The New York herald., 1922-07-13
CITY ISSUES FIRE
DEMANDS ON |. R. 7.
Note to McAneny Also Insists
Upon Public Investigation
of Disaster.

Corporation Counsel John p O'Brien.
acting as the mouthpiece for Mayor
Hylan's committee of departmental and
bureau chiefs which Is investigating the
Lexington avenue subway nre, formulated
yesterday certain urgent and peremp-
tory demands" which were directed at
the Transit Commission and also against
Frank Hedley, president and general
manager Of the Interborough Rapid
Transit Company.
To George McAneny chairman of the
Transit Commission. he wrote demand
Ing an open and public investigation into
the causes and conditions surrounding
the disaster, also demanding that Frank
Hedley be subpoanaed and that the city
be given an opportunity to examine and
cross-examine witnesses.
Al the office of the Transit Commits
sion 1t was stated that the commission
had no comment to make. The commits
sion's own inquiry, which is in the hands
of the scientific authorities Of the United
States Bureau of Mines, will proceed.
After its conclusions are formulated, If 1t
shall then appear that a public in-
vestigation might serve any useful pur-
pose, the demand will be taken under
consideration.
Mr.. Hedley was summoned to the Of
flee of the Transit Commission yester-
day to explain the scope OF his order
to employees. issued Tuesday. limiting
their use of pyrene fire extinguishers.
He explained that this by no means
meant the withdrawal of fire protection
from the subways. 1t merely prohibited
pending determination of the facts by
the investigation the commission is now
conducting. the use of pyrene upon a
flaming electric arc in subway cars. En-
ployees still are authorized to use this
device in the event of fire other than
that caused by an electric arc due to
short circuiting.
In his letter TO Mr.. Hedley Mr.
O'Brien demanded that a method of
isolating every car Independently from
the current of the third rail by some
mechanical device independent OF the
panel switches in the car be installed !:
that the compartment containing the
automatic control for the :. emergency
lighting should be independent of all
other compartments, 80 as to positively
insure light; that there should be
eliminated forthwith from the subway
cars all pyrene extinguishers and other
extinguishers liberating toxic gases" and
tndt every SUBWAY car snail carry. eltner
under the seats or in some other readily
available location. boxes filled with sand
with which electrical fires may be ex-
tinguished.
The conference OF municipal office
holders adopted resolution condemn
ing the 'laXity' of the Transit Com
mission in having failed to call a pub
lie inquiry on the subject.
On the declaration of Comptroller
Craig that the Interborough was not
living UP to the increased service orders
recently made by the Transit Commits
sion the Committee of the Whole of the
Board Of Estimate directed it's chief
engineer. Arthur S. Tuttle, to make an
investigation. Mr.. Craig said the head
way of the expresses in non-rush hours
prior TO the issuance of the service
orders was five minutes. Under the
order Of the Transit Commission this
was shortened to three and one-haif
minutes. he said. But the order was
not obeyed long According to his per-
sonal observation, Mr.. Craig asserted.
the non-rush hour headway on the West
Side subway had been heightened to six
minutes William q. Fullen. assistant
counsel to the Transit Commission. said
he would ask the Transit Commission
to investigate.
"Oh, no. no. exclaimed the Mayor.
I'VE don't want that 1t would be
camouflage."