The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-08-29
5000 TON COAL
RESERVE FIXED
FOR INTERBORO
Public Service Board Per-
emptOrily Orders Pre-
ventiOn Of Tieups.
E. j. BERWIND ASSAILED
Fuel Magnate's Power as
Transit Director Curbed
Subway Officials.

When II was definitely established
yesterday that no one was responsible
for Saturdays two hours suspension Of
trafhc on the subway but the INTERIOR
ough itself and the Berwind White Coal
Company the Public Service Commits
sion. at the end Of Its second days in
vestigation. issued peremptory order
to the traction company to have enough
reserve coal always on hand to insure
uninterrupted train operation.
The order. drawn up by Commissioner
Travis II. whitney. was concurred In by
Col. William Hayward. acting chairman,
and Commissioner Charles s. Hervey.
The 1nterborough was instructed to have
at least 5000 tons OF reserve coal on
the premises Of the Fifty-ninth street
power station, never to consume more
than two days supply without notifying
the Public Service Commission. and to
assure the commission that every effort
was being made to rsplenish imme-
diately the amount used.
The afternoon session came to q close
with the testimony Of number OF op-
Grating officials of the Interborough and
representatives Of other railroads The
attempt of some Of the traction COM
panys witnesses to pass the blame for
the tieup to a minor Official in the coal
tower at Fifty-ninth street was ignored
by the commission.
William l.. Ransom, chief counsel for
the commission. issued a statement
during the day in which he called the
Interborough's excuses ''Himsy pretexts"
and placed the blame on f. ]. Berwind.
president OF the coal company who he
said. used his financial power and per-
sonal influence with the Interborough so
that the administrative officials OF the
road were afraid to enforce the letter
Of the contract held by the Berwtnd-
White company.
Col. Hayward Blames Derwind.
Col. Hayward, when the hearing had
been adjourned until September !. made
statement in his Office in which he
expressed the opinion that the situa-
ton which resulted in the tieup of the
subway was due entirely to the infu-
enee Of Bcrwtnd IN the directorate of
the subway. He said It was clear that
ID. w. Ross. purchasing agent and vice.
president of the Interborough, knowing
Of Berw!nd's power. was afraid to take
a positive stand on the violation OF the
coal contract.
Col. Hayward said the influence
brought to bear by Berwind was un-
doubtedly great. as this was the first
time that he had even seen Frank He'd
ley. the general manager of the sys-
tenn. show the white feather"
Mayor Mitchell meanwhile dictated a
letter to Col. Hayward. He said his
own investigation seemed to show that
under the contracts between the city
and the marlborough cessation Of traf-
nc would be legal sround for taking
the operation Of the subways out of
the Interboroughs hands. The Mayor
said he did not believe the Saturday oc-
currence warranted such drastic action
now but that another failure Of opera
ton would be complete justification OF
such procedure.
-Four Big Facts brought Out.
The examination Of yesterdays wit
nesses by the commission established
the following facts which. added to the
exposures Of the previous day, will prove
interesting to New York's subway riding
public:
THE Interborough is paying more
TO the Berwtnd-White company for its
coal than the contract specifies.
2United States Government Of
flcials have declared the shortage was
not occasioned by the Communicating
OF the fuel
S-While a serious mistake is al
legged by a minor employee In esti-
mating the reserve coal supply, during
last week the. Berwind-White COM
pany. out of the seven barges Of coal
ordered. delivered only two.
"A statement in the INTERIOR
ough's last annual report regarding
Continued on Fourth Page