New-York tribune., 1886-02-28
BUSY DAYS FOR MR.. WHITNEY
CONFERENCES AT HIS NEw-YORK HOME.
DEEP IN CONSULTATION WITH THE PHILADELPHIA
HALLWAY MEN-HIs FRIEND Mr.. sTETsON.

4 OONE LhINOL-D NJ NASA'I'
DEEP IN CONSULTATION WITH THE PHILADELPHIA
| RAILWAY MEN-HIs FRIEND MR. srETsoN
The Secretary of the Navy has spent much
more time in this city recently than the general pubic
is aware Of but he has not occupied with naval
business. Mr. Whitney has been intensely Interested IN
| tho progress of the senate Committees IN
| quiry into Broadway railway matters and In
| the development OF the scheme to obtain
control OF the Broadway and Seventh Avenue Railroad
including the enormously valuable Broadway Surface
franchise, for the Philadelphia syndicate. Mr. whitney
was in town week ago yesterday although few New
Workers discovered It. lIo did proclaim his presence
on the house-tops. But the Philadelphia who were
in the city informed of it and they spent hours In
consultation with the Secretary OF the Navy in his house
at Flftyseventh-st. and Fifth-ave Mr.. Whitney re-
turned TO Washington, but soon back here again
and quiet conferences which few present. ut III
which those few deeply absorbed have been going
on day after day in the whitney mansion.
or the gentlemen been engaged in these con-
ferences Is Of stout figure, full round face and
phegmatic temperament, five feet nine inches tall,
who would be set down good judge Of horses or
cOckfght is an inch taller, OF robust frame and
nOrd face is slender and his hair is gray, his
mustache white is at least six feet tall,
corpuleut. ponderous. owleyed, heayyjawed, and
he gray ulster which touches his
heels nearly tall but s slender has black hair
swapping eyes and smooth, boyish, ruddy Face one
the last ia OF fair complexion, medium height tending
cOrpuent state. rostlesseyed double chinned and
he is lawyer These men, IN the order described are
T. A. b. wldener. W. L. Ekins, W. II. Kemble, Henry
Thompson, Thomas +. Ryan, Francis Lynde Stetson.
The first three part and parcel OF the now
famous " Philadelphia syndicate" Mr. Thompson is
the president OF the Metropolitan Railroad Company.
Thomas f. Ryan, once the treasurer Of the Cable
Company he is the OF Mr.. ThOmpsOns
"grldiron" corporation; Mr. stetson ia William c.
Whitncy's friend and lawyer.
week ago Friday Secretary whitney arrived in this
city and ho remained here until saturday night His
callers the Philadelphia syndicate and Messrs
Thompson Ryan and StetsOn. On Monday night last Mr.
Whitney dropped again unhoraded Into the city lie ere
maiued hero until yesterday morning His callers we're
Messrs Ryan and Thompson and Stctson and Messts
Wdenor and Ekins The matters which wero discussed
tho house Fifth ave ana Fftyseventhst were the
"gridirou" scheme, the Broadway investigation and
such phases OF railroad matters had their origin In
the Roosevelt Whitney Broadway charter and found
their climax in the Philadelphia combination when
Jacob sharp defeated.
The and the wherefores OF Mr. SetsOn calls the
Secretary OF tho Navy form interesting history.
Mr. from the northern part OF the state
and after lie settled down IN this city he came
under Mr.. Whitucys protecting wing. When Mr. whit
noy was Counsel to the Corporation Mr. stet'on be-
came his assistant. In time Mr. stetson fell into the
relation OF attorney for Jacob Sharp. This relation
began ON January /, 1s-L That was n great
year for horse and cable railroad projects IN
this city, struggle between the various corpora
tons for the possession Of the OF the metropolis
waIod fast and furious Albany well as here. 1t
was then Mossrs Roosevelt and Whitney, with their
associates incorporated the Broadway and the Fifth
Avenue railroad companies, and Mr. whitney came into
antagOns to Jacob snarp the head and 'front.' OF the
Broadway Surface Railroad Company. Asa preliminary
10 securing road Mr. sharp fought tooth and nal at
Albany In the and the spring OF ls~i FOR the pas
sage OF the General Streo Railroad act. Tho railroad
powers settled down around the Legislature Mr. sharp
was there with Abraham DsbccEer aud another Of his
aids he testified Francis Lyndo stotsOn He
was M sharps attorney and he worked night and day
for his client. The General street Railroad act was
passed and Governor Cleveland ssued 1t, although Wal
lace Andrews. the head OF the Cable Company "bored
late at night with the Governor. Mr Andrews says:
laborcd with the Governor against signing the bhl
He said 20 Ih, IL general act and one tho city
needs. Under IL you have as good a chance to get
railroad IA Broadway - anybody Go to work and
get your company and your chIrtcE' Mr.
Andrews took the hint and on the strength OF
it hc with Mcssr, Roosevelt whitney and
Others. Incorporated the Broadway Ralroal on
May = Ie-I the day following the Governors sigma
Jacob sharp did not get his surface road incorpo
rated until May -. 1--we days later.
Then began the struggle between Mr. whitney on the
one .dc and Jacob sharp Oh the other Mr. Stetson
found himself delicate position lie desired to re-
ton Coun-cs Office. lie and had been the attorney
for Mr. sharp, and Is understood that he had got
larger surface project than any other lawyer
connected with IT, Mr. Stct7on stood the pressure as
long AS he could lie mad u cuOO,e between TWO mas
ers In the last OF August, 1881 ho went 70 Mr. sharp
and said: can no longer act as your attorney Mr.
whitney took mo into the Corporation CounsePs
office and gave my start | am under oOlisa-
tons to him. | must act his attorney on
september the relations between Mr. Sharp and Mr.
steson a. client and attorney cease From that date
Mr. Sctson has acted in Mr. Whitncys interest aud he
sees him In Washington this city whonoVcr the bell
rings.
When the agreement OF sale OF 10000 snarcS OF Sew
enth Avenue stock was completed and signed at the
Hotel Buckingham February ?, lS~6, between
Mcssr.. Sharp, Foshay Korr, Hays smith. Whgstah.
Cuss and Others OF tho first part ana Messrs Wdener
Kembe aud Ekins. OF tho second part, Francis Lyndo
stc.on appeared and acted tho attorney Tor Messrs
Widener Ekins and kembe. Before the agreement was
definitely settled he said the representative OF tho
persons OF the first part: must hrst see Mr. whit
ncy."
Tho Senate Railroad Committee are expected to sum-
mon Mr. stctson before them this week, aud possibly
MIR Whitney may he invited To appear.