Evening star., 1950-11-25
Gov. Dewey Demand!
Long Island Trustees
Resign Immediately
BY the Associated Press

/ NEW YORK, Nov. 25. Gov
Dewey demanded last night that
the two trustees of the bankrupt
Long Island Railroad resign by
Monday to speed a total shakeuI
of the commuter line.
Seventy-seven persons died and
1872 were injured Thanksgiving
Eve when a speeding Long Island
express ran through two signal
lights and plowed into the rear
of another train, telescoping two
crowded passenger cars.
Gov. Dewey said the trustees
David E. Smucker and Hunter l.
Delatour. had lost public conf
dence. He threatened court action
If they did not quit by his dead
line.
Trustees Keep Own Counsel.
Mr.. Smucker and Mr.. Delatour
got the ultimatum from the Gov
ernor's own lips. but gave no hint
of what they planned to do.
The wreck-one Of the bloodieSt
in the Nations history and the
worst in New York State-came
only nine months after another
Long Island collision at Rockville
Centre killed SO persons on the
same line.
Responding to public outcry to
stop the slaughter" the Governor
Mayor Vincent Impellitteri. other
public officials and technical ex-
perts met last night in Gov
Deweys hotel suite. The meeting
lasted until after am. today.
1T is our unanimous opinion, .
Gov. Dewey said. that the road
is bankrupt financially. as we'll as
being bankrupt in equipment and
management.
Calls Conditions Miserable.
THE miserable conditions OF
the trains and the bad operation
are basically the result of demoral-
lied personnel and total bank
ruptcy of the road. both spiritually
and physically"
The two trustees, both expert
enced railroad men, hold their
Office under appointment by Fed
eral Judge Harold Kennedy, who
Is supervising the roads reorgani-
zation in bankruptcy. Judge Ken
nedy attended the conference, but
made no public comment.
Gov. Dewey said that If the
trustees don't step down by his
deadline. that the State. the city
and two suburban counties will &c
into court to seek their custer.
| He called the designations es-
sential so swift action can be
taken to install a new manage
ment." Then the conference dis
cussed possible public ownership
of the line, which carries 100000
passengers to and from New York
daily.
Five Inquiries Underway.
The conference was a prelimin-
airy to five independent inquiries
that will try to get to the bottom
of the disaster. These five will be
made by the Interstate Commerce
Commission, the State Public
Safety Commission. Mayor
fact-finding committee. the Queens
County district attorney. and by
the railroad itself
Mayor Impellitteri. who like
Gov. Dewey cut short post-elec-
ton vacation after the wreck, was
bitter in criticising the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad. owner Of most OF
the Long Islands stock.
| He spoke of Shocking evidences
of neglect. misfeasance. non
feasance and malfeasance that
have for years characterized the
Pennsylvania Railroads contro
of it's Long Island stepchild."
The Pennsylvania has not had
direct operating control CT the
Long Island since it launched the
bankruptcy proceedings.
Will Pay Hospital Bills.
| Meanwhile. the Long Island
already staggered by damage
claims running into the millions
from the earlier Rockville Centre
crash. said it would pay hospita
and medical expenses OF last Wed
neSday'S victims.
| Eventually, the bankrupt line
will face other suits for millions
One settlement to individuals ir
the earlier wreck reached $3.50, 900
! The two wrecks. with their liz
dead and more than. $50 injured
left a marked impression on the
lines regular riders.
The front and rear cars-the
major death traps in both acci-
dents-were generally Stunned by
yesterdays riders. with only the
curious and the hardy venturing
to use them.
Riding Habits Changed.
David G. Bareuther, Associated
Press staff writer and himself q
regular rider in the last car OF
the 500 pm. train to Hampstead
the one struck in the wreck
rode 1t again last night. He had
gone home early Wednesday be-
cause of the holiday and was not
aboard when the crash occurred
He said the aisles Of the center
cars had standees last night, but
only 10 persons rode in the al
most-empty rear-end smoker.
Almost all the riders present
were regulars who for one reason
or another had failed to make the
usual connection Wednesday.
One regular" was standing in
vestibule up forward.
Mr.. Bareuther asked him why
he was not seated.
We'll, you know" the man an
swered, 1--WE always played cards
back there. Wednesday night
had to work overtime and missed
the train. The fellows I played
with were killed, you know.
can't ride back there yet"