New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-10-01
MAY CUT MORE LEASES
III. S. r.. RECEIVERS REPORT.
Further DiSintegration of the System
Threatened.

Should the Public Service Commission order the
restoration of transfers between the Metropolitan
system and the seth street line, as 1t Is expected
It will do tomorrow it probably will be cutting
out more work for itself This task is forecast in
the memorandum which has just been submitted
to the United States Circuit Court by Adrian H.
Joline and Douglas Robinson, giving an account
of their receivershp since they took charge OF the
Metropolitan system. September 3D. 1907, and up
to July 81 1908.
In this memorandum further dsintegratiOn OF
the Metropolitan system is threatened The re-
ceivers intimate that such course is inevitable
in view of the Interpretation placed the transfer
statute by the state courts. In it they say:
Speaking plainly, the transfer law, instead OF
accomplishing the result whch us autno,s as
boomerang, and in consequence 1t has been neceS-
sary for us to make default certain leases call
ing for rentals which we unable to meet
through the impairment of revenues, que TO tae
privilege
transfer privilege is impossible and we were forcsd
10 elect not TO accept and operate under these
leases which of course. involved the practlcal apo
lition transfers between the lines sun rIii
ing in the system and those which were mus Sc
cred from it. How much further this process. oI
dsintegration will continue we are at TINS "rluhs
unable to say.
After enuneratng the lines which have been cut
adrfft from the old system, the receivers say the
surrender Of other leases is under consideration
AS for the assistance received from the Public
Service Commission the receivers have evidently
poor opinion. The commission, according TO the
memorandum seems to have been late on the joD
so far as directing the receivers to improve the
rolling stock and service. Most Of the things the
commission ordered done the receivers own coh-
mon sense had already ifnpeled them 10 40 lhey
saw but many OF its orders. they add. were I'M
reasonable and unwarranted by the facts IN re-
gard to the attempt to fix schedule OF SeINl0e 0H
the various lines the receivers say:
We were willing to make the experiment tof the
purpose Of demonstrating the faiacy OF their 'ne-
ory although such course lnVolNed an eApeiiUi'
ure Of some thousands of dollars, When however
the commission, attempted 70 dictate the manner
In which number of the lines should be operated
involving expenditures running up into the 1hliliohs
and far beyond our resources there was no after
native but TO state facts plainly
Had the suggestions of the commission been
followed, the receivers say, 1t would have meant
the disruption OF the entire system, accompanied
by the abolishing of the transfer privileges anu
general chaos surface transportation condltons'
The receivers did not think it was worth the price
to the public and the owners OF the property
to demonstrate again to the commission the So
phistry of their reasoning" and, although the re-
cevers taken all precautions to avoid CONNECT
between state and federal authorities when II came
to a question of confscaton they say 'ney iei'
they had to protect the property.
Orders for rs pay ds you enter cars nave
already been placed by the receivers. These cars
will be different from those now operated on the
Fourth and Madison avenue line, ana are INC
different cities supplemented by information gained
from the operation of present type of cars IN
New York They will be lighter in weight than the
Fourth avenue car and viii have So per cent greater
seating capacity. A modified truck will make IL
possible to lower the step. More rapid operation
will be possible, and they VIII consume less cur
rent will involve less initial outlay and Will cost
less TO maintain than the present payas-you-ehteF
cars The receivers say the adoption OF the ne"
tyne will mean a saving of about S220O@
Another saving effected by the placing OF the
continent Of the system in good condition has been
the decrease in the number Of accidents and the
CONSEQUENT decrease in the claims for personal IN
iuries Another economy made by an agree
ment with the city which allows the receivers 10
let out the contracts for repaving in cases where
sections OF track are being repaired TO Whatever
asphalt company the receivers may select.
In summarizing the results of the hrSt nine
months of the receivership Messrs. Joine and ROD
inson say:
We are not responsible for the financial cohdl-
ton IN which found the properties; oGF az
coIIntabilitv dates from the time when we LOOK
possession and covers the period IN "Et t W
have the direction of affairs. No one VINO IS even
sunerfcaIIv familiar with the situation VIII con
tend that the ultimate interests OF the t.aFelllS
TIIhfc viii be subServed by reckless nhahCltl
IoIirv in the operation of railway properties WIN
The object of producing what are SeeIIlrs Hldte-
rial benefts to the streetcar patrons for the tune
being but which would IN the end lnVoiVe Fe9uLls
entaiinc- Inconvenience and expense 10 the conf
n1uDftv as a whole entirely dlsproportontle 70
and far beyond the temporary Improvement whicn
MIGHT thereby be effected through shortsighted
mismanagement.