New-York tribune., 1919-01-15
City Board to
Act To-day in
Transit Crisis
Administration Is Expected
to Ask Co-Receiver for
Bankrupt B. r. T. Lines
Plans Ousting of Whitney
Judge Mayer To Be Urged
to Consider Craig as
Municipal Representative

The Board of Estimate and Appor-
tlonment will meet in special session
TINS morning to take action on the
transit crisis, following five hour
conference last night. Mayor Hylsn
attended the meeting yesterday, and
again will be present to-day. AS re-
ported at the City Hall last night, this
burst of activity on the part of the
city administration in considering the
traction muddle will take these chan
nels:
When the hearing is held this morn
ing before Federal Judge julius NJ.
Mayer to have Lndley NJ. Garrison
made permanent receiver Of the Brook
lyn Rapid Transit, the city administra-
ton will petition the court for the ap-
polntment Of co-receiver, to look
after the city's interests in the bank
rupt properties.
Craig's Services Asked
The Board of Estimate will ask
Judge Mayer to consider the candidacy
OF Controller Craig as the city's rep
resentative in the affairs of the B. r.
1. Controller Craig, it will be argued,
saving the sums which ordinarily would
be expended for receivers fees and cX-
penses.
The Board of Estimate will map out
plans for a new drive to have Travis
n. Whitney, chairman of the Public
service Commission. removed from
Office. 1t was Mr.. Whitney who ex-
posed the secret conferences of Mayor
Hylan and other representatives. of the
peoples government" at City Hall
with Shonts, Quackenbush and Hearst
representatives, looking toward the TAX
ing over of all city transit lines by the
administration.
Three Co-receivers Sought
AT the hearing before Judge Mayer
at least three petitions for co-receivers
will be presented. The Public Service
Commission, through its special coun-
sci, William l.. Ransom, will ask for
one; the Board of Estimate for an
other and an association of Brighton
81" wreck victims and their relatives
VIII demand third. Stockholders and
bondholders, who have formed pro
tectlve committees, may also be heard
from the receivership contest.
The city's move in asking for the ap-
pointment Of Comptroller Craig will
leave the Public Service Commission
without much choice in the matter.
The commission and the board both are
supposed to represent the peoples in
terest in the B. R. r., and as the COM
mission has not named candidate it
is believed that Comptroller Craig's
selection will be forced. Commissioner
Whitney said last night he would make
no suggestion to Judge Mayer as to q
co-receiver, but intimated that Mr..
Craig would not be satisfactory to the
commission.
Board of Estimate Active
It was learned that the new plans to
force Mr.. Whitney out Of the Public
Service Commission will involve the
District Attorneys office. Whether
charges will be brought, as has been
threatened FOR 4 long time. and what
the nature Of them might be could
not be learned officially
1t is known that the Board Of f.sti-
mate has been gathering information
ths Public Service Commission, and
this may be used in the new campaign
to remove Mr.. Whitney from the stu
alton.
The failure of Governor Smiths at
tcmpt to lcgislate Mr.. Whitney and
his fellow commissioners out of office
is the probable cause Of this latest at
tack. The .'oley bill for the reorgan-
zation of the commission into one
an affair has not been acted upon
by the Republican State Legislature,
and there is little doubt that the bill
will be killed
At hearing held yesterday before
the commission on the application of
the New York Railways Company for
an Scent fare Frank Samuelson, audi
tor of the road, declared it would
show 81 deficit of S425, 5,388.37 for the
fiscal year 1918I9 under the present
rate limitations.