The New York herald., 1922-10-20
BUS DRIVERS who
DID NOT VOTE FOR
HYLAN LOST JOBS
Discharged Operators Also
Tell of Chance to Buy
Back Their Places.
HAD TO CARRY CROWDS
Congestion of 500 Per Cent.
Worse Than Any Found
in Subway.
ONLY WAY TO PROFIT
Money Made, as by Railroads,
From Those Who Stand,
Is Explanation.
ONLY WAY TO PROFIT

Tn the public hearing on city bus
sion yesterday several witnesses swore
that twelve or fourteen operators OF
Commissioner Whalen's municipal
motor buses were dismissed from their
lucrative Jobs last March because they
had not been in position to cast a vote
in the election a year ago, which re-
tained Mayor Hylan in the City Hall.
This was done, they testified, under
orders of Mr. Richter. chief supervisor
for Commissioner Whalen. One Of the
dismissed bus operators swore he was
told by a follow member of his dis
trict political organization that he
could "get him back in line but that
it would cost him 5000.
Congestion Beats Subway.
There was testimony also that on
the Spring street bus line congestion
at times this month has reached an
overlooking OF 369 per cent. which is
worse crowding than the most ex-
treme congestion noted in the subway
inspections by commission experts.
Four of the former bus operators testi-
fled that their daily profits on a single
bus. over and above all expenses. in
cluding insurance, depreciation allow
ance. gasoline and other maintenance
supplies, ran not infrequently from
SIS to s2S a day.
Peter Ruocco. who is justice Of the
peace in Paterson. n. J., testified that
he had operated a bus here for the city
Department OF Plant aud Structures
from November, 1919, until March 4 last
when he was laid off by Mr. Richter on
what he was told were orders from
headquarters" He was Informed he was
discharged because he had not regis
tered last year for the coming election
and that all non-citlzens also were be-
ing discontinued
Ruocco has home in New Jersey. bu.
on taking his job had yielded to the sug-
gestion that he rent a room in this city
and thus establish a New York domicile
when we opened the lines here the op-
orators were practically all New Jersey
and Connecticut men," the witness said
'and we all took rooms In this city,
His bus had cost him about $4,000, he
| said. ''and now 1 can't get cents for
it-no line to run it."
Ruocco testified that while operating
his bus on the Chambers and Madison
streets line his receipts averaged abou,
$35 day and his expenses about $50
bus was good sor only about a year
and a half in this kind OF service. The
Jersey witness admitted under examina.
tion by Clarence J. Shearn, counsel tc
the commission. that at times his net
profits ran as high as $50 day.
With bus seating eighteen passcn.
gers 1t was necessary to have as many
persons standing as sitting. he said, In
order merely to pay expenses of trip
Packed Like Herring.
Packed 'em in like sardines, didn't
you?" asked Mr.. Shearn
Like herring, we called EN-" replied
the witness. 1T had to be "a paying
proposition. We didn't know how lonp
II might last. and you had to get every
thing that was coming to you, see?"
Under the existing system did you
have to pay any part of your receipts
TO the City OF New York;
Not Nickel" the witness an.
swered.
Ruocco said a man named Meighar
had come TO him after he had been dis.
missed and told him that IL he would
buy an $4,000 bus or certain make
he could get him reinstated on the most
lucrative line in the city.
ox.Ir -
bus operating In 1919. About a year
later he heard gossip 10 tho effect
that all the men who did not have q
| room at least in New York city were
to be knocked Off" He rented room
Last March he was informed: "You are
knocked off because you didn't vote.
About month after he had been laid
of. Angelioni testified. friend offered
to introduce him to "a fellow who was a
member of the Pat Paul Club In Grand
street IL you want to come back on the