The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-11-27
EAYOR HAS A TILT
WITH B. R. 7. HEAD
Hylan Tries to Fix Response
bility for Fatal Wreck on
Col. Williams.
JEEKS OMAN HIGHER UP"
Testimony All Leads to Trans
portation Chief, but Goes
No Further.
TEKs oman HIGHER UP

a.n,. Timothy 8. Williams. again
-,stched wits with Mayor Hylan and
1strict Attorney Lewis at the wreck
soaring IN the Kings County Court
House yesterday. No Jury being In
abundance upon these John Doe hear
M. Il Is impossible to record any
,.,,eial verdict as to whether Col. Tim
p his inquisitors carried off the
aonors.
The main purpose seemed to be to
,.t the Colonel to admit that he
r,s the ultimate higher up" both as
-sr,rds the operation OF trains on
he brighton Beach line and the en-
,,oynent Of rnotormen, one OF wIon
sstifying earlier in the day. made the
astonishing admission that although
a. was really a dispatcher he had
.,ken out an elevated train and run
4 over the line without instructions
rom anybody. In this effort the
astrict Attorney failed for Col Will
ans could think OF no one who was
he superior in these matters Of John
T. Dempsey, the transportation super
ntendent
Mayor Hylan's questions on the
whole brought happier results. He
ar T. had not asked a single thing
II the present city administration eI-
ept permission to raise the fare to
cents. And when the Colonel
famed the Public Service Commits
sion for not taking action which
would have enabled the company to
operate steel instead Of wooden cars
through the Malbone street cut where
he wreck Of November 1 occurred the
Mayor showed no evidence Of irrita-
ion.
n. r. Brady TestiAes.
The other star witness yesterday
oSs Nicholas F. Brady, chairman OF
he B. r. T. directors. His principal
assertion was that before the strike
" November the executive commit
.ee OF the company decided to take
hack all except one or two OF the
-wenty-nine men whose discharge
Caused the strike. 1t was left to Col.
Williams and Mr.. Dempsey to do this.
but before the reinstatement took
place the strike was started and on
he same night came the wreck.
One Of the things President Will
ans could not recall was whether or
not II was on his suggestion that
John H. Hallock, who has been called
4 dummy executive, was made presi-
lent Of the New York Consolidated
Railroad Company, which operates
he Brighton Beach line. The Colonels
painstaking statement OF the differ
,nce between the B. r. T. and its sub
salaries moved the District Attorney
0 ask il the B. r T. was not at al
Affected by the wreck.
That seems rather a needless ques-
ion," the witness said. THE Brook
N Rapid Transit Company is OF
ourse. interested in the shfe and sue
ess;ul operation of the roads 1t con-
rolls. Otherwise it would not have
ent It's credit Of more than 100000
90 to make operation safe"
Mayor Hylan spoke up: Are there
any safety signal devices on the
Brighton Beach liner"
II knew one was being installed
here bv a contractor" Col. William:
answered.
But was there any previous 10 THU
Treck?"
There was a slow speed sign"
But was there any interlocking de
ice or signal?"
Inquiries About Green Motormen.
The witness explained that as Their,
we're no switches near the scene OF tn,
wreck no interlocking device was re
luired.
Well" said the Mayor, was Their
,ver any safety system taken out an,
vet returned?"
~ don't know
Mr.. Lewis. resuming. asked: "Di,
iou know that men who were not Ger
lied or qualified motormen were TAX
nS out trains during the past six 0
even months?"
~ did not
Can you not tell US who is MI
oempseys superior and to whom h
goes for help and advice regardin
operating problems?"
u think he does not need to go I
anybody. He Is a practical operatin
nan; am not at ALL"
Has he ever discussed with>yo
he seriously crowding OF trains &c
ns through Flatbush?"
NO, but I have called his attetio
. complaints. I have received fror
I'm Information showing that exceI
from time to time and under UT
usual conditions there has not bee
1vercrowding on that line. On a
mes there has been excessive over
erowding at times in the past year fc
'auses which we have done our best
'emove. but In tho removal OF whic
re nave had no cooperation from tn
Pubic Service Commission or tn
city,"
Mayor Hylan coughed and made
-ote. Mr.. Lewis went on:
Can't you give me the name
my official OF the company who hs
sver made a suggestion to Mr.. DEM
sey?"
y find difficulty in giving specif
instances" returned the bland NJ
Williams, "for I wouldn't charge n
mind with It."
DO YOU consider the safety of pa