New-York tribune., 1921-12-17
Whalen Forces
'Tra1lsitBOardto
Subpoena Him
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Avenue Coach Company was controlled
by the Traction ring" and was using
busses with center Of gravity so
high as to increase the danger OF SIT
overturn. He again assailed the Tran
sit Commission and the TRACTION trust
papers," declaring they had started
propaganda against "a system of up
to-date, well-lighted, well-ventilated
husses for the people Of this city at q
5-cent fare"
Their scheme seems to be-" said the
Mayor. ''to allow the traction interests
to crab the bus franchise privileges OF
the city and charge ten-cent fare by
condemning the bus plan of the *,<sS nj
administration for a five-cent fare.
We appropriated Sl,000,000 for the
purchase OF busses OF a type which
would permit entrance from the curb
The traction interests, through their
attorneys, got an injunction restrain
ing the expenditure of this money. If
the city had not been stayed by the
courts there would to-day be thousands
of commodious buses operating Oh the
streets of this city at five-cent rate
Flexible Fare Plan Argued
At yesterdays hearing of the COM
mission, observations were made on the
consolidation plan by Gerhard M. Dahl,
vice-president of the Chase National
Bank. Mr.. Dahl spoke for Albert II.
Wiggin, president Of the bank, who is
chairman of committee representing
holders of $25, $4,000 Of Brooklyn
Rapid Transit stock. His comment was
regarded as highly important, in view
of the fact that he formerly was Street
Railroad Commissioner in Cleveland
where the barometer fund method,
similar to that proposed by the COM
mission, is said to have been success
full.
The barometer fund, or flexible fare
idea, Mr.. Dahl believes TO be both
sound and scientific. Holders of pref
erential rights would not surrender
them with any less a consideration, he
thought.
Mr.. Dahl was OF the opinion that the
trend Of fares, increased throughout
the country as a result of abnormal
conditions, was now proceeding i'll the
opposite direction.
''The sound basis of operating any
utility said the banker, dis that the
public should pay the cost OF service,
assuming that the cost does not include
IHe ieIeIH OH "ateicu SECURITIES, OF,
rather, on inflated values. Your plan
for flexible rate of fere with the
barometer fund, in my Judgment, is the
soundest solution of the public utility
problem and the relationship between
the consumer on the one hand, and the
company that renders the service on
the other that is possible"
Cites Need Of New Subways
Mr.. Dahl said the most important
element in the transit situation was
the need for new money for subway
construction. Because of the magni-
trd6 Of the expense, Mr.. Dahl thought,
resort would have to be had to the
city's credit, although he dsapproved
of this as a rule. He agreed that uni
fication and city ownership of all prop
critics should be the final outcome.
Clarence j. Shearn, special counsel
of the commission, placed in evidence
recent reports Of the traction lines to
show that their financial condition was
improving to degree that would make
easier the commissions task of bring
ing about the unification and at the
same time restoring an actual scent
fare.
According TO these specimen figures
the net income for September Of this
year for all rapid transit and surface
y,
lyn, Queens and Richmond, with the
exception of four small companies Was
S2,906,445 For she same month in l?cl
the item amounted to $14S,337.
Chairman SlcAneny explained that
this enormous gain was the result of a
Soo0,oo0 reduction in wages made in
August, the decreasing cost Of materi-
ais and miscellaneous savings.
On Poor Service, Says Shearr
Mr.. Shearn pointed out that while
tne ngures We're encouraging thee,
were predicated upon The poor service
that the companies were giving and
upon the fact that there was consider
able deferred maintenance
I'm other words" said Chairman Nc
Aneny, when the service has been re-
stored to the standard that we shall
INSIST upon at the proper time and de-
1erred maintenance is made, those two
processes will involve, of course. addi-
tlonal expense that will affect the nett
Improvement of the Second Avenue
Railroad was testified to by Charles 70.
Chalmers. receiver of the company.
who, unlike other receivers, said he
(Sook an active part in operations. The
line carries 100000 passengers
year, and its annual receipts amount To
81 100000. ~
Mr.. Chalmers said he was presented
9 hard JOB when the line was turned
oack by the Metropolitan people. The
equipment was in bad condition, trans
1ers had been cut off and the road was
virtually cnoked to death, he said
One-Man Cars Save $1I4,00e
Service and equipment gradually had
peeh improved, he testified, until they
We're now in very good shape. 4 saw
ing OF $l14,0o0 a year was realized
from the use of one-man cars. which
mr.. Chalmers said proved highly satis-
factory to the public.
AT the suggestion Of Mr.. Shearn
Chairman McAneny announced he
would request the receivers OF the New
! ork Railways Company and the Inter
borough Consolidated Corporation to
submit statements Of their sxpenai-
lures.
The Investigation will be resumed OF
70 Lafayette Street at 10:S0 o'clock
tr.s. .l..xs