The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-30
NIXON DENIES HE
URGES FARE RAISE
Says Impression His Speech in
Brooklyn Gave Some Was
Wrong.
NO CLASH WITH DELANEY
Latter Seeks to Modify Ash
land Place Contract He
Thinks Favors B. r. r.

Lewis Nixon, Public Service Commits
sioner, said yesterday that in speaking
before the Brooklyn Chamber of Com
merce on Wednesday he did not mean to
give the impression that he was in favor
either of an increase in the cent fare
on traction lines or OF a curtailment of
transfer privileges.
Those who heard him went away Arm
ly convinced that he was much exercised
over the financial condition Of the tran
sit lines and not only believed that there
should be an increase in their income
but that possibly some concessions might
be made by them to the public. It was
gathered that ne was working on the
problem and might find q solution for IL.
Those who heard him were the more as
tonished because of his previous state
ment, on taking Office. that he had no
official opinion on the fare proposition
and could not have because the Public
Service Commission had no legal right
at present to interfere.
Just what way he has changed his
mind or just what sort of a solution he
hopes to bring about Is not clear. II
was stated definitely yesterday that the
controlling members OF the Board of
Estimate. which alone has the right to
bring about an increased fare through a
change in the franchise terms, had not
receded from the position that they took
when they stated that no increase could
be granted 50 long as the companies
were not willing to make some conces-
sion to the city. 1t is possible. however,
hot IL - 20 nfHa ia,
Nixon that he hopes to see a solution of
the problem are responsible for the re-
ports current in Wall Street that the
companies were about to get what they
had been asking.
ct want TO find out" said Commits
sioner Nixon in Brooklyn, IF there Is
not some way that the problem can be
worked out TO the satisfaction of the
investing public and with due regard to
the general public. There was a day
when every one who drew a contract
for transit thought that a Ave cent fare
was a gold mine. But in the face OF
things as they are one side must give
up something and SO must the other
side. I believe that We should have an
adjustment that should be to the salts
securities. but to the general public in
the course OF a few weeks"
Both Commissioner Nixon and John
Fl. Delaney. the Construction Commits
sloner who was sworn In yesterday, de-
MED that there was any clash between
them on the question of the Ashland
place connection between the Fulton
Street Elevated Railroad in Brooklyn
and the Fourth Avenue subway. Both
believe that the connection should be
made. but Commissioner Delaney is OPP
posed to the form OF contract that was
adopted by the former Public Service
Commission and has Withdrawn Il from
the Board OF Estimate He believes IL
favors the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Com
pany too much.
I'VE intend to negotiate a new con-
tract" said the Commissioner, ''or rather
new modification OF contract No. 4.
The modification proposed would permit
the d. r. T. to credit to it's contribu-
ton to the general pool under the main
contract the $4,000 It now pays TO the
city for tolls to cross tho Brooklyn
Bridge with its trains. In the fifty
years that the contract has to run that
would mean s5.0O0.O00 This toll money
has always been used TO help in main
tanning the bridge"
further consideration granted to the
b. x. 7. for its consent to the Ashland
build a station for its elevated lines on
the Williamsburg Bridge. which Is city
property. Commissioner Delaney does
not believe that the company should
be compensated in this indirect man
ner. He proposes TO go to Lindley NJ.
Garrison, receiver OF the transit lines.
he says, and ask him what the company
wants fer modification OF the contract.
IF it wants $4,000. 900 let it say So"
he declared
Commissioner Delaney Acknowledged
that he had no way TO force the COM
pany to enter into the modification with
out substantial consideration. II a
modification to suit Commissioner De-
laney cannot be obtained the contract
reverts to its original form, which IL
10 have the Fulton street rapid transit
run down TO Adams street and down
that street TO the Brooklyn Bridge. The
bridge is not strong enough to carry
the Ave car steel trains that will I've used
when the elevated is reconstructed, 70
the line would end at the Brooklyn end
of the Brooklyn Bridge. which Mr.. De.
laney acknowledges would not be salts
factory Furthermore, passengers on
the Fulton street 81" would have 10
pay second fare TO get up town in
Manhattan unless the line was diverted
into the Fourth avenue subway.
Commissioner Delaney passed n good
part OF yesterday in conference with
James b. Walker. the secretary of the
commission, finding out how hs cut
apart the Siamese twins OF regulation
and construction work. which w-ra
grouped together under the old five
headed Public Service Commission In
the future the stats will be entirely
separate, although they will be work.
ing together under the same roof.