New-York tribune., 1920-01-15
Board to Dig
Into Traction
Publicity Fund
Craig Intimates That Big
Sums Utilized i'm Propa-
ganda Might Have Been
Used i'm Operating Costs
Inquiry To Be Thorough
Burr, as Legal Adviser, Is
Marshalling His Forces
to Ferret Out Records

How much the traction companies
spent in their publicity campaign for
increased fares will be one Of the inn
portant matters Investigated by the
Board of Estimate in the course of the
transit inquiry. Comptroller Craig said
last night. He intimated that it would
be found that large sums of money had
been spent on propaganda which might
have been used in operation Of the
company.
Referring to the act of the extraordi-
nary grand jury in dismissing the con-
spiracy charges against Interborough
officials because of insufficient evil
dence. Mr.. Craig explained that this
would have no effect on the Board OF
Estimate investigation. He showed
that the same elements involved in the
chslges preferred by Mayor Hylan
would be put under the light Of in
quiry at the City Hall.
Burr Marshals Forces
Eve will inquire into the question
of hours and wages and working con-
ditions-' said Craig. Eve will take up
the mis- ter of publicity and the cosss
of conLucting such publicity. We will
also inquire into the attempts made to
influence public opinion and public Of
hcials."
Corporation Counsel Burr was busy
yesterday marshaling his forces for
the investigation, Of which he is the
legal adviser and examiner. 1t is esti-
mateu that score of accountants,
clerks and assistants will be required
to gather in the original material
sought by the board and outlined at it's
first meeting on Tuesday.
Within a day or two, part of this
force will be sent to the offices OF the
Interborough Rapid Transit Company,
at 165 Broadway. Assisted by Inter-
borough officials. they will set to work
to dig out all records and data bearing
OH the original subway. built in 1904.
particularly the costs OF equipment,
which never have been publicly fled.
Other city employees will go on SINH
lar errands to the offices of the New
York City Railways Company, which op-
crates the surface cars.
Stumbling Block Seen
A stumbling block to the examination
of the streetcar records is expected
when the inquiry attempts to go back
further than 1902. 1t was brought out
during the Ivins investigation of 1907
that all the records of the Metropolitan
company, predecessor Of the New York
City Company, prior to 1902, were sold
as junk in 1905, at less than a cent .
pound, and were Immediately converted
into pulp. a 81 ~
between 1869 and 1905, according to
testimony at the WINS inquiry, almost
s11,000,000 was spent on the electrifi-
cation of the roads. The entire cost of
electrifcation is one of tie matters the
Board of Estimate plans to diEcover, if
possible.
Frank Hedley, president of the In
terborongh, will meet a committee of
Interborough employees tomorrow to
discuss the 25 per cent wage increase
demand made by the workers, which
they calm was promised them last
summer.
Mr.. Hedley secuted the idea that the
men wuuld 60 out on strike unless they
received their demands. He said he
intended to give the men fair hear
ing. and anticipated no labor trouble
arising from the request for an in
crease.