New-York tribune., 1918-11-03
Mayor Says Commission
Should Have Ordered
Skilled Motormen
Law Ties Hands,
Board Members Aver
Strikers Declare Walk-Out
Was Over Before the
Fatal Crash

brooklyn SUBWAY Tragedy ID CoHteM
plated by the Public Service Commits
sion. Instead the entire force of the
commissions electrical and equip
ment experts numbering between
thirty-fve and forty men, in general
charge of Clifton W. Wildcr-is CO.
operating in the municipal inquiry
begun by Mayor Hylan and District
Attorney Lewis
All day yesterday relays of these
mon were at the scene Of the wreck,
examining the splintered cars and
rails, ties and roadbed where the
tragedy occurred. Public Service
Commissioner Travis H. Whitney and
T.,J. II. Kracke also made personal in
spections, while informal conferences
Of the commission were in progress
throughout the day at the Manhattan
headquarters, 40 Lafayette Street
Complete reports from the commits
sion's experts wero lacking last night,
but it was said that all findings prob
ably will be in the District Attorneys
hands by tomorrow.
Hylan Makes Charge Out
In the interim an acrid feud has
broken out between the Mayor and the
commission. Mr.. Hylan fired the open.
ing shot in this controversy yesterday
morning when he virtually accused the
commission, through an alleged sin OF
commission, of bearing the basic re-
sponsibility for the accident Mr.
uu1a NE sy,o lot
ter to Alfred e. Smith, wherein his
honor called upon the Board Of Alder
men to enact legislation compelling
the rapid transit companies to hire
only qualified motormen for the run
ming Of their trains.
The commissioners branded the
Mayors action in thus attacking them
as cheap political trick and an at
tempt to "trade in tragedy" In a long
statement issued last night Commits
sioner Whitney supplemented this with
in traction affairs and the counter
charge that the Mayors inertia has
thwarted the commission in it's efforts
to compel the use of steel cars on the
very branch on which Friday nights
catastrophe occurred. Tho use Of steel
cars, Mr.. Whitney feels, would have
done much to minimize the damage
wrought along the darkened curve of
the Brighton Beach tunnel.
AT the same time it was admitted at
the commissions offices that, although
an antique statute provides that only
those eft and competent" shall be
hired as motormen. the decision as to
what constitutes fitness and competence
has been left entirely to the traction
corporation officers.
No Other Way Out
eve have had no other CHOICE said
Commissioner Kracke. "The law does
not empower US to dictate herein"
The Mayors charges in his letter to
the president of the Board of Alder
men are quite specific.
Because of the failure of the Public
Service Commission to adopt regula.
tions which would prevent green mo-
tormen from operating trains" he
writes, II feel it incumbent upon me
to call the attention of the Honorable
Board Of Aldermen to the fact, and ask
them TO enact an ordinance which
would make it mandatory on the part
OF the officials of the rapid transi,
companies in this city to place only
experienced motormen in charge ol
subway and elevated trains.
Knowing the methods that the In
lyn Rapid Transit Company were re-
sorting to in placing green motormer
IN charge Of trains carrying from on,
hundred to thousand or more people
endeavored for several years, alonl
with others, to have the Legislature
enact a law prohibiting the employ
racnt Of green men who have rad n,
experience in operating subway ant
elevated trains. This legislation wa.
STRANGELY nppNopd hxv be d;Ro~~,k ~..A
lie utility corporations and the Publi
Service Commission represented b,
Travis Whitney.
Only Yaw Needed
a"Had this law been placed upon tn,
statute books the frightful catastroph,
of last night would not have happened
Pending the passage of such al
ordinance as he reuests. the Mayor sale
no motorman of less than three
months experience is allowed to TAX,
out a train. The settlement of tn.
strike Of the brotherhood motormeI
will, 1t WAS said last night, render eas,
the enforcement of this decree.
Meanwhile. some doubt seems still {,
exist at the Public Service Commission
ohices as to just what bearing tn,
strike hsd on the occurrence Of tn,
tcStucHt. IN d 6lSneu statement Com
missioner Kracke said that the fioutin,
of the National War Labor Board
ruling by the d. r. T., with the re
sultant waikout Of the trained men
was the primary cause" Because O
this and other recent actions. he de
clared that "the Brooklyn Rapid Tran
sit Company has forfeited any claim i
ever had to the confidence Of the pub
iic." T'
Hubbell Ccnsures Men
Chairman Charles Il. Hubbell. on tn
other hand. pleaded for a suspensio,
OF judgment until public passion ha
had tint to cool. He added that, ha,
the men not called their strike withou
notice. some arrangements might hay
been made whereby the road would no
hav been shorn of its best men, an,
that, in consequence, the acciden
might have been averted.
James 3. Walker. secretary TO tn
commission, stated last night that tn
settlement Of the strike by the Pubii
Service officials had been effected be
fore the wreck happened, and that, Il
agreeing to go back the men had no
besn influenced by the Intervention o
the catastrophe.
Mrs. Preston Heads Bureau
q