New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-28
BIDS CITY WATCH
HOBOES, NOT CARS
Commissioner Williams
Denies CrosStOWn Lines
Are OvercrOWded.
GOLDWATER'S ACTION
STIRS p. S. c. ANGER
Health Chief Says He Has
Enough Evidence to Convict
Accused Companies.

Mayor Mltcheis appeal, over the
heads OF the Public service Commits
sioncrs, 10 Dr. Goldwster. Commissioner
Of Health, to relieve the overcrowded
conditions on some Of the surface car
lines, nottlcd some Of the Commits
sIOners. Commissioner Williams issued
a smart retort yesterday criticsing the
action Of DR.. Goldwater for ordering
the Fifty-ninth Street and Eighty
sixth Street crosstown lines 20 stop
oyer"rowdlng as menace 10 public
health
M Williams said the selection Of
these two crosstown lines as those
most needing attention was unfortu-
nate. in view Of the facts. He de-
clared that practically no complaints
had been received against these lines
while complaints against these two
lines have been negligible, as our rec
ords show" said Mr.. Williams, "the
commission nevertheless has kept close
watch upon both. and has directed the
operating companies TO provide better
service when conditions demand it. In
view Of the record, we do not feel that
we need any help in regulating this
traffic from the Health Department. the
Mayor or any one else Even where
oycrcrowdinE occurs II cannot be cured
by disinfectants. and il seems 10 me
that the moral and sanitary condition
of such an institution AS the Hotel De
Gink affords a better field for the work
Of tho Health Commissioner than the
Fifty-rinth and Eighty-siYth Street
car lines"
Officials Of the New York and the
Third Avenue Railway companies, on
whom the order Of the Board of Health
was served Friday night, refused yes
tcrday TO indicate their course. They
have three days in which to ask for
hearing on the order, but DR.. Gold
water said yesterday he probably would
not proceed 20 enforce it before q week
from tomorrow.
81 mean business" said Commissioner
Goldwater The courts should enforce
the sanitary laws by physical force.
This would mean placing sanitary
policemen along the car lines and pre-
venting people from boarding every
car that has been filed to $50 per cent
of It's capacity. That means half as
many people as are seated can ride
standing. / don't think there would be
any riots. | should call the possible
incidents that would follow simply pub
lie protests, which would have a good
effect on the railroad companies
I'VE are in no special hurry to begin
the enforcement Of the regulation"
Commissioner Goldwater said late last
night, hut the cheapest thing that the
Public Service Commission can, do is 10
give US what we ask for. We have the
goods on the crosstOwn car line com
panies. We have many witnesses, and
we are getting more Of them all the
time. II Mr.. Whitridge, as he has
threatened, takes the matter into the
courts, and then carries il to higher
court, all this time will be of added
value TO us in obtaining still more wit
nesses. Bv that time we will be able
to prove enough cases Of violation to
bankrupt the company. For every
case Of overcrowding which We prove
by two witnesses the company loses
fine of $3.50
eve will take up the subways later.
We have pictures and air analyses
showing that the conditions in the
crosstOwn cars, not only at the rush
hours but even late at night, are a
positive menace to public health"
A representative OF one of the street
car lines, while not stating what course
the company might follow, pointed out
that il would be an easy matter to
comply with the order. He explained
that Immediately car had received its
legal load, it would be necessary only
to hang out sign on the car reading:
"No more passengers taken, by order
Of the Board Of Health" He added
that there probably would be some tall
kicking on the part Of citizens who
we're DESTROYS of travelling in a hurry
who would be unable to get aboard the
cars.