New-York tribune., 1918-09-06
Public Service Commission
Asked to Certify Orders
SO Action Can Start
Bonuses Blamed
For Low Wages
District Attorney Declares
New Workers Are Treated
Worse Than Cattle

District Attorney Swami wrote ga.
terday TO Charles 3. Hubbeu. chairr..
OF the Public Service Commission =.
ferlng to cooperate "to the full ey..,.
Of his powers" in the criminal pross,n
ton of individual officers Of the vsr
Gus subway, surface and elevated lines
1he District Attorney asserted in hi,
letter that if cattle had been subjected
to the treatment suffered recently bv
strap hanging New York, those Re.
sponsible would have been liable undar
the criminal law.
The officials of the companies ron.
cerned," NJ. Swami said in discuss;us
his letter, ARE like the German autOc.
racy, they feel as though they own
everything, and the strong arm of the
law is the only remedy"
Prosecutions Are Planned
1t is not the purpose or intention o.
the District Attorney to deal with the
transit men collectively, but individ.
ual!y. Should orders be issued by the
commission and they be disobeyed. tba
matter viii be presented to the grand
jury Tor the presentment of indjct.
ments against the executives in person.
" nat puzzles the District Attorney is
the excuses made by the company off.
Gals that they have insufficient funds
10 pay their employees more wages and
thelr inability to obtain enough men
10 operate properly trains when. but a
lie" years ago there was sufficient
money on hand to pay approximately
sl'ooo,ooo IN bonuses and rewards 10
the officials for their services.
Swami Sets Forth Views
The letter sent last night states:
mere never was a time when street
transportation service in this city was
so poor and inadequate to the needs OF
the people as 1t is to-day. and no re-
lleI appears to be IN sight, unless the
pubic authorities invoke each and
every remedy authorized by law.
"The District Attorney OF this coun.
try desires to cooperate with YOU to
the full extent of his powers in the
prosecution of the individual officers.
directors and managers CT the several
street and subway traction companies
who have, in the hottest summer on
record, cut off the already insufficient
supply of car and train service and re-
qulred the people to be crowded into
their remaining cars in the sweltering
heat in a manner that would violate
the provisions of the penal code if the
same treatment had been imposed upon
cattle
"Whether the motive and intent is
to attempt to force the allowance Of
an additional fare or to save money
for dividends and further bonuses TO
already high salaried officers is not
material. The condition which con-
fronts Us demands immediate action
on the part Of those whose duty it is
to protect the public from imposition
and injustice. If the companies con.
tend that they cannot operate their
cars and give adequate service for the
legal fare, then they should turn over
the lines to the city for operation IN
the interest Of the public.
Wants Official Notice
CAS- much as | should like TO do so,
cannot at the present time present To
the grand jury those responsible fol
these conditions until your commits
sion shall have first issued an order
for them to restore the removed cars
under the power vested in YOU by Sec
tion 81 of the Public Service Commits
sion's law. and upon their failure tc
. comply with your order | shall imme
diately present the facts to the gran'
jury, as provided in Section SO, sub
division ,. Of the SAID law.
'In case you have already ISSUED
such an order, WISH YOU would Ger
tify that act to me in due form II
order that may act without delay