New-York tribune., 1919-09-16
Mayor Two Hours i'm Grand
Jury Room After 20
Minutes Conference With
One of Swann's Assistants
Hedley Asks l0-CentFare
Tells P. S. Commission Com
panv Wants No More Pas
sengers Paying a Nicklc

st investigation, lSStlaeI YESTERDAY
before the extraordinary grand Jury
which. internationally for several weeks.
bss been -earing evidence in the IN
on,rv into whether colusion OF con-
snirqcv exis,ed between the Interbor-
oaeh Rapid Transit Company and its
ern'oves to force increased fares
through strike.
The Mayor entered tne grand jury
-oam at II 2. n, after he rad held
twenty minute conference with AL
fred J Taley. Assistant District At
.nrney. He was there until i few min
utes after O'Clock.
1t was sad the District Attorneys
o;sce considered him star" witness.
Frank Hediey. vice president and
general manager of the Interborough,
ard JOB Hedges. receiver Tor the New
YORK Railways Company. made public
statements Yesterday. putting The onus
o. inadequate traction service squarely
upon the Mayor and the city adminis-
trat,cn
It's part OF the contract to extend the
Queensborough subway FROM Grand
Central 10 Tines Square was the prin-
opal cause o. inadequate service to
Queens, Mr.. Hedlev testified betore the
Mr. Hedges replied 10 Mayor Hvlar's
statement Of Saturday. IN winch the
Mayor placed responsibility OF Sis
pended car lines entirely upon FederaI
Judge Mayer and the receiver. Mr..
Hedges said: The Mayor knows why
some OF the cars Will temNorarilv stop
running next Saturday and why others
may later. He IS merely trying 20 fool
the people.
The only relief developed from yes
arday's Investigation before the Pub
lie Service Comm ssion was a promise
from Mr.. helley that the Inter-
borough would add one more car to
the SIX car trains now running between
Grand Central and the Crotona sec
ZION Of Queens during the rush hours
.or two weeks.
NJ Hedley SAID the company did
not want any more passengers at five
cents, and that additional mileage and
more riders meant more loss.
The company.would save money if il
should stop every car on the system.
scrap the equipment and sell it for
wha. it would bring" Mr.. Hedlex said.
When asked by Deputy Commissioner
Barrett what redress was necessary.
Nj. Hedley replied "A 10-cent fare"
Another development In the traction
situation in which the city officials and
Judge Mayer were involved occurred
yesterday morning. when the emDloves
OF the New York Railways cars at the
Battery refused to honor transfers
gwen BY the city to the commuters
from Staten Island
Following an order by Judge Mayer.
in which the transfer privilege be-
tween surface cars and the Staten Isl
and Ferries was declared terminated
on September Is, the city officials be-
gun Issuing their own transfers at the
ST. George station on Staten Island.
Pacards were placed at the terminals
notifying the riders in advance of the
administration intent to issue trans
fers and honor those gwen ont By the
surface cars, despite the order OF
Judge Mayer. The placard was signed
bY Grove \. Whalen, Commissioner of
Plants and 5 Structures.
Commuters boarded the green cars
with the transfers and the Conductors
refused 10 accept them. Many who
had on-y short distances TO ride walked
up Broadway. but most Of those hay
ng to g further up town remained on
The Cars and paid the extra fare.
crowd Of commuters who we're
puzzled a. tire proceeding marched
over to the ferry terminal and asked
Commissioner Whalen why the trans
iers were no. acknowledged He SAID
ne could not guarantee their passage.
and teleDlolad TO the ticket sellers at
u. George notify the passengers
70 that etFect
The hearing before the Public Ser
wee Oommlssl on vas held as the result
OF conn aifis about the service, prin-
cpa " on ,he Queensboro line Com
missloner Lewis Nixon praised the In
lerooroUgh tor the service maintained
ssqrlLg Tie Pershing celebration day
me hearing proceeded with Deputy
NommlssloEers Barrett and Glennon
On the bench
Mr.. Helley admitted that the service
vas Inadequate. He said the Inter
borough had laid aside about sos
vn9,9H1 lor the construction of the
I,,'elaway tunnel TO Times Square and
'aAf tbs was one-half the estimated
cost. lie said further that the city was
70 pay the remainder. and that II was
also to build the terminal and inspec-
c' soh shed facilities along the line in
Queens
Our money is held ready. but the
Guy mas no: performed its part Of the
contract Mr.. Hedley explained.
Commissioner Barrett asked if a
shuttle Service between Grand Central
and the greensboro Plaza would re-
neve the congestion Mr. Hedley re-
pied that II would only transfer t
rom one point to another. He said
TYengesuon was caused by delay at the
Jackson Avenue station, where the ciry
ed lad failed TO extend the station plat
so'fAS. On one side the platform ac
s'.O'nnoaates four cars and on the other
Is only long enough for three. Peo-
PIE nave to walk through the trains
si snui they reach a car opposite the
Sauorm, d, Mr.. Hadley explained.
Inc marlborough is already running
eo.' eG@,car trains over this system. the
Jommlssion was told. and when they
;"Ouid add another car tc each train,
Increasing the service by Is per cent.
Commissioner Barrett tod Mr..
"eu'ey the people and the bDs.r.sss were
ioeaNy' waiting for the Int 7eDugh in
Queens, s, and ne wanted % what
J., sVGlu De done. Mr.. Hedley led: AS
IS We don't want anothcr passenger
So. cents. 1t is q perfectly logical
looI. lsII"t.on. Why should we 70 cUt and
Nv ,v'h Tor more business when we lose
~ NJ II The reason for tire inefflc4ency
co he service is that the CITY and
rOann' 'sslon has not furnished the
S"ney TO finish the road 20 Times
Would Take Year and a Half
yoa mr. hedley said 1t would require a
70 ,"r II and a half to build the extension
" Il, mes Square.
70 =. improve the service on the Inx;np,
'n Avenue surface line. principally