The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-09
VICTIMS RELATIVES
WOULD DANISH BRIT.
Brighton Wreck Association
to Seek Receivership and
Cancellation of Charter.
FIERY TALK IN MEETING
Women in Mourning Join in
Demonstration Against
Railroad Officials.

tins of the Brighton Beach line train
wreck want to eject the B. II. T.. as
constituted at present, from Brooklyn.
The Brighton "L" Wreck Victims
and Passengers Protective Association
held a mass meeting in Erasmus Hal
High School yesterday afternoon. The
public had been invited. When Joseph
T. Griffin. temporary chairman.
opened the meeting there were about
500, principally residents Of F'latbush,
in the cold auditorium. Mourning
women. silent and preoccupied, were
conspicuous.
The meeting lasted three hours.
There was a charge Of ''wilful murder
and a cry OF "kill them" Mr.. Grif-
fin in his opening address denounced
the y. X. T. for its Inadequate SER
vice." Aloysius Evans, committee
chairman. arraigned the Public Ser
vice Commission for alleged apathy.
Miss Lillian NJ. Murphy, mourning
sister attired in deep black, read
"evasive" bits of testimony given by
Il. S. Williams, president OF the h. r.
IT., and others at the John Doe inves-
tigation before Mayor Hylan. Lieut..
Joseph +. Wright, L. S. N, whose
niece was killed. announced in a fiery
talk an intention Of starting an action
TO have the b. r. It's franchise re-
vcked.
strong Resolutions Adopted.
. Than tbo folIou,ipC nreamhIe and
resolutions were adopted with no dis
senting voices:
Whereas the Brooklyn Rapid Tran
sit Company has acquired and main
tanned a complete and absolute mo-
nopoly of the transportation facilities
OF the Borough OF Brooklyn; and
Whereas the owners OF the Brook
lyn Rapid Transit Company claim the
right to receive the emoluments that
come from their monopoly Of the
streets OF Brooklyn. yet by creating
a legal fiction in the shape of sub
eidiary corporations of which its owns
all or the greater part of the stock,
this company, by putting in dummy
directors, seeks to avoid the response
bility and duty Of properly caring for
and safeguarding passengers: and
Whereas the record of these rail-
roads has been one long continued
series of abuses OF the rights OF the
travelling public. eliminating in an
act of gross neglect and criminal in
difference, which caused the most aw-
full railroad atrocity in the annals Of
our city in which ninety-five people
were killed and over 200 injured; and
Whereas the corporation has per-
sistentiy evaded the execution of the
Just laws and ordinances for the pro-
lection OF its passengers, and has
through every known legal device
sought to avoid compliance with orders
OF the Public Service Commission for
the betterment of the service and the
protection OF the passengers; and
Whereas the Brooklyn Rapid Tran
sit has specifically broken its covenants
with the city as set forth in contlACt
No. 4, in consideration Of which prom
Uses. covenants and contracts the city
of New York has granted transporta-
ton privileges and franchises to the
Brooklyn Rapid Transit, therefore he II
"Rcsolred. That this organization
place itself on record as being un-
the District Attorney of Kings county
in the performance OF his duties in
seeking to attach criminal RESPONSE
bility to the so-called higher officials
OF this road, who have been more con-
cerned about the financial policy OF
the road than about the safety Of its
passengers: and be 1t further
"ResoIred, That n demand be made
upon the proper officials of the city
OF New York to exercise the legal
rights of the people and declare that
the contract of the Brooklyn Rapid
Transit Company with the city OF
New York be forfeited forthwith and
rendered null and void; and be il
further
"ResoIued, That the proper legal pro-
ceedings be instituted to cause a re-
ceiver to be appointed for the Brook
lyn Rapid Transit. who shall operate
the various railroad lines in such n
way that the responsibility for the acts
of the railroad and it's servants shall
he definitely fixed, that high standard
OF discipline and efficiency shall be
maintained among the employees. that
a complete and scientific system OF
safety devices shall be installed and
that all dangerous curves and tunnels
be either removed or modified 80 as moi
TO continue a menace to the lives OF
innocent passengers: and that this
railroad and all Il branches, elevated
surface and subway, shall pursue q
policy OF courtesy to passengers and
consideration of their comfort and con.
venience and protection to their safety
Chairman n school Principal.
Mr.. Griffin is principal Of the Vande-
water school in lower Manhattan and
he identified the body OF a school
teacher on the night Of the wreck.
THE blame must be placed upor
use who profit by Encouragement
he said, and seek to evade the respon-
sibility for the acts of their interiors
This movement is not a flash in the
pan or a pun OF smoke. This organi-
cation will be a permanent reminder
OF the necessity of properly protecting
the public in its travels. The course
OF Justice here must be relentlesslS
pursued" He declared there were &
dozen places on the B. II. T. to-day
"where the accident might take place
sgain."
After criticising the Public Servic,
Commission, Mr.. Evans said
Your committee feels that II tn,
people are aware of the duties OF Tho
Public Service Commission and o.
their right to have those duties per
formed to their satisfaction. then 4