommendation 'iis
board requested the company TO proVloe Sai'''
appliances for the subway
Ae,er considerable questioning the witness
sz,d =, .--e-r,r,r had been made to heed these
recorrr tions but he added that 1he c"ill-
rsnv Vas having additional openings maze over
Tie Euba-ay 50 that in case Of an accliei-e nia
the cars catching fire the smoke might escape
more quickly. He also said the coihpai'S va"
Installing a water pipe system
OPEN CARS IN SUBWAY
n, r,.f-s then asked him what he thought
the efe-1 II operating open cars IN 'iie
woulo he He replied that there were thifty-
,ir o., ,ars ,r oneratjon on the Third ave
nDe elevated Ere and the effect there WAS u
ratara and cor,est "a tIer than relieve the crush
He exrlair.5 this by saying smoking WAS al
lowed in them and consequently 'hefe was q"
great rush 90 get smoking seats.
The cars are so attractive that eVerypody
wants 10 get in them Hence your "i'''
they celav traffic. asked MI iFlhS
.sYes ans ,he,, increase accidents ana per
sonal injury why. we have had more ao'lueilo' ~
from those cars than from our eH'"e 'f"1'
raelt' replied Mir Hedley ,u.,o-
Edward y BRYAN president OF the mt ~" -, =
oug, ~ ,-.s,eif Comua-ly then took the
stand He said he supposed he had received q. "a
copy Of the resolutions Of the Rapid 49,
R1ard d. i,saard n the subway accldeii', .'Is nus
that i.c ,ouI4 no; remember N'i'ii, -
h. -. -. -,s,4,,,se he had made to the
board a. ., ,zr,z-Int, OCT its recommendations
ne said The company MAS trying I" ge' d &c :.