New-York tribune., 1920-05-08
Mayor Ready
10 Dare Jail
In Fare Fight
La Cuardia Also Willing
to lake Chance ON Prison
in Legal War on 8.Cent
Charge ON Staten Island
City Baked by Court
Rumor Reaches City Hall
That Injunction Agains,
Buses Will Be Sought

City officials were restrained yester-
day by court order from carrying out
Mayor Hylan's instructions to take
legal steps to prevent the Richmond
Light and Railroad Company from
charging Scent fares on its trolley
lines in Staten Island, as authorized
late Wednesday night by Lewis Nixon
Public Service Commissioner. The or
der was issued by Judge Thomas I
Chattield in the United States District
Court, Brooklyn.
John P. O'Brien. Corporation Coun-
sci, received a report last night that
Receiver Kuhn to-day would apply for
an injunction to compel the city to
cease running bus lines in Staten
Island In competition with the trolley
lines. One hundred and five buses
which charge five-cent fare. have been
running to full capacity since the
eight-cent fare on the trolley lines was
introduced
Officials of the trolley company last
night refused to disclose whether an
injunction would be asked for.
Confronted with an opinion by
even thinking about it" might be a
violation of Judge Chatfeld's order
Mayor Hylan, in receiving delegation
of protesting Staten Islanders, said:
"lf the order prevents US from hear
ing the people, / am ready to 60 to Jail
Since Nixon took office he has been
bedeviling US to give higher fares to
the companies. It's too bad man in
public service and on the pay roll is
acting in the interests Of the corpora
tiOnS."
Want Charter Forfeited
The Staten Islanders urged that the
city declare the Richmond companys
franchise forfeited and that the bus
lines already in operation be extended
They said the majority of Staten Isl
anders had declared boycott against
the trolley lines; that the cars were
the company was making less with g.
cent fares than it did with scent
fares.
Mr.. Craig advised delay, saying: eve
had better wait until we read the order,
for it seems to me that it is so broad
that we can't even think about it, much
less hear the complaints of citizens"
Major F. H. La Guardia, president of
the Board of Aldermen, said he was
ready with motion to authorize the
Department of Pant and Structures to
introduce competitive transportation
system on Staten Island. He said the
resolution would instruct the Police
Commissioner, the Fire Commissioner
and all other commissioners who have
vehicles to put them on the island.
Hr 1op'f coro how hold p,1Elic Go
ice Commissioner may be or how dar-
ing District Judge may be, he would
not dare to punish the Board Of Esti-
mate for contempt for acting in a
crisis" said Major La Guardia. 81 am
willing to face jail if need be-"
The Courts Order
Mr.. O'Brien said he would have tc
take the court order under considera-
ton. The Mayor said special meeting
of the Board of Estimate might be
called.
Judge Chatfeld's order sets forth
that "all persons, individuals, firms and
corporations are hereby restrained and
enjoined from interfering with, at
tacking or in any manner disturbing
the operation and management" of the
company now under the management
of Captain John J. Kuhn, receiver for
the Richmond company.
Mr.. O'Brien declined to indicate what
action, if any, he would take to carry
out the Mayors order to stop the col
lection of eight-cent fares.
81 do not consider that the court
order tics the city's hands to take any
legal steps it finds possible" he said
DR.. Louis A. Dreyfus, president OF
the Staten Island Civic League, said he
favored the increased fares if it would
provide more efficient service. Scores
lContlnuad ON mana fhreal