New-York tribune., 1919-11-13
Hughes to Make
Inquiry ON City
Transit Tangle
Farreaching Inquiry Into
All Phases of the Situa-
ton, 10 Fix Permanent
5 Status, Is Planned

Charles Evans Hughes, former Gov
ernor and United States Supreme Court
Justice, is to head an investigation to
get at the truth Of New York Ci,v'v
transit situation. Announcement of the
investigation was made last night b.
the Merchants Association.
Ny. Hughes has consented TO serve
as chief counsel at the request Of a
committee Of seven men, heads of the
c'ty's largest commercial organizations
The committee was formed at the re-
quest OF United States District Judge
Julius NJ. Mayer, to act for the pub.
lie.
Mr.. Hughes, according to the an
nouncemen:, will select his own as
slstants and will have free hand in
making the investigation, which. it is
said, will be comparable to the insur-
ance investigation in its Importance
Mayer Asked for Inquiry
The proposed investigation grew out
OF statement made by Judge Mayer,
asking for the enlistment Of civic and
l25uayers' associations to help solve
the transportation problem shown, by
repotS. Of railroad experts, to be acute.
The Me: ,hants' Association answered
Judge Ma;-~"'s appeal, and inquired for
specific direcS;ons as to the help de-
sired.
Judge Mayer. in a reply made public
Yesterday, outlined in detail the scope
of the Investigation. He suggested that
the committee carry out the following
program:
Examine and report upon the es-
tmated cost for the twelve months
beginning September /, 1919, of op-
Grating each of the several transit
systems now under the jurisdiction
of the United States District Court.
including operating expenses aud
such other outlay as must neces-
sarily be made to continue the op-
GRAFTON of the several lines Exam
Inc and report upon the estimated
revenues for each of the systems
during the same period, and the es-
tmated net earnings or deficit from
operation of each
Report Upon Valuations
Through qualified engineers and
accountants, check. test, verify and
report upon any valuations of the
physical properties of the several
traction systems which may be pre-
sented to the court, or affixed as g
ture relations between transit cor
porations and the public.
Make study of the transit field,
with relation to existing franchise
and contract rights; possible con-
soldation or consultations of eX-
listing lines or systems; legal, hnan-
cinl and operating conditions, and
other factors, with view to formu
lating Il plan for permanent, cqui-
table and beneficial readjustment Of
the relations between the public and
the transit corporations which serve
them.
In his letter Judge Mayer also said:
"The present transit situation is seri-
Gus to the grarest degree, but the
existing state of affairs cannot con-
tinue indefinitely. The time must come
when there shall be just, permanent
solution, and the hour is not far dis
tant when, pending such solution, tenn
porary relief must be provided. In
such circum stances the intelligent eff
fort Of civic organizations concerned,
as you are, solely with the pub lc in
tercst, undoubtedly will prove Of great
value"
Committee of Business Men
In response to Judge Mayors sug-
gestion, the Merchants Association OBJ
tanned the cooperation of other large
commercial organizations, and the fol-
lowing preliminary committee was
formed:
William Fellowes Morgan president
OF the Merchants Association. chair
man; Alfred <. Marling, president of
the New York State Chamber of Com
merce; Lee Kohns, president of the
New York Board Of Trade and Trans
portation; j. Sherlock Davis, presi-
dent of the Brooklyn Chamber of Com
merce; II. Pushae Williams, president
of the Queens Chamber of Commerce
and James Breckenridge, president of
The Bronx Board Of Trade.