The sun., 1915-03-09

compliance with tho orders of the COM
mission.
Although there VAS no statute pro-
hihiting a Commissioner practising law.
yet since hc testified that his failure 10
Icquaiui himself with the orders of the
commission. the compliance herewith
and the method of handling informal
complaint was due to the fact that he
was almost constantly employed in sub
way work. Il recital of the cases tried by
him in his private practice and the time
occupied therein is Of importance.
lie used an auto OF the Public Ser
vice Commission for his own private
purposes, to convey him to and from
his city home. baseball gaines. country
clubs and hiS country home at East
hampton. Th' car which he used for
this purpose cost for maintenance last
year s3,S3i. including the chauifcur's
wages"
Regarding Commissioner Robert G.
Wood the report says:
"t'p 10 about six months prior to his
appointment he had been Interested In
promoting and financing utility cor
puritlons.
"iiis testimony showed that he was
ignorant Of aud had not faniliaiized
himself Tia certain provisions of the
public service commission law. lie did
not know the qualifications Of n Public
Service Commissioner. lie did NOT know
what is included iu the definition OF
common carriers. He did not know
that there was u service order outstand-
ing against the lnt,rborough company"
The report refers to Commissioner
Wood attempting to contract for a
signal ~ stem in The Centre street loop.
pointing out that h' perm tied II 10
drag along until finally COMMISSIONS
Williams. after CONSULTATION with HE
associates and without consulting Com
missioner Wood. had the contract let
Regarding Commissioner j. Sergeant
cram the report says:
Ills work did not require as much OF
his time as did commissioner McCalls.'
MIR. Grams references to the meet
lugs Of the commission iu committee Of
III. whole star chamber proceed
iugs T. referred TO- as t. Mr.. Grams
comment that he did not attend these
meetings because they We're a bur
lesque Oh justice The report adds:
Try reason OF his failure to attend
these meetirgs he was no, Informed Of
the matters which we're to com. up for
decision at he stated meetings of the
commission Mr. cram admitted hr
: may nave been wrong IN not attending
these meetings. lie thought there should
be fewer meetings of the commission.
"He testified that he thought that tho
Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company had
more cars than they could use and
I that the conditions disclosed by John
sons report were largely unavoidable
during rush hours
commencing in February last year
h. used an automobile belonging to the
commission tu take him to and from
his summer home and the commissions
offices. and h' also used this ear tn max"
trips To country clubs. although he
had car OF his own The trips between
tine commissions Offices and lis summer
home exceeded 10000 miles"
The report reviews Commissioner
Grams disposition of complaints on ser
vice OF the New YORK ana Queens
County RAILWAY Company and points
ou' that the company was controlled by
the Interhorough
The testimony shows that the New
York and Que, ~ company purchased
from tine luterlorough nfty steel cars
at a cost Of $1,000 apiece. and that
stc-l cars were purchased by the New
York and Queens County Railway Com
pauy Ia l9ll for $4,000 apiece" 1t adds
Regarding Comm ssiouer George V. :
Williams the report says
"Th. reports OF the commissions IN
spec. .ors SHOW thar since tn" date OF Mr..
Wiliam~s appointment the service FUR
nshed hv the surface and elevated lines
not up - the standard which could
nave been maintained under the CIR
cumstaucrs The reports C' the in
specto-S further SHOW thar since tho
date of Commissions" Williams's ap-
pu,ntm.u'. as we'll as prior Thereto, tho
commits. .on's orders for better service on
the elevated lines IN Brooklyn were fire.
qusntly violated.
~. did no, know that tho orders Of
81. h,tr ,H
the Rrouklyn Rapid Transit Company
or any OF their subsidiary compsnI's
until last ncC.mb''. ~" dld lot know
that the order against the lnt"rborougn
covering service in non-lush hours va
u",ug violated until last December. tie
lid not know Of tn" correspondent
between Secretary Whitney sud Gen
,ral Manager Hediry. covering viola
] lions OF this order
reference Is made to the failure of
Commissioner Williams To compel the
maintenance OF a waiting room AT WASH
lngton and Fulton streets. Jamaica.
The report also reviews the Short
comiugs OF Mr.. Maltbi" as a commits
sione,, which are found to be Of no
moment
Tho report concludes
| as a result Of this irvestigation YOUR
committee finds that the complaints or
| citizens regarding service on transit
| lines in the city ~ New York have rot
received FROM the Public Service ccrr-
! mission the attention that the circum-
| stances require that through their fan
NJ. to enforce their orders. inadequate
! transit conditions have existed for LONG
Periods Of time without improvement.
via. service On IA. lnt"rborouGh RAPID
TRANSIT AID the BROOKLYN lltuid Tran
, sit ilues during nou-rush ours that
/ they have not changed o. improved m"
system ot handling complaints, whtrr
/ -ystcm. in our judgment, H. inadequate
| and faulty that they nave not taken
I sufficient interest in said complaints
| and IN some instances nave given little
| II any support or encouragement TO
! tho subordinatcs of the conlmis-
| sion. that as result ot sald
| lack of interest and support the efforts
of said subordnates nave been IN
many Instances futile and inefec-
! tive; that In one important Instance, ~