New-York tribune., 1907-11-13
POLICE BLAME COMPANY
POOR MEN THE CAUSE.
Traffic Squad Heads Tell OF Cause
of DeIaYS.

Not vehicular congestion but poor equipment
and other causes directly under the control OF
the company, are responsible for the delays
ard congestion experienced the streetcar
lines n this city. This was the testimony rem
dered Yesterday before the Public Service Com
mission by police officials at the head of the
traffic squad. Ii will be followed to-day by tie
testimony OF the men actually on duty at con-
gested points.
According 10 Deputy Commissioner Bugher
in charge Of the traffic squad men, fully GO per
cent OF the delays Of streetcars are due to the
company's own acknowledgement oeneglecL. IN
spectcr SchnIlttberGer who agreed with William
NJ. Ivins that MS experience in this town was
little longer than that Of Theodore Z. Shonts,
placed the proportion at 80 per cent Lieuten-
ant Michael ". Snyder his right hand man.
agreed that this proportion not too high
Lieutenant William McCuIlagh. in charge Of the
Sd Sub-Precinct. from 18th street 10 59th street,
placed the proportion at 30 TO 80 per cent.
None of these officials agreed with Oren Root
IN his representation Of the streetcar company
in the part of a martyr. Neither did they agree
entirely with Mr.. Shonts, who drew up a set of
proposed ordinances for traffic regulstio fog
the benefit of the streetcar service. They thought
Nr. Shonts's proposed ordinances would be good
things, but ali of them if put into effect would
not go far toward bettcring streetcar service
Of men employed by the company and the nat
IRE of its equipment
The streetcar companies are 10 blame de-
clared Inspector Schnittberger. They the
delinquents. Every day I see broken gears,
cars stalled on the breakers because Of the poor
judgment of motormcn, cars stalled switches
where they shouldn't be, smash-ups because of
green IHotormen. The loss of life in this city
from ignorant fpotormen the accidents. are ap-
psIliEg''
lie advocated the enactment of n law giving
10 somebody authority to examine motormen and
permitting only competent, licensed men TO be
employed. he advocated also. Is did Deputy
Commissioner Bugher. That the Police Depart
ment have full charge of every detail of street
traffic and the management of the streets.
The examination of the officials. which was
conducted in part by Mr.. WINS and in part by
Herbert D. Mason, his partner, went thoroughly
into most phases of street traffic and vehicular
congestion. even taking up in detail conditions ex-
isting in some Of the crowded downtown streets.
From Mr.. Bugher. Mr.. Mason drew out a gen.
oral statement OF conditions. which he intends
10 use as the groundwork for the future ex-
animation.
In introducing this phase Of the investigation
Mr. WINS touched on the complaints OF the
streetcar companies, and the necessity for q
thorough investigation OF street conditions In
this connection" said he, L may say that the
charter revision commission VIII recommend the
enactment Of a statute which will place in some
proper hands The power 10 make provisions for
The regulation of street traffic. not only by day
but by night, and inasmuch as the matter is
most pressing, and the difficulties of street traf
lie VIII grow greater during the winter, while
We have our streets more or less covered with
snow, it has seemed to US that the Legislature
Yas in this particular case the proper party to
appeal TO to lodge ample powers in some one of
the city departments-it remains TO be seen in
which department II is most desirable that the
power should be lodged"
Deputy Commissioner Bugher said he had had
Charge of the entire traffic squad since the frs,
Of the year, and besides his knowledge Of the
administrative end Of the business and the diff
outies through the reports OF the patrolmen he
possessed considerable knowledge at first han1
of actual conditions. The men on Broadway and
st other congested points ranked among the best
on the force, he said. Recently, he said he had
had cars and vehicles Of every description
counted as they passed congested points and
these counts tabuated to show actual existing
conditions Also the traffic signals had been
umeG-that is, the time elapsing between the
whistles OF the patrolmen TO signal for traffic
TO proceed On an average they showed that