The New York herald., 1922-10-30
HYLAN BUSES CALLED
A SMELL TO HEAVEN
Transit Commission COun-
sci Asserts System Is Vi
cious and DemOralizing.
CHARGES HUGE GRAFT
C. j. Shearn Declares Driv-
ers Of Carriers Are Only
Political Pawns.
MAYOR DERIDEs INQUIRY
Ayers 1t Is Costly Farce
O'Brien May Block INTERIOR
ough Reorganization.
MAYOR DERIDES INQUIRY

results of last weeks inquiry into the
city bus situation.
1t says the Hylan system has made
the bus owner n political pawn and
has offered unlimited opportunity for
graft, and declares that at least one
sure way of 'greasing the path to
Iavor" is TO pay a public official who
owns garage four times the usual
rate for bus storage.
The statement follows
THE Hylan-Whalen system of "revoc-
eble permits for bus operation is vicious
and demoralizing. It makes bus own
er a mere pawn of the politicians. offers
unlimited opportunity for graft and has
resulted in corruption and favoritism.
Cites Favoritism.
"The genuine need and popular de-
inand for flexible crosstown bus service
has been capitalized by politicians for
private profit and the system has been
made part and parcel Of political ma
chine. Un'ess brs operator votes right
he Is driven off the streets. The sure
way to get permit is through district
leader.
ITO hide political favoritism. or worse.
ing line in the city are permitted to be
run in the name of dummies.
John A. Mccarthy, the discoverer of
Hylan. the intimate friend and former
business associate of the boss Of Tam
many. the man who introduced Hylan
to Murphy and then got the Hy,an Dock
Commissioner to lower his waterfront
yard rent TO less than half the rate
charged everybody else. has a fleet of
buses on the most profitable line. each
one in the name of q dummy. All that
il was necessary for Mccarthy 10 do 10
get three permits issued to dummies was
to call Commissioner Whalen on the
telephone.
sSmeIls to Heaven"
IAN ex-detective and brewery coilec-
tor, long out Of job and who would
do anything for little money turns
Up on the cream of all the lines with
three buses costing $4,000. one being
concededly hidden in dummy owner
ship. and manages these in conjunction
with McCarthy's fleet. aided by Billy
Murphy. a nephew OF the Tammany
boss.
Murphy can draw anything he
wants on the Mccarthy bus account.
while Lynch, the ex-detective. for whom
Mccarthy got permits from Whalen,
says he works fifteen hours a day for
AfcCarthy without remuneration.
THE Insurance firm Of Sinnott &
Canty. the senior member OF which is
the brother of the Mayors son-in-law
and private secretary, has divided COM
missions ffty-fifty with "A young in
surance canvasser on forty-eight cas-
ualty insurance policies solicited from
the bus owners since July 1, 1922. The
broker. Grein. admits that no necessary
services whatever are rendered by Sim
mott * Canty in connection with this
bus Insurance.
mo permits issue for bus opera
ton until after insurance is obtained
and there is no public record OF appli-
cations for bus permits.
while in the short time available Il
has only been possible TO scratch the
surface thus far. the whole Hylan-
Whalen bus system smells to heaven"
Threatens Court Fight.
Corporation Counsel O'Brien viii in
woke the courts 10 block the plan OF
reorganization OF the Interborough
Rapid Transit Company. as approved by
the Transit Commission. II the case 10
not reorened TO hear his objections, he
announced last night.
The commissions approval. as con-
tained In four orders issued last Friday
had as 'their plans and purposes the
boosting Of fares before many months
had gone by, he charged
Tho commission. he indicated. was
guilty of breach Of faith in having ar
rived at it's decision without holding n
conference with the city's law depart
mcnt. This, Mr.. O'Brien averred, the
commission had agreed TO do In open
hearing. He said
~ shall move for 4 rehearing of the
dcompanys) applications. and ] shall
then proceed at once to have the court
pass upon these orders II relief is not
granted by the commission by the can
cellations Of the orders
III court action is necessary It VIII
be based upon our contention that the
orders arc involved, and that they as
sure inprovident and prohigate fnanc-
ing. and against the best interest OF the
city and che travelling public
He complained that the four orders
will ultimately pile up further burdens
upon the Intcrborough. These burdens
created by this improvident financing,
which includes excessive interest rates,
bankers commissions. raids upon sink
ing funds and che continuing IN only
slightly modified form of the terrible
drag of the Manhattan Elevated Rail-
way Company. will be used before many
months nave gone by rs mn excuse by
commission for Increased fares"
Mayor Derides Inquiry.
Mayor Hyian issued q statement yes
terday. repeating his cherges that the
Transit Commission proposes to unload
worn out transit properties on the city
at fancy prices and wsrulng the public
that the reelection OF Gov. Miller would
help that program. The Mayor did not
say the city would be compelled to buy.
but would be compelled 20 guarantee the
interest on bonds issued for the pur-
chase.
lie promises he will make a supple
mental report 90 the Board Of Estimate
soon after election, making slight mod!-
Gcations suggested az various public
hearings" Regarding the disclosures Of
political favoritism In the Transit Conn
missions inquiry Into the city bus sit
uation tho Mayor says
"Thc public should not be mislead by
fhe false statements OF Chairman Nc
tneny or by the picayune so-called dis
closures of Counselor Shearn, who has
rccr paid out OF the city treasury hy