New-York tribune., 1918-08-01
Public Service Commission
Submits Brief, With
Recommendations
I wo Plans to Clear
Situation Discussed
Direct Federal Control or
Fixing Rates Opposed
by State Board

Oy Otate BOARD
New York's transportation problems
have been put up to President Wilson
Tor solution. Whether the subways,
the street and the elevated lines arc
to be operated by the Federal govern
ment during the period of the war at
the present scent rate of fare or
creased and the properties left under
their present control are questions
which the President, with the Ma
tional War Labor Board, will be asked
to settle.
Judge William L. Ransom, counsel
for the Public Service Commission,
who returned from Washington yes
terday, said President Wilson is keen
ly apprchensive over "any approaching
bankruptcy" of the city's transporta-
no obstacle in the way of crippled SER
vice shall interfere with the neces-
sary transportation of war workers.
"Some Federal action will be taken,
| that seems sure," said Judge Ransom.
"I believe it will be something short
of Federal control and something short
of Federal fixing of passenger fares.
But the Federal government is going
to act"
Judge Ransom made it plain that
although suggestions had been made
to Washington the Public Service Com
mission is opposed TO direct Federal
! control or fixing of rates, or to any loss
OF its present authority.
Brief Sent President
Judge Ransom said yesterday that
the Public Service Commission had ad-
dressed to the President and to the Ma
! tional War Labor Board brief con-
tanning recommendations This brief
was submitted in response to a warn
ing from the White House that the
street railways must not be crippled
in war time.
Judge Ransom announced that copy
of this brief probably would be given
out to-day.
Two suggestions for relief of the
transportation problem discussed yes
| terday included:
Direct Federal control Of all the sub
ways, elevated and street lines, with q
retention of the 5cent fare and in
creased service, the government assum-
ing any losses, or trying to make up for
any losses by increased efficiency.
An increase in the rates under Fed
eral sanction, the properties to remain
under their present management with
some kind of Federal supervision
and the local authorities to be relieved
of responsibility for the higher rates.
Judge Ransom was accompanied to
Washington BY Travis II. Whitney and
f. j. H. Kracse, members of the Public
with members Of the war committee of
the National Association OF Railway
and Public Utilities Commissioners. A
brief statement issued by them yester-
day said they discussed "the demand of
the street railway companies through
out the country that the Federal gov
ernmcnt either take over their prop
critics or take over the control of their
| rates."
Federal Operation Opposed
The statement said that the brief
which was submitted to the President
"combated the claim of the street rail-
way companies that the National War
Labor Board or the President now has
the power to increase the fares on
street railways" and that the national
association "will make Il vigorous pro-
test to President Wilson against any
suggestion for Federal acquisition of
street railway properties generally, or
for Federal regulation of rates on
purely local lines"
The commissioners also asked the
national railroad administration to
eliminate the increases on the railroad
rates recently imposed on New York
commuters. These increases, made as
part of the general increases through
out the country, range from 20 per
cent for single trips to 10 per cent
for Communication tickets, and have been
applied to almost all workers who ride
on railroads to and from New York
Lower rates also were asked between
New York and Camp Upton, Camp
Mills and other Long Island camps.
John G. Cobb, of Boston, director
in the New York Railways Company.
who recently suggested that the city's
transportation system be suspended
between 10 p. m. and a. m., said last
night:
"If the Federal government steps in
and takes charge of the situation we
will adapt ourselves to it, but we cam
not hope, with employees justly asking
for higher wages and the cost of op-
Grafton constantly going up, to con-
tinue 5 cent fares without cutting out
night service. 1t now costs us 25
cents for every nickel we take in at
night. Our bondholders will not per-
nit any further dissipation of their
assets and we cannot borrow money
under present conditions. Unless re-
lief comes from the Federal govern
we will cut out night service, if we
have to resort to rcceivership to
do it,"
Imperial Preference