The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-11-16
FIFTH AVE. JITNEy
LINE CALLED myth
Motor Buses VIII Aid Cir,
Colby Tells Board of E.s,i.
mate at Hearing.
O II SUBWAY SERVICE

cambridge Colby. appearing ,es,.,s,,
before the Board OF Estimate. ass,ros
the declaration Of counsel for IN. Into.
borough Rapid Transit Comparv 49,,
the New York Motor Bus Compapy ,rr
poses to operate a system of "jl,re,y
In competition with the established f.o
OF passenger transportation. MIR. r,,,,
said that the motor bus company had N,
analogy 70 the irresponsible five con,
fare lines that had become n uu.s,r,.
In many cities. but was seeking a fan
chiee that would enable Il TO r.ucy,
trad,c congestion in the city without ~
jury to the public or the existing system.
The motor bus company appealed sue.
cessfully TO the franchise committee ~
the Board OF Estimate for tho privilege
OF operating bus lines through various
streets. The Fifth Avenue Coach Com.
pany. q subsidiary Of the Int. borousf
was unsuccessful as a bidder. and now
the marlborough and other systems ARC
seeking to prevent n new bus i,nc,
from being established. The chief arru
ment of william Il. Guthrie. sppcar,rr
for the marlborough. has been that 'he
city Ia q partner In the lnterboroueh,
enterprises and should therefore protoc,
tho company from competition viii ia,
bus lines. otherwise some Of the eNlstirr
lines would be forced into bankruptcy.
Everybody agrees" said Mr.. colhy n
his argument. "and every speaker has
admitted In this hearing that the bus
Ia the best vehicle for public travel. sl.
perior to all other means Of TRANSPORT
ton that tho people want It and WI,
patronize II at double the fare charged
by existing lines. The attorneys ~ IN.
~1nterborough and the Brooklyn Rapid
Transit assert that the people will walk
four or five blocks to find a motor bus
rather than ride In the subway.
Everybody admits that the cona,.
tons on the existing surface and subway
lines are nsufferable. that the croud.nr
ia a menace TO health. and that the uuos.
ton of comfort to the passenger has long
ceased to be a matter even for discussion.
Profitable Discomfort Of Citi,cns.
But regardless Of their merits, NJ
Guthrie says the people must no: have
these buses that the city must not heed
the universal demand FOR them that tho
city Is a partner IN the subway and
Jointly Interested with lnterhurougs
In the profitable discomfort Of the cit.
Gems OF New York. Mr.. Guthrie stys
that the 1nterborough has a vested in.
terest in this public discomfort rs
source Of revenue that the city must M,
disturb. through a false sense OF publ,
duty. He says the city must not stud,
the we'll being OF the people tina, rs 3
partner in tho Interborough II mus, sut.
ordinate every duty OF administration 60
making money for itself and It's partne'
out OF the discomfort and Inconvenience.
of its citizens.
Both the 1nterborough and tho Thir'
Avenue lines war; tho city that = =
c~ountenances this little bus operation
which at Its capacity Will carry on,
one-fourth OF the normal increase IN { .
total passenger traffic Of the city for 81 "
year alone. tho city will again 'uro7
the surface lines into bankrupt Us
IL the city OF New York were respousa .
for the recent bankruptcy OF the surf:
lines. In other words. we are told ~
the city, and not the owners OF the
fered and ~scandalous fortunes mt!e ,'
OF the criminal manipulation OF 'Lo
faces lines. is responsible f"r thu. r.
ownership.
- nv thii' vi lhl I''E' ~ F' ~
Stygian pool OF Metropolitan currIuaa.
Its pollution Is still too rcch.ug ag'
virulent TO be disturbed. Eut Wh,G :
think Of he millions falsely charged %
work that never vas done. Cnr,'r3'
ton accounts padded with ltrc' '-'
that have not even the r"ulo,'-' .
nection with construction OF rlu. pr.,'.
when / recall the burning OF i's books
by the Metropolitan 10 hid, -, H.,N
plainable record OF corporal, m.s'u. sag.
ment, bonuses TO officers aud l''.r.,"e
funded into debts upon which Interest
IL paid by the city OF New Nort "w
missions amounting 10 millions van uH'
to favored contractors for sV"u '.'#
the third tracking OF III" elevated. ''
constant wastage, eNtravdgargo af
worse, Of the lnterborough and -.r'a
lines. building up an itcrrs h,lr."r
burden which will be pre- -ra. =
against the city In the dis'r.hu' 80 -
present n future income" / 'A''. ''e
time may not he far distant Whom 'N.
city may have to dissolve the ''0 Y
Is high time for a copar'urrsH 2 a.
counting