New-York tribune., 1918-05-25
Board of Estimate and Puh
lie Service Board Agree
as to Responsibility
Many Obstacles Seen
Whitney Says Company Wat.
Operation Postponed In
til After July /

VI Tic bodro OF EStlnaa}s
and the Public Service Commi,,;"s
agreed yesterday that the Interboroass
Rapid Transit Company alone VA :
sponsible for the delay in comn,4.,r.
the new Lexington md Seventh A.
nue. subways, which should be II ~
Grafton by juno Is. Mayor Hylsn hsa
been charging the Public Service Cam
mission with the responsibility: A..
latter body had blamed the Board -
Estimate.
The question was thrashei ont vA.,
the request by the Public Service Com.
mission for modification of the ot;.
'nai contract with the Interboroush
providing for an appropriation ~
100000 by the city to permit ~.
Interborough to complete the comma,
tions between the present subways asd
the new subways at Times Suuaye .,,d
Borough Hall and Atlantic Ay.rrs
Brooklyn, came before the board a.
consideration. Controller Crais ~
submitted report stating that the IS.
lay was due to the failure of the Il
terborough to complete the condn;,
lines across West Fifty-sevsrsh
Street, rather than the failure to esr,
plete the required connections. Cam.
missioner Whitney not only adm;tted
that the Controller was right but Il.
tackled the Interborough for seekin,
other delays.
Special Meeting Monday.
The controller also contended th.,
an agreement with the Interbo,nrcS
approved by the Board Of Estimat. =
October 5, 1917, had provided for tLs
completion of the work on the nav ss
subways under their original contrart
Judge William L. Ransom. counsel a.,
the Public Service Commission. ~.
planned that this agreement had neysr
been signed by the Interborourh. Il
was finally decided to hold a speeisI
meeting of the Board of Estimate Mon.
day at which the approval OF the ann.
ment of October 5, 1917, would be ~.
scinded, and the appropriation for Il.
required 100000 probably would h
| made.
Judge Ransom and Commissions
Hubbell and Whitney appeared for tie
Public Service Commission.
IL admire the controllers couraes n
exposing the Interborough's delayss
said Commissioner Whitney. "They II
row bringing forward other matter
that will cause further delays. They
have modified agreement reeardinr
ticket sales at Times Square and ths
Grand Central station which Win
cause difficulty. There is no question
that the Intcrborough is trying its best
to delay completion and the beginning
of operation of the Lexington and
Seventh avenue lines until July i. /
think it is in order to complete their
fiscal year"
Would Cancel Lease.
Borough President Dowling wanted
to know what control the Public Ser
ice Commission had over the Interior
ough. Commissioner Whitney ssa
that they had no control by compul.
sion.
THAT is Why we want to have this
matter referred to the corporatior
COUNSEL" said Controller Craig, ITO O.
If we can take away the Interboroughi
lease, or bring proceedings for the for
feiture of the bond furnished by Ii,
company to insure the completion d
1 the work"
Representative of the General Cor
tractors Association and of the labor
ers on the subways also appeared be
fore the Board of Estimate to urge thl
board and the Public Service Commis
sion to exercise its power under thl
Lockwood bill to provide relief for ths
employees and Che contractors. The
laboring men told the board that IN.
less the contractors increased their
wages by June 1 they would striks On
all subway work. Tho contractors said
they were unable to meet their De.
mands.
Counsel for the contractors admitted
the demands Of the men were just and
said the contractors were willing =
finish the work at cos- without profit !
allowed to proceed with the work undel
the Lockwood bill, the city meeting til
extra demands of the laborers.
Mayor Hylan said this would cost T..
city from $8,000,000 to $l0,000,0oO
Counsel took issue with him.
Judge Ransom suggested a confer
ence between the Public Service Com
mission and the board to see what couli
be done. Mayor Hylan objected to aa!
such conference and wanted to knos
why the commission cid not give ~
board statement of the lines it thirh
should be completed and what wof'
could be stopped. Judge Ransom d's
closed the fact that month ago tv'
members of the commission spent
whole evening explaining to the Mayo
why certain lines should be completea.
"Well, why don't you put it in wris
ing?' asked the Mayor.
"Next morning we sent it to. you 2
writing and you have had it before yua
for a month" replied Judge Rsnscs
The Mayor insisted, however. ~ ~
the commission should furnish further