The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-06
JAIL FOR TRACTION
HEADS, SWAMI PLAN
Asks Public Service Commits
sion to Take Necessary
Legal Step.
LABOR AMPLE, HE SAYS
Scores Companies for Spending
Large Sums on Bonuses
to Officials.

There's only one way to deal with
Germans and street railways: that's hit
them, invoke the criminal law" District
Attorney Swami said yesterday In an
introduction to a letter he has written
to the Public Service Commission inform
ing it that he Is more than willing. even
anxious, to prosecute the individuals re-
sponsible for the wofully inadequate
service. The maximum sentence upon
conviction is three years for each vio-
lation.
Some one suggested that the street
railways shouldn't be classed with the
rather hard on the Germans.
Mr.. Swami admitted It, then continued
to recite his opinion of the subway and
street railways, Of the inadequate SER
vice and OF those believed to be re-
sponsible for II.
"Of course they'll say they can't get
labor" he continued. referring to the
management. But they can. They can
get all the labor they want If they'll
pay for it,
He recalled the bonuses given to the
management three years ago, aggrega.-
ing nearly a million dollars
IF they'd use the money to pay bet
ter wages instead of giving bonuses
we'd get better service. Before being
generous to Mr.. Shonts, they'd better be
Just to employees. And they can't COM
plain they don't get money to pay ade-
quate wages either, not when they are
giving away thousands Of dollars"
p. 8. G. Must Act First.
The law provides that IL the Public
Service Commission issues an order to
restore a normal service and maintain
proper schedules and the order is not
obeyed the disobedence automatically
becomes a crime.
District Attorney Swami declared that
he would submit evidence before the
Grand Jury to obtain indictments against
individuals. not the corporations. FOR
you can't punish an inanimate object.
and we wish to punish
Mr.. Swami characte rized the conditions
obtaining in the subway. 81" and surface
cars as intolerable. They want to use
our city streets and give us no service
for It," he concluded.
The letter sent by Mr.. Swami TO
Chairman Samuel II. Ordway of the
Public Service Commission, follows:
DEAR SIR: There 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 relief appears to be in sight un-
less the public authorities invoke each
and every remedy authorized by law.
The District Attorney of this county
desires to cooperate with you to the full
extent of his powers in the prosecution
of the individual officers. directors and
managers OF the several street and
subway traction companies who have, in
the hottest summer on record. cut on
the already insufficient supply OF car and
train service and required the people
to be crowded into their remaining cars
in the swelterlng heat in a manner that
would violate the provisions of the Penal
Law II the same treatment had been i'm
posed upon cattle.
Suggests City Operation.
whether the motive and intent is to
force the allowance OF an additional fare
or to save money for dividends and fur
Their bonuses to already high salared Of
hcers Is not material: the condition
which confronts us demands immediate
action or the part of those whose duty
II IL to protect the public from imposi-
ton and injustice. II the companies
contend 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
las much az ] should like TO do so. |
cannot now present to the Grand Jury
those responsible for these conditions
Until your commission shall have first
issued an order for them to restore the
removed cars. under the power vested in
you by section 81 OF the Public Service
Commissions law, and upon their failure
to comply with your order shall immc-
diately present the facts to the Grand
Jury, as provided In section Sc, subdi-
vision ., OF the said law.
III you have already issued such an
order | wish YOU would certify that fact
to me in due form OF law IN order that /
may ACT without delay"