New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-01-12
BEYORQUIT, SAYSP,S.C.
NET. RECEIVERS REBUKED
Commission Makes Tart Reply to
Criticism of It's Orders.

Chairman Wilcox Of the Public Service Commits
sion replied yesterday TO the criticisms OF the
commission recently made By Adrian H Joilne ana
Douglas Robinson, receivers Of the Metropolitan
Street Railway Company. IL a singing let'eF MI
Wilcox on behalf of the commission. CANS on 'he
receivers 10 obey the law or throw Up their 1oo
and surrender the cornpany's franchise
The commissions whole letter bristies with cans-
tic retorts and 1t is plain that II did not TeIlsh
having the receivers refer TO the policy Of the COM
mission as one of oppression, maintained and per
sisted in" we do not intend TO place any addi-
tscnaI orders for cars wrote the receivers mis-
statement appears TO be fat refusal to obey the
laws OF the State OF New York, replies the COM
mission.
The receivers limited in their recent letter that
unless the commission was more enient in its or
oers they would abandon the operation Of the Sth
street crosstoEn line and greatly reduce or pos
sihIy discontinue altogether the service 10 Brook
lyn the Williamsburg Bridge In reply 70 this
the commission says:
The commission notes with astonishment the
yelled threat I'm your letter that If this commission
insists upon compliance with the statute ana win
the orders OF TINS commission you VIII commune
your policy Of breaking up the street railroad sys-
his statement. nor any similar one. will induce
this commission to disregard the law or knowingly
allow any else wilfully TO do
in carrying out the policy OF disruption you may
b within your legal rights. provided the United
States court is willing 10 assume the responsible
= for your acts. but you cannot shirt the respon-
insist, reply 10 the orders Of the commission
he st1ij fnrfre- tgconVeuierced and injured tins
commission viii exercise every power that it has
70 prevent this result
SURRENDER ITS FRANCHISE.
The law. can be obeyed without the harmful!
results which you threaten 10 bring about, and il
.ou adopt the policy you suggest when there are
rnaTy %ben eonps3 9 cannot obey tRe aE
the suggestion is made that it withdraw, surrender
fairs
81 rhiS commission persists IN its policy OF Op-
pression"-i e. requiring adeGuate servfce-you
will take cars from other lines and otherwise de
the service you rendering to sections Of
Ire cilx 5oI wnch no orders OF TINS gonSS. seen
.nfreIv understood that this IS not only inadvisa-
spections will Re made from time TO time to de-
termine whether you are carving out This plan
order the service needed upon al lines IL com
vii be begun IN the courts to enforce penalties.
Regarding the statement Of the receivers that
they have not sufficient to give the service
demanded by. the commission and have means
Of raising additional capital TO spend for ard
rolling stock. the commission says:
You state in your letter that you have not cars
known of the needs Of the sth street line FOR eight
Eanizatien IS scien You ss have Se known Of il
for many months more You certainly knew Of IT
separate and Independent company Yet the
orders 20 become effective upon January Is would
been operated
MUST HAVE ENOUGH CARS
You must be aware that the laws Of this state
require that every street railroad corporation shall
nave sufncent cars and motive power 10 meet all
The requirements which may reasonably be an
rclpated. unless relieved therefrom by order of
Ibis commission This is binding upon you, al
though you are federal receivers. No application
Neved from the obligation imposed by statute. It
IS therefore incumbent upon you provide sufTi-
Gent equipment and property render adequate ser
vice This you have not done admittedly, and you
say in your letter I'VE do not intend 10 place
any additional orders for cars This statement
State Of New York
In reply TO the statement By the receivers that
they understood that the commission would hold
I'D It's orders pending the completion Of the ap-
prsisal Of the company's property now under way
by the commission, the letter says:
You refer TO the appraisal being made by this
commission OF the property under your control as
not be issued. The law recognizes no such 1io s
cuse. and this commission has never entered into
would suspend the law or stop the Issuance ~
orders for improved service. You object 10 in-
reference IN your affairs by this commission and
ask 10 5e allowed 20 do you please ConnIf-
snoe with the requirements Of the statutes v-oi1Id
have made II unnecessary for this corrnissinn m
issue the many orders IL has found necessary TO
ISSUE; continued noncompliance Will force rs 10
continue. -
EIGHTH STREET LINE
Referring specifically to the Door serv,ce fur
nished by the receivers the 9Th street cross
town line. the commission SAYS that 'tbe cars an.
often crowded 10 the point Of indecency not TO
mention discomfort
The commission reminds the receivers that neither
They nor their representatives appeared at any ~
The twelve hearings held by the commission 10 IN