New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-28

lines of the New York City Railways
system we should so operate the cars
that at no time should they carry pas
sengers in number greater than one
and one half times the seating ca
pacity. This looks as though we were
getting too many cooks for efficient
authority"
do you think we can take note of
the political ambition Of everybody
who wants 20 go after you ~ remarked
Senator Thompson.
81 know nothing about politics and
can't answer that question. 1t is
physical impossibility, however, to do
what is desired OF US Cannot your
committee do something in Albany 10
end this division Of authority? II you
desire we will have our counsel give
you something more formal in the way
OF suggestions
President Shonts said the system
would probably issue orders 70 its con
ductors 70 obey the mandates Of the
Health Department, but he could not
say how effective they would be. 1t is
probable that policemen would have 10
get busy 10 regulate the trouble, as
suggested yesterday.
The reference was 70 his statement
then that if they tried TO keep people
from getting on trains they would
have to use all Of the ten thousand
policemen IN New York, who would be-
torn in shreds
There were nine Investigations 60
ing on in regard to one subject, the
witness said, and the company was
tired Of the duplication of lnvcsuga-
tIon and authority.
eve heard from Mr.. Johnson this
morning" said Senator Thompson,
about people standing on others feet
in the crush on the Brooklyn lines
Now. don't you think that would give
The Department of Weights and Meas
ures a chance to step in and make an
investigation ~
President Shonts broke into laughter
and shook until he almost fell from his
chair.
In reply TO questions in regard to
the demand for additional subway sta
tions in the Washington Heights sec
ton. Mr.. ShOnts said they would be
built if il could be shown they were
necessary. He was not familiar with
the conditions there.
Shonts City's Partner.
"You say you are in partnership with
the city" said Senator Thompson. You
say regulation should not extend to
management. In view of your partner
ship don't YOU think tho city should
have something to say about operation
Your company has a preferential to
cover your fixed charges, including sal
aries. Shouldn't the city have some
thing TO say about salaries? ~
President Shonts explained that was
exactly the condition under the dual
contracts, that all those things had
been most carefully provided for.
81 understand ] was attacked this
morning by Cornelius NJ. Sheehan. who
said / had been counsel for the Brook
lyn Rapid Transit Company" said Com
missioner Williams. making his second
return 10 the stand since his original
testimony 81 did try some negligence
cases when I was connected with the
firm of Collin & Sheehan for the B. K.
T. and other companies. tried my
last case for the b. K. 7. in June, 1908.
In the first six months ! tried forty
cases against the b. r. 7. I'd like to
say ] got the largest verdict ever re-
corded against the company. The tes-
timony Of Colonel Williams yesterday
ought to show he has no fondness for
me"
1T was cheaper for the company to
have you as a Public Service Commits
sioner than as a lawyer, apparently"
interjected Senator Thompson.
Nobody had anything to DO with my
except Governor Dix"
continued the Commissioner. "lf he
had been renominated you would never
have been here"
John Holley Clark, counsel for the
Flushing Association. which has made
L. McI al
Commissioners Cram and Williams,
testified in regard to his attempts TO
get letter service on the Queens lines
The seven-mile ride from the Queens
boro Bridge, on the line of the New
York & Queens County, the witness de-
scribed as the longest standing ride
this side Of China"
"The commission always talks about
adequate service and a seat Tor every
passenger, but they do not mean 1t, and
never have" Mr.. Clark said.
A tabulation was presented to show
that in the last three years the COM
mission had granted 3l5 out of 1856 ap-
plications for extensions Of time on
various hearings, the total amount Of
such extensions aggregatng twenty
six years and eleven months.
OOul0 -NOt StOp ElOuucHCt'
Cornelius VI. Sheehan, taxpayer, who
believes the dual contracts are a swim
die, had fifteen minutes 10 tell why.
Then Josiah z. White, famous figure
of Brooklyn Heights, whose grlzzled
beard and crutches have been familiar
figure Of the investigation, got chance
10 tell why he thought the commission
was farce.
Senator Thompson kept telling him
he didn't want theories, but Mr.. White
was so deaf he could not hear, and
finally the chairman said, in despair:
Go ahead. ! would rather listen
than argue with you"
In his statement Joseph johnson said
he was willing to have his conduct OF
tho transit bureau Of the commission
criticised by the public, but not by
the head of the Brooklyn Rapid Transit
Company. He said that since June,
1914. while the Is. r. 7. had carried
less than one-third the traffic Of the
citv. more than half the complaints
had been made against that company.
Referring 10 the reputed appropria-
ton by the company Of 100000 for
Mr.. Johnson said:
"If the rest Of the people OF BROOK
lyn are as thoughtful as he says they
are. they will inquire whether II IS
fair for this railroad president TO take
two million Of their nlckels Tor the
purpose Of convincing them while
hanging on strap that they are
really seated in the greatest comfort.
No Kind Words for p. 5. {.
After the last witness had finished
Senator Thompson asked if there was