The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-27
|. RI. AIDS PLACED
IN DEFERRED GLASS
Company May Keep Essential
Employees, Draft Chair
man Promises.

How seriously the war has crippled
the service Of the transportation lines
in this city was shown in four separate
matters that claimed the attention OF
the Public Service Commission yestef-
day In one of them there was a ray
of hope held out that the service would
not go completely to the bow bows. This
was the official statement OF Judge
George l.. lngrshar. chairman OF the
District Draft Board. that essential en-
ployees OF the companies would receive
deferred Classification.
Replying 70 a letter OF Commissioner
Samuel II. Ordway OF the Public Ser
vice Commission requesting such de-
ferred classification and outlining the
wretcheduess of the service because. as
railroad officials claimed. their best men
were being drafted or going 10 Jobs
where they could get a deferred rating.
Judge Ingraham wrote:
This board has held under the for
mer selective service system that these
transportation companies are industries
essential to the national interests dur
ing the war and that those employees
who are essential TO the maintenance
OF these railways should receive deferred
classification. In view of the situation
10 ~ cStIbeu as your let
ter, I have no doubt the board will grant
deferred classificatlons to all OF those
who are essential to the management
and proper conduct OF the train service
OF these roads. and especially those po-
sitions which women are not fitted TO fill.
This would include, OF course, all those
workmen who are Skilled in the repair
or machinery and cars OF the system
and skilled mechanics in power houses
Ruling ON Draft Claims.
ut Is quite essential In preparing
claims for deferred classification that /.
be shown that the registrant is essen
tial 10 the maintenance and operation
OF the railroad. and those who are es-
sentiai l am satisfied will be given de-
ferred classification. You may take
this communication as the general de-
termination OF the District Board to
that effect
Commissioner Ordvay had written
that failure on the part of tho district
board TO make such a ruling might re-
SUIT In the virtual breakdown OF the
system on tho lines at a date not far
distant.
Put on the carpet by Commissioner
kracke for the bad service on It's sur
face lines, Superintendent William Sic
bert of the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Com
pany complained that they could not get
heip TO man the cars or to repair them.
Since January /, he asserted. their
force of motormen had decreased by 427
and conductors by CO... A total of lilo
men from the company's surface lines
had either been drafted or had enlisted
Frequently when It comes time for a car
TO leave the barns it Is lacking either a
motorman or conductor or both. The
B. r. T. could not compete with the lines
in Manhattan because II was able to pay
only 80 cents an hour as compared with
their 40.
New Inquiry Under Way.
The commission began an investiga-
ton into the affairs OF the New York
and North Shore Traction Company
which has announced that II would dis
continue its service between Flushing
Whltestone and the city lane on Mon
day II the Board OF Estimate did not
grant its application for cent fare
On the promise that the service would
not be stopped in the meantime the hear.
ing was adjourned until that afternoon.
Chairman Hubbell OF the commission
| punctured one Of the excuses OF the In.
terborough for not putting into effect the
order for two minute Roadway In the
subway during rush hours. There were
not sufficient inspection sheds because
the projected terminals at 1S0th and
23sth streets had not been constructed
II was claimed. and that II had beer
found impossible 10 obtain galvanized
| iron to cover temporary inspection pits
"On the contrary" said Chairman
| Huhbell. latter a very careful inspec,
| tlon of this var; was informed Tho,
the contractor had the material"