New-York tribune., 1907-12-03
B. R. T, CONTRIBUTIONS
Continued from first page.

N Brady for various authorized expenditures can
eellsd and marked SGndpy expenditures made by
think ever heard OF IT
Many other items of interest 10 the stock
holders of Brooklyn Rapid Transit came to the
surface at this hearing. Mr. Wins brought
out from Colonel williams that in 1899 and 1900
the Brooklyn Rapid Transit gave in two items
about 100000 to the Brooklyn, Queens County
& Suburban to help wipe out deficits. Colonel
Williams explained that this money consisted in
part Of the profits made by the holding company
from advantageous sales of Suburban bonds.
Mr> WINS showed, though, that the gifts were
kept in the business" when they might have
been distributed among Brooklyn Rapid Transit
stockholders.
WAGES PAID To EMPLOYEES.
Colonel williams was also examined about the
wages paid to motormen and conductors by the
Brooklyn Rapid Transit Mr.. WINS drew out
statements that the men got 20 cents an hour,
or In five years might rise to "a cents an hour
Colonel Williams said that only ignorant day
laborers got less than these amounts. Still, he
was not sure that the company would have less
difficulty in getting good men II it paid more
money He knew it had tremendously large
damage quits to meet each year. and estimated
that the employees knocked down about $1,000
a day; but was not willing TO admit that these
low wages put premium on dishonesty
The hearing began with Colonel Williams
the stand He took up a comparative s--teI1ent
of the earnings and fixed charges of the Brook
lyn Queens County & Suburban which showed
considerable deficits relieved In 1899 by gift
of $40 900 from the Brooklyn Rapid Transit and
in 1900 of s131 .174 1e. partly. as Colonel Williams
explained, from the profits of the sale of Subur-
han bonds Mr WINS pointed out that the profits
of that sale amounted only to about $227,0Oo- in
1902 the deficit disappeared. and at present there
is a surplus of more than 100000 Operation
over the Williamsburg Bridge had resulted IN
great increases in receipts. the railroad officials
said. OF this surplus about s435,0o0 has been
loaned to the Brooklyn Rapid Transit on It's
notes; the rest stands on the various balance
sheets to the credit OF the Suburban
DAMAGE SUITS COST S1.10o.oOO-
Then after obtaining figures showing receipts
and operating expenses OF the Brooklyn CITY
SYSTEM Mr.. WINS took up the question OF wages
of employees. Colonel Williams testified the
highest sum the company paid out for dam
ages in one year was S1.1Oo.OOo Much OF TINS
WAS for legal expenses He believed that the
higher the standard of efficiency of employees
the less accident cases would cost The hiring
of q better class of men, il they could be got
would undoubtedly lessen this expense still. a
great part of the damage suits was orouSht o'
sharp lawyers and doctors with witnesses whose
ideas of the responsibilities attached to an oath
were not too high. Inability to get good men
hampered the service greatly. went on Colonel
Williams
II don't think that virtue comes with higher
wages and intelligence said he. The man who
is getti-7 So or 81 40 day and is content with
1t is quite as apt to be honest as bank presl-
dent who Is getting $4,000 or S3O.oOO year.
In Rrooklvn I'D to n recent time the con-
ductors had besides opportunity to knock
dovnr cash fares a chance to substitute trans
fers for cash in turning in their receipts. Now
q separate register is kept for the cash fares
Mr. WINS in comparing these conditions with
those existing on the Metropolitan system. gave
to Colonel Williams opportunity to declare
that he believed the Brooklyn Rapid Transit
was capitalized more conservatively and man
aged better than the Manhattan concern.