New-York tribune., 1919-10-24
Whalen Plans
; New BUS
Lines for CITY
Two Proposed Routes to
Compete With Brooklyn
City Railroad Company
on 1O-Cent. Fare Rule
Traction Head Objects
Mayor Amused by Hedley's
Talk of Increase to Keep
E; Subway Trains Running

Subway Trains Running
Commissioner Grover Whalcn of the
Department o. Plant and Structures
will present to the Board OF Estimate
and Apportonment to day for its ap-
proval an outline of his plans for the
installation and operation by the city
Of three new bus Iincs-two in Brook
iyn and an additional one in Manhat-
tan.
According to announcement of Com
Brooklyn lines will compete with the
cars Of the Brooklyn City Railroad
Company, on which passengers have to
pay fare of 10 cents, instead of 5,
for travelling from one terminus to the
other. There are nine of these lines
included among the twenty-six legally
divorced from the E. r. T. system be-
cause of default of leases.
The Brooklyn buses will begin oper-
alton tomorrow morning, Mr.. Whalen
said, if the Board of Estimate and Ap-
portionment passes on the scheme to-
day. No opposition is expected in that
body.
Traction Company to Oppose
Possibility Of legal action to stop the
operation of the Brooklyn buses, how
ever, was revealed in a letter sent
yesterday by Frank Lyman, president
Of the Brooklyn City Railroad Com
pany, to the Public Service Commits
sion. The company requested the COM
mission to furnish it promptly with
notice of any application made for the
operation Of a bus stage or similar
conveyance paralleling the lines of the
Brooklyn City Company.
The letter calls attention to a de-
cision of the Court of Appeals, made
several years ago, in which it was de-
termined that the New York Central
Railroad Company was entitled to be
heard in opposition to the application
Of the Buffalo, Niagara Falls e.
Rochester Railway Company for Ger
tificate of convenience and necessity
upon a competing route.
The Court of Appeals granted the
right of hearing, and later, 1T was
pointed out, denied the application OF
the competing company to run its
"The Brooklyn City Railroad Com
public upon all its routes, and proposes
TO continue adequate service, and re-
quests an opportunity 10 present proof
Of such adequacy
Whalen Determined on Course
When Commissioner Whalen was
told of President Lyman's letter he
declared it would not hinder or affect
it any way the opening Of the two
ho ho1 t,na
advised by Corporation Counsel Burr
that no permit of the Public Service
Commission was necessary to operate
buses for the convenience Of the
people and that none had been or
would be applied for.
Comm ssioner Whalen did not make
public the routes over which the buses
will run, but he said thet he had the
cars all ready and was prepared to
put on as many as was found to be
necessary to bear the traffic. 1t is
planned to put fifteen or twenty buses
on each line at the beginning.
Mayor Hylan appeared to receive
much enjoyment from the statement
of Frank Hedley, president of the In
terborough Rapid Transit Company
that the company would have to have
an eight or ten-cent fare to. operate
without loss.
City Ready to Act, Says Mayor
Why. this man Hedley is humor-
lat" said the Mayor. 'He is enter
tanning, but ] fear that If he continues
TO preach eight and ten-cent fares his
comedy will not prove popular If
Hcdley can't run the subways for a
hve-cent fare the City of New York
can and will.
But anyone who has an ounce OF
sense knows that the subways are be.
ing run for a tive-cent fare. Yet the
amusing but not Impressive Mr.. He'd
ley tells, few million intelligent peo
pie who ride on the subways and know
how we'll they are patronized, thai
"Why doeu't Mr. Hedlcy give the
poople chance to run tn subways'
They own them. But every one knows
that the Intcrborough will maintain
strangle hold on the system. During
the subway strike hearing the Cit,
Hall not long ago, Mr. Hedley, after
counting off his various salaries on hi:
finger tips, related with deep emotion
how badly off the Interborough WAS.
Calls Debate Unnecessary
ale said the traction system was OF
the verge of bankruptcy. When h,
reached the climax Of his emotion
asked him If he was willing to turr
over the so-called poor subways to the
city, and he replied: DO you think
am crazy
Mayor Hylan yesterday answered thu
challenge to a public debate on tn,
transit situation in Brooklyn Of viii
liam r. Simpson, Republican candidat,
Cor the Assembly in the 18th District
The Mayor said that the debate wa,
unnecessary since the Court of Ap
peals had settled the question Of
fve-cent fare in its decision Monday.
Three hundred Ncwtown High Schoo
pupils yesterday petitioned the Public
Ser. ice Commission to preserve tn
low rate of fare for students Man,
Of the pupils. who formerly paid fiv
cents to reach their school, must no,
pay ten. They say that unless the OIL
rate is restored for them many will b
compelled TO fore9o an education.