New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-11-19
PLAYING TO THE MET"
VHTTRIDGE ENTERS PLEA.
Receiuer Also Tells of Nezc Sys-
tenn He Is H7orking Out.

In a formal statement at the resumption yes
terdsy 10y the Public Service Commission OF us
hearing the proposed order for an exchange Oh
transfers between the Third Avenue road ana 1he
6sth street crosstovn lines, Frederick W Whit
ridge. receiver Of the Third Avenue, SAID 'he or
der was playing directly into the hands OF the
Metropolitan It had already destroyed me cnahoe
getting another crosstown line TOT the AIiiiu
Avenue he said; II would If persisted IN result
the absolute stoppage Of any improvements Oh
the surface lines Of the city.
Many serious criticisms Of the transfer system
We're voiced by the receiver. He said that Ille
proper way for the commission 10 handle the rare
zone" proposition which had undertaken 10 worh
out in that transfer order was by a system Oh
tickets, represent given ride for given price
and longer one for a bigger price But the New
York City public, accustomed TO 9-eehI idIe'
never would adopt even that. he predicted
Mr.. Whitridge took the stand when the nearing
was opened yesterday. He explained that at the
close OF the last hearing he had been called 10 me
telephone. and SO had been unable clearly TO set
forth his views on the transfer situation. ne con-
tinued
My objection to the order in the Mstropolitan
case compelling transfers between the SYN stree.
road and al the MetropoJah INES I1sti9 streat
polnls north OF 5fth Street etlle IL me
that il undertakes 10 apply 10 cToWoeo cry =.
system in IN rural communities, az, 4oi
stance between Providence and Woonsocket ana
think the least imagination should enable any one
city with single straight scent fare
The Third Avenue order, which declares =
fine across 5sth street down the Third Avenue line,
is obiectiona Die First because II Is unnecessaIS
and ineouifable on top of the order in the Metro
politan case There is ne considerape nuInpeI oI
people be served by II who would not pc aScoI III
nodated BY the Metropolitan order; second, the
order IS aIpareIS SEP tqW[ If ne - ~11ipo,s
understand that the petitioners in this case open
Third-The order tends 10 abolish competition,
which necessary to secure the best service IN ts
city Ny question the commission Is q peTIeclI9,
1ar one aa t fts Ihnk am fnstifedIunti they
either dismissed the petition II IlS case u
in some other way disavowed their intention o.
abollshlng competition ana hS1rhe7shg tt ~
Avenue and the Metropolitan together through me
medium Of 18th street-ln arranging 70 spenu arg
sums Of money for the equipment Win motors u
horsecar lines. which. after they are deVeIopd as
be turned over equally Tor the use OF the Metropo
iJan passengers. -. 49,,
y fnipracticabe Here i petition. dslngerluouS
on lis face presented ny some association, for a
sa-,ica which in view Of the other orders Of the
commission. Is entirely unnecessary am pound
assume. II the commission grants that petition
that il VIII do much for any other petitioner
Il may say So the solution OF tie PIopIeLh i me-
system by which passengers pay for the distance
city are these. The whole population are habltu-
ated single scent fare, the cars are oult IoT
The amount Of -es1latire necessary 10 put ticket
svsre-n INTO oneT5tiHn This being true ! think II
is plain that the public viii best be served by Al
lowing the railroads TO experiment with transfers
and 10 compete among themselves for the custom
OF the public With this IN mind saail, as l sal0
the Third Avenue Railroad what believe TO he the
efficient. CCTnfOTIfDIe rtdLNeiE me
est streetcar service in the world. except possibly
in Chicago and the Twin Cities. which have not
lately
consider that the action of the commission in
making these orders has been 10 play absolutely
into the hands OF tho Metropolitan and has de-
stroyed- Tor the present the GhaHce OF sstIng IN
other crOsstowl line Tor the Third Avenue: II the
course indicated by those orders is persisted in
not ONLY viii such improvements as have referred
to he stopped. brrt the last money which will
20 into the surface roads of this city for many
long year viii - tina proceeds Of the receiver Ger
1ifCa1es are now eXpending.
The hearing was closed for the day after counsel
had submitted various documents in evidence. It
viii be resumed on Tuesday afternoon.
Meantime the counsel for the commission are de-
voting every effort 10 the preparation OF their case
on the quashng Of the certiorari wrts obtained by
the receivers Of the Metropolitan and the 5sth street
lines for review OF the evidence on which the
commission based its transfer order affecting those
companies the commissions motion TO quash the
vrits VIII come I'D tomorrow in the Appellate Dt-
vision