The sun., 1916-12-28
COLD B. R. I. CARS
CAUSE NEW CLASH
Col. Williams Says Blame
Rests With the Public Ser
vice Commission.
FIRES BLAST AT STRAUS
Asserts Proposals to Obtain
Additional Power Have
Been Unheeded.

oscar =. StrauS, chairman OF the fuOs
lie Service Commission. and Col. Tim
othy $. williams. president Of the Brook
Ign Rapid Transit Company. added more
fuel yesterday TO their controversy con-
corning the heating Of the cars Of the
b. r. T.
President Williams wrote q letter De-
oember % saying the commission was
responsible for the insuficicncy OF power
used by the b. II. T.. Chairman straus
yesterday replied that the commission
was not responsible and reiterated that
the commission intended to cooperate
with the District Attorney OF Kings In
furnishing the company for violating the
law.
This letter drew another blast last
nieht from President williams, who ac-
cused the commission Of not giving out
all the facts in the matter and Of plac-
ing the company in an unfair position
before the public. He repeated that the
blame for the present conditions m
Brooklyn lies with the commission, be-
cause that body has failed to consider
several proposals submitted ID Il by tho
D. r. +. with respect to obtaining addi-
tlonal power.
strauss Letter.
In his letter To President Williams,
Chairman Straus said:
You are under the impression that
there has been unfairness toward the
company. Several years ago the Public
Service Commission made an order d.
recting that certain conditions be COM
piled with In respect to the heating OF
zAs- a- AA.s
cars In operation. This In continuing
and effective and requires no further
notice from The commission that compli-
ance with 1t IL at all times necessary"
Chairman Straus then pointed out that
the first attempt. so far as the informa-
ton Of the commission goes, OF the d.
r. Il. to obtain additional power was
made December II. after the failure Of
the company to heat It's cars properly
was shown. Mr.. Straus wanted to know
why II was not possible for the company
to obtain additional power for the morn
Ing rush hour AS promptly as Il had been
obtained for the evening rush hour on
December II.
He Concluded by informing President
Williams that the commission intends to
cooperate fully with the District Attor-
ney OF Kings.
tthtn mss Reply.
In his answer last night President
Williams again accuses the commission
OF "unfairness' and oDce more lays the
responsibility for the insufficient heating
OF the cars. II there IL any. at the door
OF the commission.
81 regret" wrote Mr.. williams 10
Chairman Straus. that my confidence in
your disposition to tell the full facts to
the public. as set forth In my letter,
seems to have been misplaced. Your
answer. while d%isputing none OF the es-
ssntial facts, does not acknowledge the
responsibility which is clearly up to the
commission, but the letter ID more or less
a rambling reference to non-essential or
irrelevant matters which have no real
hearing upon the reasons for the failure
to have sufficient power to heat our cars
properly In the rush hours and during
particularly cold weather"
President Williams then points Out
hat prior to the operation OF certain
parts of the dual subway system In
Brooklyn. recently opened. the b.. r. r
had plenty of power to heat It's cars Al
all times. Ever since 1910. he asserts
the commission has had before II severa
propositions from the r. Il. r. for thu
the increase demand when all OF thu
new lines In Brooklyn will he In opera
t'on. No actio' hatever. he says. ha'
ever been take the commission.
AdfG 81, Power.
With respe S.,.nne obtaining of add
t,onal powerk,.st 7s"tly from the New
York Edison III ?tny and the Brooklyn
Edison Com 10 sTrMr. Williams assert,
that power \pr.l obtained from thes,
companies b p, itract not twelve day
AGO. as the tlm!ssion's letter woult
imply. but II. .ftNovember when one o
the big po' Nr. I units OF the compan!
broke down. {''this additional supply o
power. toge tC.r with the power from
the disabled Jp,it OF the company. is en-
tirely sum 4 lit. he maintains, both I,
operate pr, .rly and heat all cars at al
times. and FONTS Is being done. In con
c%lusion. he hys: :,
ct is ..v.e probable that there will
s,Nays h E''.it of our daily operation o
10000 CT ! Jcips, sporadic and technics
violation htf the commissions order a
70 the h,pptng. occasioned by a heate
becoming Ss&ective. by traffic condition
requiring Nm unusual opening Of tn
doors or blythe failure OF individual con
ductors to observe the company's rules
for which failure they are always disci
rllned. But these comparatively rar
Instances have no bearing upon the gen
eraI demonstration Of the company's dis
position to discharge Its full obligation
toward the public to the extent II ha