New-York tribune., 1907-11-13

traffic at congested corners was held up not
longer than forty seconds by the patrolmen. in
addition to all this, the actual cause OF every
hold-up of traffic had been noted by his men
since tie first of the month Mr.. Bugher said
the limit Of Improvement had now been reached
unless some legislation TO better conditions we're
obtained.
Then Mr.. Mason took up with Deputy Com
missioner Bugher the set of proposed ordi-
nances for the handling of traffic drafted by Mr.
Shonts. Discussion developed that the Street
Cleaning Department had q snow removal
schedule, with streets divided into three classes
Mr.. WINS decided that Commissioner Bensel
ought TO be called to explain this schedule
Another Of the proposed ordinances would re-
quiTe trucks in streets with single tracks to
so only in the direction in which the were
running. Mr. Bugher said the police regulations
practically compelled the truckmen to do this
now. Case after case regarding the rights OF
the road" was thrown out of court every day
Mr. Bugher said, the drivers being discharged
with reprimands, or sometimes held or fined
very lightly.
Mr.. Bugher thought that no vehicle ought TO
be allowed to stop or stand within seventy-nve
feet of n street crossing where cars passed.
Pedestrians had n tough enough time con-
ditlons now, he said. In many places Cand
Mr.. Bugher named Fourth avenue and 18th
street, a truck standing in the street would
throw all the moving trucks out to the car
tracks, so hampering the streetcars and all
other traffic. He summed up his observations
in the declaration that the Police Commissioner
should have broad power to regulate traffic gen.
orally.
Discussing tie-ups in traffic from faulty car
equipment or poor service, Mr.. Bugher said
that many times the streetcars caused bad de-
lays in traffic. At 23d street and Fourth ave-
nue. there were thirty-two blocks in one day
caused by the cars, running from thirty seconds
to ten or twelve minutes. He estimated that
these delays lessened the car service there an
hour a day at the very least this all due to the
railroad company.
The making of repairs and the cleaning of the
underground trolley channel In the daytime re-
suited in great delay and impeded traffic great
~ went on Mr. BuSher. At Sth street Fourth
avenue and Lafayette street this work had COM
PEELED him 10 detail two extra men to handle
traffic there for three weeks. This work, he
thought, could be done as we'll or better at
night. When the police discovered that this
work was being done too slowly they reported
that fact to the bureau of highways, but it
took from thirty days to six weeks for that
department to get around TO the case, and the
work was all ended by that time.
Inspector Schmittberger reiterated his chiefs
opinions forcibly, but placed his estimate Of
delays resulting from faults chargeable to the
streetcar companies even higher than Mr.
Bugher did
Every day We the streets the stalliug
Of cars on switches" said he, ''Or the giving
out Of power, or something breaking in the cars.
or running on a switch 10 turn back the cars
and delaying those ia the rear. Taking It al
together. l should refer % per cent to ordinary
delays and 40 per cent Of the delays 10 causes
Tor which the companies responsible"
Lieutenants McCullagh and Snyder testified
briefly about their observance OF delays. Each
estimated that the streetcar companies were re-
sponsible for about 10 per cent of the delays
encountered by the surface cars and that the
cars themselves frequently caused sreat delay
TO other traffic. The hearing will be continued
this afternoon.
A the beginning Of the hearing yesterday
air WINS had placed on the records q letter from
James L. Wells, Of The Bronx. explaining his
connection with Lcmuel Ely Quigg and the pay
ments made by Mr.. Quigg TO him. None OF
these payments. MI. Wells said was made to
aid in "accelerating'' public opinion or to be
disbursed for any civic organizations or COM
mittees of any sort Mr.. Wells declared tha.
for twenty-five years he had made a study OF
transit affairs and had become somewhat of an
expert IN them, besides being "A real estate
appraiser sometimes appraising and buying real
estate for the companies for which Mr. Ouipp
acted.
IN 4 report sent 20 the Public Service Commits
sion yesterday special committee Of the Manu-,
facturers' Association appointed TO consider tho
question of transit conditions here cor,naro5
with those in Europe recommends the legal
regulation OF passenger accommodation in all
municipal public Conveyances"