New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-30
Public Service Commissioner
Says 1t Cares Nothing for
Convenience of People
or Employees.
ATTACKS NEW CONTRACTS
Says No Protection for Workers
Is Afforded-City Used
Merely to Supply Big
Funds for the
Manipulators.


Commissioner, strongly denounced the
traction trust at the union labor
mass meeting of the local divisions OF
the Brotherhood oil Locomotive Engi-
neers, held yesterday in the New AM
sterdam Opera House, and said the
men who controlled the traction facili-
ties of this city had been guilty Of
issuing "watered" securities. He also
said there was no politics in tho
trust; that il is neither for Demo-
crat Republican nor labor, but for its
own interests.
Francis 2. Bent Superintendent OF
the Tenement House Department and
former alderman, was the cause OF
Mr.. Grams attack on the trust" He
had savagely attacked the Public Ser
vice Commission for its lack Of energy
and accomplishment, and it was in de-
Tending the body Of which he is a men,
ber that Mr.. Cram defined the diff
culties under which the commission
worked, holding the trust" respon-
sible.
Mr.. Cram said:
The Traction Trust has never made any
| sincere effort to meet these difficulties.
1t has taken no interest in the question
OF shorter hours for its employees, better
seating capacity for its passengers or
better facilities for the public; its chief
interest has been in issuing securities.
Under the new arrangement with tho
trust II Is 10 take everything. No pro-
vision IS made about the prevailing rate
n fh..
trains or for providing a sinking fund.
In my opinion, the proposed contracts are
subverson of the law Of New York.
Ihere Is no politics in II; the trust -
bor-it is for its own interests. I think
II should be stopped We are told that
We. are able TO furnish the money tn
ouild the lines. but are not capable OF
operating them.
Intoxicated with Success"
The commissioner said the trust OBJ
iected to municipal supervision because
Ii would have to observe shorter hours
and pay the prevailing wage TO en-
ployes. He referred to the conditions
under which the subways were con-
structed and said the syndicate which
built them had been absorbed by the
trust, after makins more than 100 per
cent on its original investment.
MIR. Cram said he doubted If protestsj
made by labor unions and civic organi-
cations at the public hearing to be held
next month would be Of much use. He
said they ought TO be made. however.
in order TO bring public attention to i
some of the undesirable features of the
proposed arrangement. He did not be-
lieve the public would feel like SUBJ /
mitting to the terms for the next fifty
years.
The commissioner accused the trac-
ton trust of being intoxicated with
success" and said IL intends to take
everything and recognize no eight hour
working day or prevailing wage rate,
He advocated the municipal operation
of the subways, saying II was being
done successfully in England and other
countries.
1T was stated that William r. viii.
cox, chairman Of the Public Service
Commission, had been invited to speak,
but had been unable to come. Warren
s. Stone, grand chief of the brother
hood, was-on the speakers platform
early IN the meeting but went away
without speaking. 1t was explained
that he is not in good health.
Favor Labor Man for Board.
Bent. in his speech attacking the
commission, said the Interborough did
things that would be condemned even
in Russia. He then directed his ver-
bal battery against the commission.
II am sorry to say" said Mr.. Bent,
that the Public Service Commission
is not doing what the people expected
1t TO do. 1t has spent millions of dol
lars of the peoples money. with MOTH
ing to show for it that l can see No
other department has spent one-tenth
the money to so little purpose. be-
lieve in commission. but it ought to
be more economical and more in SYM
pathy with the workers than the pres
ent one. / hope the new men who are
coming in will do better. and l hope
labor will be represented on the COM
mission"
Mr. Bent then advocated the appoint-
ment of John f. Hylan, city magistrate,
az the successor to Chairman Wilcox,
saving the magistrate still carried his
engineers card.
At a later meeting, held in executive
session. resolutions were passed in
dorsing Magistrate Hylan for appoint
ment. Copies Of these resolutions will
be sent 10 Governor elect Sulzer.
Luther S. Bedford. labor agitator.
was indorsed for chairman Of the
commission by Miss C. P. Fincher. who
said the presence of a labor man on
that body would obviate many difficult
ties.
Mr.. Bedford, after modestly stating
that for fourteen long, years he had
studied the traction problem. read
resolution to the effect that Governor
Sulzer be petitioned to appoint as Pub
lie Service Commissioner a man
pledged to extend the triborough sys-
tenn to the five boroughs, so that you
may ride from Pelham Bay, Flushing
or Jamaica TO Staten Island for a sin
gle fare. fares reduced in working
hours and school children carried free"
This resolution was adopted.