The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-08-28
Fuel Company Head and
Director of /. II. 4.
Testifies.
P. 5. c. IN LIVELY SESSION
subway Purchasing Agent Is
Ordered to Fill Reserve
Bunkers at Once.

T.. j. Berwind was forced to tell the
Public Service Commission yesterday
that the Berwind- White Coal Company
had failed to live UP to its contract to
supply the 1nterborough. Further, Col.
william Hayward got Mr. Berwind to
the subway trains had to stop for
more than two hours Saturday after
noon. As Mr.. Berwind is president of
the coal company and a director and
member OF the executive committee of
the 1nterborough this was taken as au-
thoritative.
The two sessions Of the commission g
investigation into the tieup were full of
action, and at times enlivened by vigor-
ous exchanges between Col. Hayward
Commissioner Travis H. whitney and
Mr.. Berwind. At one time It looked as
II the short and ugly word might be
passed. II was fully established by the
testimony of the Interborough officials
and Mr.. Berwind that the city might
have been saved the serious blockade of
last Saturday through any Of four ex-
ptdlents, none of which was used. They
we're:
% Enforcement OF the contract be-
tween the Interborough and the coal
company by which the reserve bunk
eTs were to be kept filled. buying the
fuel in the open market IL necessary.
l2) Using the breakdown agreement
between the Edison company and the
Interborough by which current could
have been supplied by the Edison COM
pany for the operation Of trains.
t3) Using coal stored in the power
house at the foot Of East Seventy
fourth street.
90 Purchasing coal from a pool of
which the Interborough was a member
that was formed by the big utility
companies for lust such an emergency.
NcserSe bunkers Long CnAlled.
II also was deye,oped bv IN. te.t,,
p,onv ~ n w pos, ,,,,a ,r-s.td.n. ~
The interboroueh and General nursh a s,ne
agent. and willis lawrence aunerin.
tandent OF the power house at F,fty.
ninth street that mot since last winter
have the reserve hunkers ever heen
filled.
Evidence showed that the compel,ins
reason for the making NJ the contrac
between the Rerwind.White company
and the marlborough was because the
former was considered the onIv concern
OF It's kind CAPABLE Of Furnishing coal
under ali conditions According TO the
terms Of the contract there was nc
clause nv which the Rerw,nd- white com.
many couId refuse IN furnish coal when
demanded There was mot even any
strike clause Vet Il was proved by rec.
ords that the Berwind concer, in a total
Of ef,v.one weeks had delivered only or
six occas sions the amount Of coal ordered
by the Interboroush. The Consolidation
Company. which also supplies the sub.
wav hui IN lesser quantities. and none
of ito members ia a director OF the In.
,erborouph. defaulted only four times
during the wear.
At the start OF the afternoon session
Mr. Ross produced a letter written tc
him last May by Frank Hediey, genera
manager of the Interborough. in which
he was warned that there was danger
serve bmnker. in the Fif,v.ninth stree
power house were kept filled. Mr.. Ross
said that he saw Mr.. Berwind severa
days later and told him OF Mr.. Hediey's
letter, Mr.. ROSS SAID tnat uhder tht
contract all that the Interborousn wa'
forced to do to compel the berwind
White Coal Company TO supply coaI a.
demanded was to give II Twelve hour'
notice
Fu,I Co., surp,v In Ordered,
When asked by Col. hayward wnethel
ms hau peeh done ne saiu Una. ~ wa.
VI