New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-06
B. R. T. ESCAPES;
P. s. {. BLAMED
Failure of Grand Jury to
IndiCt Mildly Stirs
Judge Hylan.
SAYS HE WILL GET
PROPER EVIDENCE
Presentment Attacks Road, but
Finds No Effort to En-
force Orders.

The Kings County Grand Jury re-
ported last night that it. had failed 20
find evidence Qualifying the indictment
Of the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Com
pany. The investigation, which began
last December and no. sept the mem
hers Of the jury in almost continuous
sessions since January !, ended in a
prescntment which blames the Public
Service Commission as causing many
Of the conditions that gave rise 70 the
complaint.
Judge Hylsn in receiving the report
said: 81 am glad to know that the
people Of Brooklyn are having such
good service as Indicated in the report.
"Thc Mayor and the Commissioner Of
the Board Of Health have taken up this
matter. and are now investigating tran
sit conditions in this city in so far as
the oyercrowding Of cars is concerned.
II has affected the railroad companies
10 the extent that we are now getting
better service than we were a. the time
previous 10 this Investigation. The
railroad company. to justify it's stand.
has issued 100000 circulars attacking
me and others for our interest IN try
ing 20 better transit conditions. ]
only hope that some good VIII result
from what has happened.
81 am not criticlslng this present
ncnt or the grand jury, but | will
say that ! will take this matter up
again II the service is not better. j.
docs seem 20 me that the violations
Of orders issued by the Public Ser
wee Commission call for some action.
II the conditions complained Of are
not improved ! will personally see
that proncr evidence rs collected and
that it 5 presented 10 some future
grand jury
Among some Of the findings are;
Cars on elevated service for the
most part are old. Anticipated, and
should he replaced with modern type
commodious cars.
Retiring rooms in many OF the sta
tons on the elevated roads and IN the
waiting rooms of the surface cars are
i'm bad condition. unfit for use and the
conveniences primitive and generally
Objectionable.
Waiting rooms are in deplorable
condition. Windows are broken. rooms
are seldom cleaned, they are cold IN
winter and unfit for people 10 use.
There should be shelters IN number
OF places where now passengers nave
no protection while waiting for trains.
The condition Of the trolley cars
generally. is very good. On the whole,
the best that are in operation IN the
Greater City Of New York.
The practice OF permitting people
10 stand between the seats OF the open
cars is a perncious one and should not
be permitted. ,..;..,
"buring non-rush hours conditions
generally are much better. Iney are
not. however, all that they should ne
Seats should be provided Tor all pas
sengers under ordinary conditions no
real relief. however, from the present
conditions can be hoped for until there
are more avenues OF approach 70 me
Borough OF Manhattan open to rail-
road traffic.
"A thorough service Of the Brooklyn
Papid Transit lines over the Mammal
tan Bridge would be great accom"O
dation to many passengers, ana "oulo
make unnecessary any transfer ths'
passengers going that way are no"
obliged 10 make.
"The Public Service Commission does
not proceed with reasonable dispatch
Proceedings before 1t are long drawn
out, and decisions are not made prompt
". More action on the part OF the
commission is certainly required.
"Of course, complaints should re-
ceive careful consideration, but, at the
same time. they should be disposed OF
with reasonable dispatch. More action
by the commission is required. Pro,
ceedings 20 compel an enforcement OF
orders made by this commission have
not been taken promptly. This per
ni,s the railroad companies to be-
lieve that il is lmmaterial whether OF
not ,hey comply with the orders
Unreasonable delay IN letting con-
tracts for new subway work by the
commission and the forcing Of the COM
pletion of work already left was also
pointed out.