The New York herald., 1922-01-08
CRAIG Is GARBLING,
SAYS TRANSIT BOARD
Experts at $100, $50 and S35 a
Day Not on Payroll; Some
times Hired Per Diem.

Members OF the Transit Commission
Comptroller Craig in Fridays meeting
Of the Board OF Estimate.
Mr.. Craig declared that the Transit
Commission was carrying men on It's
payroll at 500 day and that he
had the positive evidence to prove it,
while others were on the commission s
payroll at $50 and $35 a day. 1t was
| explained at the office OF the commits
sion that no such employees are car
ried on its payroll.
The facts are:
Men OF the John II. Beeler organiza-
tion of SO Vanderbilt avenue are trans
portation experts of high standing, who
already have done important work in
an advisory and research capacity in
connection with the reorganization OF
the street railways of Washington, Chi
cago, Boston and elsewhere They have
been employed to aid the commission
to determine the tentative valuations of
railroad properties likely to be absorbed
in the New York rehabilitation and uni
fcation project.
| Like many other experts and spe-
cialists, members of this organization
are paid at per diem rate when
actually employed. John II. Beeler, Chief
OF the organization, worked for the
commission five days in last Novem-
Der and fifteen days in December at
500 day. A. NJ. Buck at $50 a day
and e. A. Roberts twenty days at $35
a day.
Likely to He Called Again.
| 1t Is expected their services will be
calied upon from time to time before
the valuations report Is perfected, VIII ,h
Is likely to be about February /.
other experts whom the commission
has employed include special counsel
| several skilled real estate appraisers
and one specialist on the consolidation Of
power plants. In the opinion Of the COM
mission they are all men worthy Of their
price and their cooperation will save
money to the State.
Comptroller Craig's positive evil
dence,' it was explained, is a printed
copy OF the minutes of the commission
containing the statement Of the per diem
rate OF pay for the men named.
In the light Of evidence thus far taken
concerning the Ninth avenue elevated
lines recent collision. the Transit Com
mission is likely to seek safeguards
against such mishaps In an extension
# safety signal devices rather than in
an attempt to force the early substitu-
tion Of steel for wooden cars An or
der against the use of wooden cars
would be made futile alike by the pro-
hibitive cost of an all steel equipment
and by the structural inadequacy of
many parts of the elevated systems to
sustain their added tvatOhf
Wooden Cars in Loop.
The wooden car trains which, as WILL
lam S. Menden, general manager Of the
B. r. I. system. explained in his testi-
mony before the commission on Friday,
continue to operate through the Centre
street subway loop, are those running
on the Broadway and Lexington avenue
(Brooklyn) lines. including the Broad
way local service and the service by
way of Broadway to Canarsie and to
Jamaica.
Between East New York and Cypress
Hills is a stretch of old elevated struc-
ture the reinforcing Of which has not
yet been perfected to carry the weight
of steel car trains. Part of the work
has been done and contracts have been
let for the rest of it. By next autumn.
il is expected, the use of wooden cars
on these routes and. therefore, through
the Centre street underground loop will
end.
Chairman McAneny of the Transit
Commission said the Centre street SUBJ
way loop. regarded by the b. r. T. as
a terminal point" is equipped with
the block signal system and every pos
sible signal device making for safety.
and that motormen are compelled to
enter and leave it under control and at
reduced speed.