New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-11-27
Public Service Commission
Experts Figure Brooklyn
Company May Be Liable
TO $3,OOO,OOO Penalties
~ L TOscCutc IIIspcCtOTS
Lewis Says He Will Push
Assault Charges; Carri-
son Accuses the Mayor

Brooklyn streetcar passengers paid
10000 extra fares during the fort
night in which the Brooklyn City Rail-
way Company collected double fares
on the Flatbush Avenue line, accord
ing to calculations yesterday by sta
tisticians of the Public Service Com
mission.
Terence Farley counsel to the COM
mission, said last night if the
courts should decide the extra
fares were taken illegally the COM
pany should be liable to penalties ag-
gregating 100000, based on indi-
vidual damage suits brought by pas
sengers.
"a strectcar company can't charge
more than five cents on its entire
route" said MIR. Farley. "Under Sec
ton 1872 of the Railroad law, a penalty
of $25 may be imposed for every vio-
lation of this ruling. The courts will
there will undoubtedly be test case
brought to bring out the rights of
the passengers in a civil suit"
Lindley NJ. Garrison, receiver of the
Brooklyn Rapid Transit, charged yes
terday that Mayor Hylan's stand on
traction matters was actuated by polit-
zeal reasons solely, and was unnfu-
cnced by facts.
Mr. Garrison denied that the B. r.
+. had any connection with the Brook
Ign City Company. on which the sec
ond-fare outbreaks occurred.
Statements to the contrary only
tend to create and continue baseless
prejudice in respect to the entire trac-
ton situation" Mr.. Garrison said.
"This situation must be dealt with
properly and in an impartial and un-
prejudced manner if any useful solu-
ton is to be reached.
"No reply has been made to the err
roneous statement made in this con-
nection by the Mayor, because it is
obvious that he is treating the entire
situation on the basis of politics, and
is not interested in the ascertainment
or statement of the truth"
Lewis Promises Prosecution
District Attorney Lewis, Of Kings
County, announced that he would con-
tinue his prosecution Of the company
inspectors who elected passengers from
cars for refusal to pay second fares.
The mere fact that they have
ceased lawlessness does not prevent
prosecution for lawlessness already
committed" said Mr.. Lewis. He re-
fused to say whether he was preparing
criminal prosecution of any higher
company officials.
District Attorney Lewis denounced
the "strong ARM methods employed
In collecting second fares, when eight
company inspectors We're arraigned be-
fore MAGISTRATE Geismar in the Flat
bush Court on assault charges pre-
ferred by passengers.
The eight were held for Special SEES
sions in 500 bail, and three passen-
gers, charged with disorderly conduct
ing, were dismissed.
j. Harry Seton, Of counsel for the
Brooklyn City Railroad Company.
waived examination for the inspectors.
and declared the entire situation was
up to. the Supreme Court, which must
pass OH the validity of the Public Ser
vice Commissions order against double
fares.
Denounces Strong Arm" Method
"The Supreme Court will not de-
termine these Flatbush cases." Lewis
answered, warmly. "The company
should have resorted to this legal way
iiStedu VI uSlHH tuc SlIOHS arm nleLn-
DDS they did. The assaults by passen-
gers were absolutely justified. The
railroad cannot settle this question
with the people in the street, and
came here to oppose any complaint
being made against any citizen.
Seton then announced that he
wished to withdraw the charges
against the three young men charged
with disordcrly conduct. They had re-
fused to leave a car which had been
sidetracked because they would not pay
the extra jitney.
A new bus line, running to Flatbush
and Nostrand Avenues. the battle
ground of the second-fare fight, was
started yesterday. Nine buses were
started in the morning, running to the
Atlantic Avenue subway station on a
five-cent fare. Commissioner of Plant
and Structures Whalen was a passen-
ger and expressed delight at service
He said the city now had 124 buses
running.
$50 0OO O0O Co.,,....