The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-01-10
FARE,
INCREASE OPPOSED
Mayor, Comptroller and BOr-
ough Presidents Confer on
Traction Problems.
SURFACE LINE "PAUPER"
Counsel for n. Y. Co. Says
"We Have Not a Dollar
Anywhere"

Mayor Hylan. Comptroller Craig and
Borough Presidents Bowling. Riegelmann
and Connolly discussed the transit sit
uation in The City Hall yesterday after
noon. They were preparing reply TO
the latest request OF the Interborough
Rapid Transit Company for an eight cent
fare. which will be submitted to-day to
the Board OF Estimate.
II Is understood that the ofYlclals were
in substantial agreement that no increase
in fare would he granted to the Inter-
borough unless II was prepared TO make
substantial concessions to the city In n
modification OF the dual contracts.
At the hearing on the request OF the
New York Railways Company for an in
creased fare and charge for transfers
Edward J. Kohler. Assistant Corporation
Counsel. and James L. Quackenbush.
counsel for the traction company, clashed
over an alleged fund which Mr.. Kohler
said the company had. il seems that In
n bond prospectus of the lnterborough
Consolidated Company In 1915 the state
ment was made that in the settlement OF
the Metropolitan receiversh!p in 1915 the
New York Railways Company had re-
ceived something over s4,000,000, a little
more than 100000 of this had been
spent and the remainder had been advan-
tageously invested and was available for
corporate purposes. When Mr. Kohler
suggested that q part OF this money
might be spent to tide over the present
emergency Mr.. Quackenbush with fire In
his eye said:
We have not a dollar anywhere. We
are not able to keep UP our payments on
accident claims and are in the worst
condition that any poor debtor has ever
been Ali talk that We have any large
accumulated reserves TO fall back on Is
absurd. Can YOU present the proof OF q
dollar that Is avnilable?"
When Mr. Kohler started to say that
he understood the Metropolitan money
rupted:
That is all bunk and intended for
newspaper consumption"
rs 1t true or not" asked Mr. Kohler
| that you received about s4.0oo,0o0 from
the Metropolitan receivership7"
Yes, and that money has been spent
months. years ago"
Frank Samuelson, auditor of the com
pany, was asked to prepare a statement
! OF what the financial condition OF tn.
company might be on June 80. based or
the expenditure and receipts OF the las
| few months The hearing was then ad
tourned until Tuesday.
Mayor Hylan yesterday paid no at
| tention to the demand OF Public Service
! Commissioner Whitney for retractioI
| OF what the Commissioner declared 4
be gross and malicious libel. The Mayor
| had called the Commissioner IAN eve
! ready advocate Of the marlborough"
Commissioner Whitney said yesterda!
he thought that |. would be unnecessar!
to communicate further with the Mayo
on the matter.
According to the Comm ssioner IN
Board OF Estimate has SO crippled ;h
force OF engineers and inspectors that |
may be necessary to shut down from
one-third 10 one-half OF the subway worl
now under construction. This will meal
| the piling up OF interest charges on un
productive money and will form IN
basis OF claims against the city later 70
delay on contracts The reduced appro
priation by the Board of Estimate ha
made II necessary for the commission
to cut Its engineering force from 81
TO as
At meeting OF commercial and c!vi
organizations at the rooms OF the New
York Board of Trade and Transporta
ton. eO3 Broadway, yesterday after
noon. a resolution was adopted declar!n
that adequate transportation could no
be furnished by the city's lines unles
the revenue derived was sufficient I
pay operating expenses, provide Cor neN
equipment and furnish fair return o
the investment. Another meeting will b
held next Thursday at 3 o'clock for q,
purpose OF making representations I
the city authorities in regard to the sit
uation. Al that time II Is hoped tina
representatives OF the Public Servic
Commission, OF the Hylan admin!stra
ton and OF the transit corporations ma
be present.
In his frst official communication to tn
employees OF the Brooklyn Rapid Trans
Company I.indley NJ. Garrison. the Fed
eral receiver. urged them to be polite {
the patrons of the line. at tends {
smooth operation; friction tends to pr,
duce heat and disturbance" he said
In an article in the New Years 4.
sue of the 3. r. T. Monthly 7resider
Timothy S. Williams wished the err
ployees OF the company a better and
happier year"
I'VE have no cooperation from publ
officials" President williams contnue'
"in relieving transportation difficuitie
as has been extended in other localit,e
Indeed they have, FOR their own pul
poses. used the very conditions whic
they have in part created to lnname pull
lie sentiment against the railroads. an
they have withheld from us the exercis
and enjoyment Of rights which OF