New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-11
Public Treated as Joke.

Public Treated as Joke.
Wouldn't you say who had absented
himself from both the stated meetings
and the committee OF the whole had
not acted in the interests OF the peo-
pie? ?"
II wouldn't have acted AZ all in that
case" was the fippsnt reply.
Pressed further TO he more partlc-
ular as TO the amount of time he spent
at the Office. the witness answered with
little laugh and in a low voice:
"lf ] had to do II all over again, |
wouldn't change my habits. | never
! intended TO do more work than neces-
/ sary, and | never shall"
lie did not believe the mandamus
action against the Interborough was
I necessary, because the company was
not violating the orders Of the COM
mission, "and | know what am talk
/ ing about" phatically). He did not
/ vote against instructing counsel to
begin the action, because. being hu-
man, he had Simply acceded TO pop
ular hystcris."
| Not one single instance could the
witness remember where he thought
the law should have been resorted to
. TO inforce orders against public service
corporations.
! you could not prove the intent to
| disobcy." was tie way he put 1t. My
experience il that none OF the corpora
tons want TO spend money
Human greed"
you might say So
Asked if it was not true that the
Whitridge case had been compelling
on all the commissioners in not bring
ing other penalty suits, Cram snapped
back:
81 want YOU to understand ! do MT
express the views Of the commission.
have usually been a minority member"
at was not because it was physl-
cal impossibility that you did not do
more work of supervision -
~ left when | was through, just as
I will leave here when you are through
with me-"
You are not as fattering to US as
Commits sioner Williams" said Hay
ward, referring to the fact that Will
Jams hcd attended every session OF the
committee.
Aims Jest at Williams.
Cram looked at Williams with
twinkle in his eye and said:
"Hc comes from Brooklyn, where
they do not have as many amusements
as they do here"
A roar of laughter went around the
room.
When it came to explaining his use
of the Public Service Commission car,
the commissioner said he had never
used it until he broke his leg. 1t was
a question as to whether be should
iat oil
have stayed away six or seven months.
But they wanted him to come in, and
the car was sent out to him. He al
WAYS took his own 10 home, he de-
clared. As for the Piping Rock rec
ords, he said it probably meant that the
car had been sent for him when there
was no meeting and he had the chauf-
feur drop him at his club there on his
way back 10 the city.
To explain the Brook Club records,
the commissioner said he always had
luncheon there. He went TO the Met
ropolitan Club to meet his own car. 81
am guilty of belonging 10 that club"
he whispered, soto voce.
As for the supper charges for the
chauffeur. Commiss Toner Cram said ne
had furnished the supper at his house.
Hayward then explained that 1t was
customary for the chaufeurs when
kept late TO charge 70 cents supper
money to pay for the overtime, and the
practice was approved by city officials:
~ am glad you explained that" said
Cram. at would have = n rotten for
me to have the city pay for supper
for my chauffeur"
Mr.. Hayward undertook TO show that
Commissioner Cram had failed TO show
diligence in forcing the Queens County
& Suburban Railroad TO give good SER
vice. although he was holding hear
ines on il for period Of two years.
The Commissioner said he had tried
u enforce the eight-hour law on sub
way contracts. and been responsible for
safety rules that had saved the lives OF
many employees Of the great electrical
companies.
Cram will continue his testimony to-
day and will be followed by Williams.
Hayward finished the roasting OF
Commissioner Wood in the early part
Of the session yesterday. Wood &C
knowledged the city had paid for the
private telephone on his desk up to
November. He continued to explain
his ignorance Of the law on the plea
he was not a lawyer. and his lack OF
knowledge Of other activities OF the
commission by saying he had devoted
most of his attention 10 Bronx com
plants. The Commissioner smiled
during much of the examination, and
the audience smiled with him.