New-York tribune., 1920-07-29
Hylan Gets Into
Many Disputes
At Bus Hearing. {.
/. II. T. Counsel Leads the
Opposition as Board of
Estimate Listens to the
Fight for Several Hours
Employees Are Present
Mayor Asks Them if They're
Paid; Brooklyn Chamber
Is Out Against the Plan

Having heard arguments in favor of
Mayor Hylan's plan for the municipal
ownership and operation of busses, the
| Board of Estimate sat for several hours
yesterday listening to opposition to the
scheme. Arthur G. Peacock, counsel
for the Interborough Rapid Transit
Company. acted as chief spokesman for
the opponents, which included the
Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce., The
Mayor and the lawyer engaged in sew
eral spirited arguments.
There were present at the hearing
many uniformed railway employees
Mayor Hylan asked one of them
whether they were being paid by their
company to attend. The conductor de-
MED this The Mayor pressed the sub
ject, and the conductor declared that
ne and his colleagues were present on
their own time and at their owp ex-
pense.
The proceeding began with the read
ing of brief from the Brooklyn
Chamber of Commerce, which, while
opposed to the unlimited use of busses,
said, none will disagree with the
Mayors proposal that the people of
this city should have an up to date,
comfortable, flexible and economical
system of transportation"
Mayor Hasn't the Experience
The brief added that in the opinion
of the Brooklyn chamber. the Mayors
plan was devised without the city Of
fetal having the necessary experience
to furnish first hand data as to cost
n 20 I1
probation. The chamber also argued
that the bus lines have taken from the
trolley lines the better part of the
service without handling the less
proftab BILE business. 1t was argued that
the Hylan bus plan would starve out
the railway companies and produce
disastrous results to the stockholders
and the travelling public.
"The 1nterborough is opposed to the
operation of busses for two reasons"
Mr.. Peacock said.
the safety and health of the com
munity. The second is that it is un-
fair and inequitable to destroy our
property through competition in this
manner. If you ruin the Interborough
property you attack the stockh oldirgs
of the widows and orphans" He said
busses might be operated in the upper
Washington Heights section, where
there are 10 transit lines, but to es-
tablish them in competition with the
city's subways, in whifh 100000 Of
the taxpayers money is invested,
would be unjust and disastrous.
He told Of the experience Of such q
system in Lcndon, where the subways
company was compelled to buy the bus
lines to protect itself. He said it
would require 10000 busses to do the
work that 5000 surface cars now per-
form. Mayor Hylan challenged this
statement.
Busses Faster, Says Mayor
"Let me tell you" said the Mayor,
"it will not take 10000 up-to-date,
swiftly moving buses to take the
place of 5000 old-fashioned trolley
cars that crawl through traffic con-
gested streets. Every one who has
ridden in bus knows that it travels
almost twice as fast as trolley car.
On that basis one bus will do the work
OF two dilapidated cars"
Mr.. Peacock argued that the busses
would increase the number of acci-
dents. Mayor Hylan recalled the B. R.
T. accident at Malbone Avenue two
years ago, in which ninety-fve people
lest their lives.
Harvey Brunner, chairman OF COM
mittee representing New York real
estate interests, said his committee
was not opposed to busses in specific
locality, but was opposed to q general
BUS system.
Almet R. Latson, Of the Flatbush
Taxpayers League, said: "These cars
do more than transport people morn
ing and night. They build up great
territories in our community. They
increase taxable values. They increase
the income of the state"
John X. Lubke, an employee Of the
New York City Railways Company,
voiced the objection of the railway
men to the Introduction Of the busses.
H expressed fear for the future of the
men who have spent many years on
railways.
Harry Masterson, another railway
employee, got into several arguments
with the Mayor, first, when Mr.. Hylan
said Masterson was present because
he favored increased fares. This Mas
terson denied.
Masterson angered Mayor Hylan by
reminding him that his administration
was put into office with the aid of rail-
way mems votes.
"No threats of votes is going to de-
ter me from doing my duty to the peo-
pie" said the Mayor. Masterson de-
MED making any threats.
The hearing was adjourned subject