New-York tribune., 1919-12-27
Second Official to Resign
Since the Receiver Took
Charge of Lines Will
Retire Next Wednesday
Bus Decision Due Soon
Burr Is Expected to Hold
City Has Right to Buy
and Operate Motors

Timothy s. Williams, who has been
acting as general manager Of tho
Brooklyn Rapid Transit for Lindley M.
Garrison, receiver, will retire from
active participation in the affairs of
the company on Wednesday, just one
year after the road went into bank
ruptcy. Reports of the resignation
have been in circulation for some time,
but were not confirmed until yesterday.
Mr.. Williams is the second Of the Of
ficials Of the B. R. T. to resign since
the road passed into the hands of re-
ceMer. John J. Dempsey, former vice
president and superintendent of trans
portation, left the company several
months ago to enter the oil business.
MIR. Williams at his home in Hunting
ton, L. l.. said yesterday he had no
plans for the immediate future except
to take rest.
In 1895. when Governor Roswell p
Flower became interested in the
Brooklyn traction lines, he placed his
secretary, Mr.. Williams, in the Offices
Of the company. Mr.. Williams soon
was made secretary and treasurer Of
the company, which was being organ
lied out Of the wreck Of the Long
Island Traction Company. which had
passed through a financial upheaval.
In 1901 he was chosen vice president
and ten years later became president
OF the company.
Activities End January
After the MalboEc Street accident
last year and the passing Of the road
into the hands of a receiver Mr Will
liams rendered his resignation to the
board of directors, but it was not ac-
cepted. Since last July, when the sur
face lines were declared bankrupt, Mr.
Williams has been acting as general
manager of the trolley system.
During Mr.. Williamss twenty-five
years Of participation in the activities
Of the company the B. K. T. grew from
MINOR system to a practical monop-
oily OF the transit lines of Brooklyn
Line after line WAS absorbed and
whipped into unified system. For mis-
activity in bringing about the signing
Of the dual subway contract Mr. Will
Jams received bonus Of 100000.
1t probably will be some time before
MI Williams will be able to complete
the formalities of resigning from the
numerous Offices he holds in the B. r. T.
subsidiaries, but he said yesterday that
he will take no active part in the man
agement of the system after the end
of the year.
Burr to Decide Bus Question
William P. Burr Corporation Coun-
sci, soon will forward to Mayor Hylan
an opinion concerning the city's legal
authority to go into the motor bus
business. According to reliable in
formation Mr.. Burr's opinion will hold
that there is no legal obstacle in the
way of the city buying and operating
the buses.
Action has been started by the
Brooklyn City Railroad to stop opera
ton of motor buses, contending it is
in violation Of the law. 1t was stated
yesterday that MIR. Burr will point to
provisions of the Home Rule act of
1913 as giving the city the necessary
authority to operate the bus system.
Mayor Hyan still fears that Presi-
dent Connolly, Of the lnterborough EN-
ployees' Association, and Frank He'd
ley, president of the Interborough, are
acting in collusion to bring about a
strige on the /. R. T. lines. 1t was
learned yesterday that the Mayor has
written to Public Service Commits
sioner Nixon requesting that a list Of
men who might be used as strike
breakers in the event of a walk out,
be sent to him. Mr.. Nixon refused to
discuss the matter last night.
Late to-day & farmer living near the
place where Browns body was found
gave the authorities a statement to the
effect that late Tuesday night he saw
Browns machine driving slowly along
the lonely road. In the front seat was
Brown, the farmer declared, and in the
rear seat were two persons, one of
whom he believed was woman.
Both Mrs. Brown and Provost, when
confronted with the statement, denied
they had been with Brown later than
$3.50 Tuesday night, when Provost as
serts he left him in Mount Clemens.