The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-07-03
HUDSON TUBE
FARE INQUIRY
ISDEMANDED
Frelinghuysen Offers Reso-
luton in Senate for Spe-
cial Investigation.
McADOO ACTS CRITICISED
Senator Says Increase in Rates
Works Hardship on Poor
Commuters.
McADOO ACTS CRITICISED
Special Despdtch to TIE SrN.

spcCtut bSSputCN 20 SCN.
WASHINGTON, July 2.-Investigation
Of the conditions surrounding the ad-
ninistration OF the New York and Jersey
CITY traffic through the Hudson River
tubes by the Senate Committee on Inter-
state Commerce was demanded in the
senate to-day by Senator Frelingt uysen
IN J), regarding which he said:
MY purpose in presenting this resolu-
tion Is very simple. I am anxious to
have some information concerning the
taking over by Director General McAdoo
Of the Railroad Administration of tho
electrical system from Newark and Jer-
ssy City through the so-called McAdoo
tubes to New York, a distance Of a very
few miles.
"As understand It, the railroad act
under which the Director General Is
operating our transportation systems
vas passed to meet conditions growing
out Of war, to quote the language of the
act; war measure. in other words.
whereby the Federal Government might
control tt transportation OF troops and
various supplies for governmental pur-
poses. That was the primary purpose Of
the act.
Action ON Shert Lines.
In conjunction with the various trunk
lines. however, Congress deemed It ad-
Nmble to insert in the act q direction
that the Government should also take
over the short lines OF u Q country. those
Carrying passengers and freight, operat-
ins as feeders to the trunk lines. By
Joint resolution Congress on Saturday
last supplemented the original provision
BY again directing the taking over OF
said short lines.
The President has turned back to pri-
yate control a large number OF short
lines estimated to represent 10000 miles.
Concerning the furtful effect upon these
small roads which this decision Is likely
10 have l shall say nothing at the pres
ent time. / trust the result may not be
as disastrous as has been predicted.
while, however. the President has
deemed it wise to leave these small rail-
roads TO their own devices without aid
from the Government such as Is being
given to the larger and weather. cor
porations, the Director General seems to
view these electric roads between New
ark and New York quite differently.
"As a matter of fact in the fullest
sense the latter are not railroads at all
They carry no freight and no general
passenger traffic. No soldiers are car
Red over them and no supplies for wal
or other purposes. They are operated
By electricity and belong no more to a
general railroad system than a munich
pal trolley line. The passengers almost
wholly are commuters living in the citiei
OF north New Jersey and engaged ir
trade in New York.
Com m tiers Mostly Poor.
TN large measure these daily pas
ssrgers are poor people. or people ir
very moderate circumstances. An in
crease in fares to them is a very serious
matter. Their incomes are not large
and the addition of 10 or 20 cents a da5
10 an important item in their daily ex
pendltures, particularly at the presen
time
Il cannot see why for Governments
reasons or because of the war the Di
rector-General OF Railroads should as
sumo control of these local interurbai
lines and increase the rates from so 4
100 per cent. This additional revenue II
not needed TO develop further these road
or for betterment in connection will
their operation.
There would be a vast increased
revenue from this service olt of th
pockets OF the commuters, few of whom
can afford the additional charge. bu
me millions Of dollars which these hal
million toilers will be called upon L
pay the Government will doubtless b
employed in building up some broker
DOWN railway a thousand miles from
Ne" York. This does not seem to m
'air or within the scope of the powe
which Congress granted to the Director
General Of Railroads when the act wa
passed"