The New York herald., 1921-12-11
Board Clings to It's Plan Of
Seven Man Control, De-
-rite Experts.
B. r. I. CHARGES RUN LOW
Traction Road Owners to Have
a Hearing on Valuations of
Their Properties.

The Transit Commission will resume
fits investigation tomorrow morning
at 40 Lafayette street. Although that
procedure Is as yet far from being
finished it has progressed sufficiently
70 warrant certain conclusions. For
instance, without attempting to inter
pret the minds Of the commissioners,
all who have followed closely the de-
velopments Of the examination to date
are convinced of the utter futility Of
Mayor Hylan's cry, "Scrap the useless
surface lines,"
All available evidence taken by the
commission indicates that the receipts
of the surface lines are picking up
splendidly and that they perform a
highly essential function in the city's
transit scheme, for which no bus lines
could be made practicable substitute.
The testimony Of Mr.. Huff, president
OF the Third Avenue system of surface
cars. showed that the operating re-
ceipts of the Third Avenue line for Sep
tember and October of the present year
were on a scale sufficiently large not
only to pay all costs Of operation but
also to meet the company's fixed
charges. including interest on it's in
come notes, and to provide in addition
comfortable operating surplus.
1t was predicted that the Lexington
avenue subway would seal the death
txyuv uv--o - @f ,lx-1 1tvA D,,t
on the contrary, although the one di-
rectly parallels the other. since the
opening of the Lexington avenue sub
Tay traffic on the Third avenue sur
face cars has been heavier than ever,
with this important differences: Instead
Of filling It's cars with the improbable
long haul passengers, as formerly the
bulk of the present revenue Of the sur
face system is from the far more
profitable short haul passengers. The
long distance riders patronize the SUBJ
way.
second Avenue Line Improves.
To a very considerable degree the
same may be said OF the Second avenue
surface line, which for ten years was
in the hands OF a receiver. but which
now, as evidenced by its September and
y =
ing expenses, even at the nickel fare,
though II Is not yet meeting the inter-
est on its fixed corporate charges.
1t Is expected that when the Brooklyn
city Railroad is reached in the transit
examination, which probably will be
early this week, it too will make a
creditable showing upon its recent op-
Grating receipts. 1t was held under q
ieasehold by the Brooklyn Rapid Tran
sit Company. but reverted to its owners
when the B. r. T. went into receiver
ship and defaulted in payment of the
rental
Despite vigorous criticism Of tffe pro-
1ected seven man board of control
feature. by such experts as Frank He'd
ley, Job e. Hedges, Timothy S. williams
and Lindley NJ. Garrison. the commits
sion remains unshaken In the conviction
that the plan, as the Commissioners
nave drafted 4. Ctuld not be made
the instrument Of partisan politics.
Champions Of the commissions plan
scout the idea that the proposed board
OF control could be made a vehicle of
party patronage and politics for sew
eral reasons.
In the first place, that board would
nave nothing whatever to do with the
operation of the various systems, the
employment or diecharge ox men or
the fixing of their working cond itions.
All these duties fa.l within the sphere
OF the three operating chiefs of the
three proposed companies.
They are to be selected by the own
ers OF the actual properties, who name
their own three representatives in the
board OF control Whatever tendency
toward wastefulness extravaganza or
partisan prejudice there might be on
the part of the three representatives
of the municipality named to the board
OF control by the Mayor they contend
would be held in check by the operative
three sitting with them. Tho latter, as
the direct representatives Of the owners
of the roads, would kave every natural
incentive to show tbe acme or efficiency
and and economy in management and opera
Public Would Prove n Foil.
The public aleo wo,,ld be a wholesome
check. 1t Is believed. upon any gross
abuses and would be quick to resent i'm
proprieties which would react directly
upon their own pockets and their own
comfort as patrons of the lines. One
or the features OF the plan provides
Tor the extreme OF publicity at all
times through a succession OF frequent
public reports.
1t was learned from an authoritative
source that the expenses incident to the
b. r. IT. receivership are running con-
siderably under l per cent. of the amount
OF money handled, which is the legal
rate OF charge. In court circles that
was regarded as creditable and conser-
vative. The percentage named includes
fees and expenses OF Mr. Garrison, tho
serefver, and his counsel, which amount
10 about 800, 900 a year Mr.. Garrison.