The sun., 1919-02-02
'LACOMBE TO DECIDE
BRIT. WRECK CLAIMS
Judge Mayer Authorizes CARR
son to Borrow 100000
for Pressing Needs.
CAR SERVICE IMPROVES
Receiver Orders Guards En-.
p1Oyed to Handle Crowds
During Rush Hours.

Federal Judge Julius NJ Mayer APP
pointed former Judge f. Henry Lacombe
yesterday as special master in chancery
to pass upon claims against the Brook
lyn Rapid Transit Company and subsid-
iaries that are in possession OF Lindley
NJ. Garrison as receiver. In a supplement
tai order the court hxed March Is as the
date on which all claims must be in.
John j. O'Leary. counsel for a num-
Der Of the claimants who seek to re-
| cover damages growing out Of the Mall
| bono street tunnel wreck. asked that the
| claims be passed upon by jury. Judge
Mayer refused this request He said
that In cases where adjustments cannot
be reached at hearings before the ape
cial master he would permit trials be-
fore juries.
An order was signed authorizing the
receiver to borrow 100000 with which
to meet the pressing obligations OF his
companies. No action was taken on the
TO borrow over s1e.ooo,ooo on receivers
certificates.
Can Nesotiate With Bankers.
Another order gave leave to the re-
ceiver to negotiate with bankers who
have loans of over 100000 to the COM
pany outstanding. The receiver will pay
interest az IL comes due and arrange to
pay tho principal, the lenders to hold
their collateral from sale In the mean
time. This order was agreed upon after
number OF lawyers representing vari-
GUS banks had discussed IT. They OBJ
jected TO an order restraining their eli
ents from putting B. r. T. collateral for
loans in the market without giving no
tice of their intention to the receiver.
but were in agreement that evil effects
would follow the wholesale selling Of the
company's securities.
The receiver said he would not pay
interest and then have the collateral sold
In the open market.
The matter, as finally ordered. leaves
the que stion of loans and their collateral
to adjustments between the receivers
and the creditors
Another order permits the receiver TO
cancel or affirm contracts with the city
and Public Service Commission within
six months from January l5. 1919.
The receiver requested ]. ]. Dempsey.
traffic manager OF the companies in the
receivership. to advertise IN cars for
men Of more than the usual height and
strength to act as platform men TO
handle rush hour crowds. Former SOL
diers will receive preference In the selec-
ton of men who will be examined with
regard TO both physical and mental
qualifications for the difficult Job OF
handling the crowds at points OF con-
gestion.
The men will receive a special course
Of training They will be taught 20
handle hurrying passengers with courtesy
and intelligence and boisterous rowdies
with cool headed efficiency.
Figures were given yesterday to show
that the street car service picked up
greatly during January. The number of
round trips of surface cars was in
creased by so. 900 over November
The improvement is due altogether to
labor conditions. On November s. 1918,
the company had l,T52 motormen for its
surface cars. On November, 81 there
were 2,259 motormen available and the
number has increased until now there
Is shortage OF only 100. The figures
for conductors show similar progression
Asks Public's Cooperation.
Receiver Garrison Is DESTROYS OF .he
cooperation of the public IN his admin
istration. Speaking yesterday at a
luncheon Of the Brooklyn Chamber OF
Commerce, held In It's rooms at 80 Court
street, Mr., Garrison asked that the
members, as representatives OF the pub
lie appoint committee whose duty Il
II shall he 10 give to him sugge stions
for the operation of the Brooklyn rail-
pays and 20 ascertain the public's op.n-
ions on the subject
This is public service company"
said Mr. Garrison. and Il really has no
excuse for its existence IL It does not
serve the public.
And you gentlemen represent the
public that this company is called upon
10 serve. II IS true that the other In
terests which are entrusted to us are
entitled 10 protection. but the very best
protection that they can get is to have
their service run with the public sat
isfied with it
i am going TO venture to ask this
Chamber OF Commerce Il Il can aid me
In a very real and n very actual and a
very personal sense. ! am going 10 ask
whether YOU can form among your
membership a committee whose duty Il
snail be. either from its own members
or their related citizens. themselves TO
study all of the problems that relate
Ia the public aspect OF this matter. 10
receive, invite and provoke criticism
OF experiences. show where changes
should loo made and slft these ont 50
as to find the worth and validity OF
those criticisms and then bring them
10 me and | will either put the remedy
into effect, or convince you as common
sense men that under the circumstances
It cannot be done
Wants Road to Serve PubI,c.
Il am not sufficiently acquainted with
your local layout over here to know
whether there are boards of trade In
arts %