New-York tribune., 1919-12-20
Nixon Demands
More Power or
Abolition of Job
Calls 1t ssNeedless Burden''
and Asks Full Authority
Over Traction for Himself
Or tho Board of Estimate
City May Run Car Line
Whalen Asks Permission
to Operate williamsburg
Bridge Local June | Next

AT an uproarious mass meeting held
yesterday by the Real Estate Auc
tloneers' Association at Ia Vesey
street bic Service Commissioner
N 4xon asked that he be given increased
power to act in the traction situation
or that his Office be abolished "as a
need ess burden" The meeting was
Almost broken Up by hecklers, one of
"hom was shouted down by the audi
ehce after re had m ounted the pat
form to make a sp ech.
The city authorities yesterday took
the first steps toward operation of a
.urlace car line since the transit prob
en- bec"mc acute. Grover A. Whalen.
commissioner of Plant and Structures,
recommended to the Board &C Estim, te
tat the municipality take over the
Williamsburg " Bridge loca trolley line,
tne permit Tor which expires May 81,
WY. The Committee on Franchises
Will consider the matter
Com issioner Nixon at the mass
meeting had just told his audience
tNat the city cou'd ros op rate o., !
wltHout loss when q man in the
last row, said to be a Hylan Office
holder, jumped to his feet.
Municipal Ferries Cited
"Isn't it a fact that the municipal
ferries at South Ferry are being run at
a profit, Commi issoner?" he asked
i don't think so'--- Nixon started
to answer when the heckler shouted:
AS matter of fact, they are pay.
ing. and yon know it "
TIE hockler then asked some further
question on the cost of running cars
now. compared with ton years ago, an
swe!ed them to his own satisfaction.
and sat down. Later Stewart Browne,
a real estate man, jun ped up to OBJ
iect TO the passinc- of resolutions which
had Necn prepared.
"What is this a n7ckcd meetinw?" he
shouted. care you going to pass a lot
?r cut-and dried resolutions without
bear ne any other speakers Isn't this
rublic meeting"
When a man in the audience asked
that Browne be heard, Browne. with
out invitation, stenred up. He began
TRADE against the propaganda car
ricd on by the traction companies for
ircrcased fare and then declared that
Nixon had said the companies had
giver written "cor cos ions "
'You're Insulting Our Guest"
Commissioner Nixon. in the audience,
challenged this statement, whcreat
y "c oxc' 'nimoA: -" + 4 WI n g
cipitate yourself into this traction stu
alton when you say you have no power
TO ct
Brownies att"cE on Nixon was
greeted by storm Of boots and shouts
Q Q "prt him ou.," 'Sout him uol''
"This meeting doesn't want to hea r
you. You're publicity seeker" yelle d
g man in the front row who said he wa.s
William Merrill, & member Of the Pro.i
uc FXrnan~e
j. Clarence Davies. chairman of the
meeting here took a hand. He pounded
for order, but without stopping
Brownies flow of eloquence. Finally he
said to Browne: "Ycu are kr 4
public objector and you are insulting
our guest. " ont you step down ?"
When Browne persisted Davies ap-
pealed to the audience, who shouted
that they did not want to hear him
Bryan l.. Kennedy then read the inter
rupted resolutions, while Browne, still
ia king, made his way out
Conferen Is Asked
The resolutions call on the city Pub
lie Service Commission. railroad off
cials and receivers to hold confer
ence, to afford the city continuance Of
the present transit systems without
additional costs for fare; good service
with assurances of safety, and fair
rate of interest for invested capital. at
the lowest rate of fare based upon cost
of service. The reso utions were passed
with some dissenting votes.
Commissioner Nixon. after telling
that there was create need for transit
deve oDment now than even in 1918, but
that he was pOwerless to do anything,
said:
"This comm ssion has very little
power and is a needless burden on the
people recommend that if the Lcgi;s-
ature is not prepared to give it the
necessary power. all is rowers shou d
be taken away and given over to the
n uncirality. which sh uld then be hc d
resi- onsible 'or the continuation of the
present bad conditions"
Blames Board of -timate
Commissioner Nixon said tat he re
scnted the "indeccnt attac 9" mace on
him for political purposes, and declared
that traction should be taken out o
spccu II on and politics. He blamed
the Mayor and the other members Of
the B )ard of Estimate for etusing to
confer with a view to solution of the
prob EN-.
He aid the buses micht be good for
short hauls. but that ii was absurd to
contend that they could carry pas
gers for five and ten miles for a
nickel and rake a profit.
Laurence McGu re former president
Of t-e Real Estate Board. indorsed Mr..
Nixons stand for flexible fare and
urged that Governor Smith, instead of
waiting for lcgi lative action, take mat
ters into his own hands by appointing
a commission to inv rSti rate and handle