New-York tribune., 1920-03-25
|Hylan Defiance
Anglers Midland
Road Trustee
II Won't Listen to That Kind
of Talk = Says A. HI. Lark
i'm When Accused of Try
ing to S'Blackjack City"
Rental Is in Question
Board of Estimate Hearing
of Traction Case Scene
of Lively Alteration

Incensed at the refusal of Adrian H.
Larkin, trustee of the H. H. Rogers es-
tate, which owns the property of the
Midland Railroad Company. on Staten
Island. to consider favorably the pro-
posal of the Board Of Estimate for the
resumption of service Of the trolley
lines of that company, Mayor Hylan at
yesterdays hearing before the board
declared that another traction company
was trying to BLACKJACK the city"
When Mr.. Larkin told the Mayor that
he didn't propose to listen to "that
kind Of talk" the Mayor became so en-
cited his. face turned the color of a
tropical sunset.
=, At the traction hearing before the
Board of Estimate Monday Major F. H.
La Guardia, President of the Board of
Aldermen. put forward a proposal for
the surrender of the company's prop
erty to the city, so that the city could
restore service, pending the outcome
of the proceedings to forfeit the fran
equity would be determined. AS coun-
ter proposition Mr.. Larkin suggested
yesterday that the city pay an annual
rental Of $4,000 on valuation of
S1,000,000, explaining that the COM
panys property had been appraised
at more than that sum three years ago.
we don't propose to be black
1acked into paying you rent for your
road, | want to tell you right now,"
said Mayor Hylan, heatedly
Resents Mayors Remark
II resent that remark" replied Nh
Larkin. II did not come here for the
purpose OF being talked to in that
way"
I,,%O
continued the Mayor.
There is no blackjacking about it,"
interrupted Mr.. Larkin.
II won't be blackjacked into taking
over your road and paying that rental"
the Mayor repeated. y
II do not propose to stand here and
listen to that kind of talk" Mr.. Larkin
retorted.
"You are going to listen to what
have to say while you arc before this
board!" shouted the Mayor.
III don't know whether l am or not
said Mr.. Larkin, and, ignoring the
Mayor. he turned to Major La Guardia
and asked if he wished to ask him any
further questions.
Major La Guardia jumped into the
breach by explaining in more detail his
proposal for city operation of the Mid
land lines and gave the Mayor time to
cool off. Major La Guardia explained
that he did not see why the city
should be called upon to pay rental,
when the company owed the city about
100000 in taxes and had probably
forfeited tkeir franchise by abandoning
operation. He thought it was a fair
proposal for the city, without waving
any Of it's rights relative to forfeiture
proceedings, to take over the lines and
operate them at five cent fare, the
70 %r1
cided the franchises were still cf
fective.
Mr.. Larkin repeated that the pro
posal did not appeal to him, but he
said he would be glad to meet in con-
ference with the officials of the com
pany, it's reteiyer, the court and Corpo-
ration Counsel Burr and consider the
proposal more definitely. or try to
reach some other agreement At the
suggestion of Corporation Counsel
Burr, conference with Judge Chat
heid,, OF the Federal District Court,
Will be held this afternoon.
B. r: T. Inquiry Next
With the further introduction of
evidence in regard to the financial CON
dition Of the New York Railways Com
pany by expert accountants i'm the en-
ploy of the city, the investigation in
regard to that company was closed
yesterday and Corporation Burr an
nounced that he was ready to begin
with the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Com
pany at the next hearing. He said
that the city accountants were now at
work examining the books of that
company.
The members of the Board listened
for more than an hour to the story of
the sins of the traction corporations.
beginning with the old Metropolitan
Street Railways Company, and ending
with the New York Railways Company.
told by Harry j. Carman, an Instructor
IN history at Columbia University,
whom tn Corporation Counsel called
as a witness.
The hearings were adjourned to
Snl..