The sun., 1917-08-27

the Commission. after his day and q
halfs probing into the real cause Of tho
tieup said late yesterday afternoon:
"A fair but thorough and searching
investigation will be started at 10 o'clock
Monday morning and carried forward
vigorously until all the facts are made
public. Saturdays development was
startling and suggests the need for Wig
orous action by the responsible directors
and high oficials of public utility COM
panies. or by the Commission and other
public authorities II the companies do
not see and do their duty In the prem
ises. The facts thus far learned give
rise to some very pointed theories,
therefore we have asked the directors
and the financial officials Of the Inter-
borough and Its AFFILIATED coal company
10 be on hand and to give the public
the benent Of their answers to these
questions.
THE people Of the city are entitled to
have subway. elevated and surface lines
maintain adequate and uninterrupted
service. unless some very real emergency
compels suspension. Industries vitality
needed for tho supply Of our armies and
the maintenance Of our civilian popu-
lation are centered In and near New
York. and depend upon the continuity
Of transportation service. An avoidable
suspension Of subway service 10 in any
event a public loss; 1t might Under
many circumstances become public
menace
The companies are charged with a
duty Of maintaining q sufficient coal
supply TO insure continuous operation.
even though a solitary coal barge does
20 to the wrong power house."
Mf Ransom Was referrinG to one of
tho statements made Saturday by an
Official OF the Interborough. who said that
coal barge had gone astray
Ihe company hardiy seems within its
rights. ne continued, in pursuing
habituaiiY hand TO mouth policy OF
keeping Dins ana ounkers always empty
ana ioanlhG from oarBes 10 ooitesS III
tne nope that governmental acuon Al
washington would prlng oo~n the price
OF coal pefore the company got caught
Clash over Prices.
"My information IA that there has been
no great difficulty in getting coal: the
only difFiculty has been the price and the
fact that the BerwInd company could get
more for its coal by selling IL to other
concerns instead Of delivering II to the
Inter rborough, as IL was supposed 10 do.
Tn0 COmnany9 zeal In irving TO lave
money by postponinR the purchase OF An
aoeaaate current supply until the Federal
price stands in sharn contrast 10 some Of
the companv.s nurcbasinp methods on
eou,nment whose no.t 10 chargeob,e
unae, ~. a,o, con,r.o,.
"I,o, ~. oon,n.n,,,s ,, continued
nol,c,. a. 90 ...I .,,.,,,, ~. l,ie..
nnon,,aI omon.. ~ ~. e.,. 80 ~,
cn,,r.. -..na.,s,. ps "o ~.
,h,n .,,,, " e .n '
Sa''.s W S".u
Appa,en.S '"e soni-
en o.'cels nau iuii k'o"Hose
y" rfiaay that oPerat'oh "ouid nave 10
oe s"u' oo"n on saturday AFTERNOON un-
iess tne wandering barge was rounded
up or more COAL procured from other
sources ohIy uhwiiiinsness TO operate
the interooroughs own bridge seems TO
nave stood In the way Of bringing the
parse back by the Harlem ship canal ::
only the cost OF an extra tug or two
stood In the way OF bringing the barge
around the Battery. Neither was done;
no coal was brought: the subway sus-
pended operation and Saturday afternoon
was spoiled for thousands Of persons, all
for the want of a little more foresight
or willingness to spend a little money
to get coal for the emergency the COM
pany's policy had created"
""""nS Demands Inquiry.
Frank l.. DowiinR. President Of the
Board Of Aldermen. or his return TO
said that he believed a representative
OF the city. either the Coronation Conn.
sci or some represent ntntiye OF his Office
should at.enS the p,,h,ic S.ryic. Gown